The prospect of Ole Gunnar Solskjær making a sensational return to the Manchester United dugout is gaining traction, but it represents a monumental gamble for the club's beleaguered hierarchy. The Norwegian, a cult hero at Old Trafford, is being considered for a second interim manager role, a move reportedly driven by director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada.
A Rollercoaster First Tenure
To understand the risk, one must revisit the chaotic end to Solskjær's first spell in charge. His tenure concluded in the autumn of 2021 with a hapless 2-0 defeat to Manchester City and a humiliating 4-1 loss at Watford, after which he was sacked. The final image was of a tearful Solskjær in an emotional exit interview, a stark reminder of his deep connection to the club but also of the brutal nature of elite football.
His initial appointment as caretaker in December 2018 was a roaring success, sparking a dramatic uplift with 14 wins from 19 games, including a famous Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain. This period wiped away the gloom of the José Mourinho era. However, after signing a permanent three-year deal, consistency proved elusive. The following seasons were a helter-skelter mix of a third-place finish, a second-place finish, and a Europa League final loss, but were streaked with crises, such as a Champions League group-stage exit in 2020.
Pressure on Ineos's Troubled Project
The potential appointment comes at a time when United's football operations, led by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are under intense scrutiny. The club has become a quasi-comical soap opera since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, and the Ineos-led project has, so far, added to the farce.
Ratcliffe has already overseen a series of high-profile missteps. The club dithered over sacking Erik ten Hag before finally doing so in October 2024. Sporting director Dan Ashworth departed after just five months in the role. Most recently, manager Ruben Amorim was sacked on Monday, leaving the team sixth in the Premier League. Wilcox and Berrada were involved in these decisions, meaning their credibility is already low.
Hiring Solskjær and seeing him fail would be a nightmare scenario, likely drawing further fan fury onto the executives and Ratcliffe himself.
The Logic and the Looming Danger
The logic for turning to Solskjær again is clear. His sunny disposition and legendary status as the scorer of the 1999 Champions League-winning goal could provide an instant morale boost for players and fans alike. His preference for gung-ho attacking football would also mark a shift from Amorim's more reactive 3-4-3 system, reconnecting with a cherished club tradition.
However, the danger is equally apparent. What if there is no instant takeoff? If results flatline, the club could quickly revert to the shambolic side that was "outfought" at Watford. Solskjær's history shows his reigns are rarely calm, and a second stint could plunge United's season further, amplifying their laughing-stock status.
Furthermore, success would create its own dilemma. If Solskjær were to secure Champions League qualification or win the FA Cup, could United really remove him for a second time? It would leave Wilcox and Berrada in a difficult position when considering a permanent summer appointment from a long list of candidates that includes names like Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, and Mauricio Pochettino.
As Solskjær himself said in his farewell interview, "We’ll see each other again." That moment may be imminent. But for Manchester United's embattled decision-makers, bringing back a beloved legend could be the riskiest move yet in a season defined by chaos.
