LONDON • Manchester United yesterday turned to former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to steady the ship until the end of the season, confirming him as caretaker manager in the wake of Jose Mourinho's sacking.
The Norwegian, who leaves his role as manager of Molde, whom he led to two Norwegian league titles in 2011 and 2012, will be joined by Mike Phelan as assistant manager.
The Englishman previously carried out that role under former United boss Alex Ferguson for five seasons before leaving in 2013.
On Tuesday, United parted company with Mourinho with the club in sixth spot in the English Premier League, having made their worst start to a season for 28 years.
The appointment of Solskjaer to inject some life into the Red Devils in some ways mirrors his playing career at the club, where he scored 126 goals between 1996 and 2007, often as an impact substitute.
His most memorable contribution came in the 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich, when he netted the stoppage-time winner.
"Manchester United is in my heart and it's brilliant to be coming back in this role," the former Cardiff manager said in a statement. "I'm really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club."
CROWD PLEASER
We are confident they will unite the players and the fans as we head into the second half of the season.
ED WOODWARD, United's executive vice-chairman, on the appointment of 1999 Champions League final hero Solskjaer as caretaker manager and another former player Mike Phelan as assistant manager.
POOR DECISION
If they appoint a new manager in the summer, he's not going to have much time to look for players. There is a real concern that you could have two seasons of rebuilding again.
DARREN FLETCHER, ex-United midfielder, criticising the move not to hire a full-time coach immediately.
Coincidentally, his first task will be to try and guide United to a much-needed league win at Cardiff - the club who were relegated from the English top flight on his watch in 2014 - on Saturday.
But United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward expressed his confidence the "club legend" would be able to bring some cheer to the Old Trafford faithful.
He said: "His history at Manchester United means he lives and breathes the culture here, and everyone at the club is delighted to have him and Mike Phelan back.
"We are confident they will unite the players and the fans as we head into the second half of the season."
The club are also understood to be looking for a director of football - a first for United - to oversee operations, a position which Mourinho was opposed to.
Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna, both part of his backroom staff, will be retained to work under Solskjaer, whom the Manchester United Supporters' Trust labelled the "ultimate super-sub and was just the man for the job".
The "Baby-faced Assassin", as he was popularly known by during his playing days, was given the blessing of Molde and earned plaudits from Ms Erna Solberg, the country's Prime Minister.
She tweeted: "Finally confirmed! Great day for Norwegian football."
Pundit Gary Neville, who has been vocal about United's need to hire someone who meets the club's "key principles", felt his former teammate could "bring the feel-good factor back".
He told Sky Sports: "At this moment in time, I can see where an interim appointment becomes someone who brings favour and goodwill, and he absolutely would.
Â
Â
Â
"(He would) hold the fort until the end of the season and then United can go and get the next manager of this club for the next five to six months."
However, the former United defender warned the club's floundering stars their "excuses were gone now" and they "had to perform" as there would be no more flare-ups.
But not all were sold on Solskjaer taking on one of the biggest jobs in football as an interim boss, with former United midfielder Darren Fletcher declaring the announcement akin to "writing off this season and next season".
He told the BBC: "United should never be in this position. If they appoint a new manager in the summer, he's not going to have much time to look for players. There is a real concern that you could have two seasons of rebuilding again."
Former United midfielder Paul Ince was even more scathing, slamming the decision to opt for Solskjaer over former defensive stalwart Steve Bruce as "absolute madness".
He told bookmaker Paddy Power: "That has to be a joke. Yes, he's (Bruce) been sacked (as Aston Villa manager in October), but we've all been sacked before. Between him and Solskjaer, there's no comparison."
Sergio Ramos concedes that Cristiano Ronaldo was "very decisive" for Real Madrid, but insists "winning is always the objective" even with a talismanic presence having departed the club.
Ramos: Winning is Real's only objective with or without Ronaldo
Pele recovering well after kidney stone operation
Neymar walked off in tears after landing awkwardly on his ankle against Strasbourg. Paris St-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel says it will be "super difficult" for Neymar to be fit for their Champions
PSG news: 'Super difficult' for Neymar to face Man Utd, says
Tuchel rues missed chances as PSG crash out of Champions League: PSG coach Thomas Tuchel says his side were more deserving of a place in the quarter-finals after a stoppage time Manchester United penalty knocks the French giants out
Robbie Kruse rues missed chances in loss | Sporting News
Brendan Rodgers took a step closer to a return to the Premier League on Tuesday when Celtic chiefs said they had allowed him to talk to Leicester City who on Sunday fired manager Claude Puel. Rodgers, 46, has not coached an English top flight team since Liverpool sacked him in October 2015.
Leicester City target Celtic's Rodgers to replace Puel
en.rfi.fr/sports/20190226-leicester-city-target-celtics-rodgers-replace-claude-puel
Brendan Rodgers took a step closer to a return to the Premier League on Tuesday when Celtic chiefs said they had allowed him to talk to Leicester City who on Sunday fired manager Claude Puel.
Leicester City target Celtic's Rodgers to replace Puel
PUTRI NUR SYALIZA News - Find latest News & top stories about PUTRI NUR SYALIZA. ST Young Star Award: Queensway Secondary's history-maker Putri Nur Syaliza keeps feet firmly on ground.
14-year-old Secondary 3 girl scores goal in S'pore women's football
Pedro's crucial strike scrambled Chelsea a frenetic 1-1 Europa League semi-final first leg draw at Eintracht Frankfurt. The Spain forward's 12th strike of the season brought Blues parity in the
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Chelsea goals and highlights: Europa
Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 title celebrations were delayed again when they suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat by second-placed Lille after
Football: Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for
The Zoning Code is one of the primary tools the City of Madison uses to regulate development. All existing and new development in the City must be consistent with the code's requirements. The code groups the city into different districts (or "zones"), each with their own development requirements.
Arkansas Easement Law | RealEstateLawyers
Thomas Mueller on Wednesday said he was "angry" over Joachim Loew's "bad taste" decision to axe him and Bayern Munich teammates Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels from the Germany squad. National coach Loew flew to Munich on Tuesday to tell Mueller, 29, Boateng and Hummels, both 30, that their international careers are over.
Thomas Muller now has more time for family after 'negative
MAURICIO Pochettino hopes to change the mindset of his players with Tottenham perceived by many to be under a Chelsea spell. Spurs lost 3-0 to their London rivals on December 3 at Stamford Bridge
Assessing the San Antonio Spurs' needs in the NBA Draft
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 01, 2019, with the headline 'Tigers riding high'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Tigers riding high - theworldnews.net
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen