Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nears Manchester United return after backing from key players and club icons

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is inching closer on a sensational return to Manchester United, talkSPORT understands.

Former Red Devils player and manager Solskjaer is in advanced talks to become United’s interim head coach for the rest of the season.

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As reported by talkSPORT earlier on Tuesday, Solskjaer has the support of several first-team players including captain Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire.

It is thought fellow club legends including Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville have also thrown their backing behind their ex-teammate.

The Norwegian fans’ favourite hopes if he does well then he would be considered for the job full-time.

As well as Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy have both been sounded out about the interim role.

Although United insiders insist there are multiple candidates, talkSPORT understands Solskjaer is the favourite.

Darren Fletcher currently holds the interim role but the club are looking for someone to take the job for the remainder of this season.

Solskjaer offered up his services on Monday, while ex-United midfielder Michael Carrick is also open to the role.

Carrick had a brief stint as caretaker after Solskjaer was sacked in 2018 before going on to manage Middlesbrough.

The pair have both been contacted by the club, who are on the hunt for a short-term successor to Ruben Amorim.

But talkSPORT understands United are more likely to turn to the Norwegian, who became interim boss after Jose Mourinho‘s sacking in December 2018.

The treble hero got the job permanently before the 2018/19 season ended and was relieved of his duties in November 2021 as he gave a tearful exit interview after his departure was announced.

Fletcher is expected to be in charge for the club’s next game which sees them take on Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night.

The Scot, who will be assisted by former United teammate Jonny Evans in the dugout, was also considered an option to remain in the role until the end of the season.

It remains to be seen who will take the side for United’s FA Cup tie against Brighton on Sunday.

Amorim was sacked on Monday less than 24 hours after he unleashed a shock attack on the club’s upper management in a press conference.

United chiefs will not rush into a decision and believe they will have a bigger pool to choose from if they wait until the summer to name a new full-time head coach.

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Those options include Oliver Glasner, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi.

Solskjaer’s Man United record

You have to go back all the way to 1996 for Solskjaer’s first association with United as he joined from Norwegian side Molde.

A stellar 11-year spell at Old Trafford saw the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ win a plethora of trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League.

Solskjaer’s most vital contribution as a player saw him score a stoppage-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich to seal United an incredible treble.

As mentioned, Solskjaer returned to United in December 2018 following Mourinho’s sacking as interim boss, however, an impressive run of results saw the club hand him the job on a permanent basis.

In his first full season in charge, Solskjaer had to navigate some tough periods, but ultimately secured Champions League qualification.

United came second in the 2020/21 season, but results dropped off the following term, with Solskjaer losing his job after a 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021.

What went wrong for Amorim?

Amorim arrived at Old Trafford in October 2024 with a reputation as one of the most in-demand coaches in Europe.

However, he lasted just 14 months in charge and accrued the worst win ratio (32 per cent) of any Man United manager in the Premier League era.

talkSPORT understands that Amorim’s public criticism of his players played a part in his sacking.

His negative attitude towards academy players was also cause for concern.

Another factor was his reluctance to move from his 3-4-2-1 formation.

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It all came to a head when he had an angry exchange with United’s director of football Jason Wilcox folllowing a 1-1 draw with Wolves.

His explosive press conference after the draw with Leeds was the final straw.