Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Wednesday, 07 January 2026, 07:33 / Updated on Wednesday, 07 January 2026 07:33
Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim on Monday after 14 months in charge of the Portuguese coach. The idea initially floated was that Darren Fletcher would take over the first team by the summer, but in charge at Old Trafford he started negotiating with somewhat more experienced coachesto lead the “red devils” until the end of the season.
On the list of United managers there are 3 players who wrote history at Old Trafford: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. All of them have had mandates in the first team.
Van Nistelrooy was interim between October and November 2024 while the transition was made from Erik ten Hag to Ruben Amorim. Carrick was also interim, at the end of 2021, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was “interim” for a few months in the 2018/2019 season, then full-fledged coach until November 2021.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer entered into negotiations with Manchester United: favorite to take over the team until the summer
In the offices, the option of Fletcher staying at the helm of the team until the summer has not yet been ruled out. What is certain is that he will prepare at least the next match, with Burnley, this evening, probably also the one with Brighton in the FA Cup, scheduled for January 11.
The Athletic writes that Solskjaer is the favorite for this interimafter holding talks with the management at Old Trafford. According to the cited source, “United will also hold face-to-face talks with Solskjaer in the coming days. He plans to do the same with Michael Carrick.”
Of the 4, Solskjaer has the most experience as a head coach. He coached Cardiff City, Molde, has that 3-year spell at Manchester United and most recently worked at Besiktas between January and August 2025.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer // photo: Gulliver/gettyimages
In the coming months, while the team is in the hands of an interim coach, the management plans to look for a full-fledged replacement, to whom they can offer a long-term contract.
