Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has refused to rule out a return to Manchester United after attending his first match at Old Trafford since his emotional exit back in 2021.
Solskjaer, 50, enjoyed a trophy-laden 11-year stint at United during his player career before stepping in as manager back in 2018. The popular Norwegian would spend just shy of three years in the managerial hotseat before he was axed midway through the 2021/22 campaign.
Since leaving his role, Solskjaer has kept a relatively low profile. This weekend, though, he travelled back to his old club to take in the 2-0 win over Wolves.
Unsurprisingly, the club legend was given a warm welcome from fans as he walked along the famous Old Trafford touchline before the match. And Solskjaer made it clear that the feeling is more than mutual during ‘An Evening with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer': an in-depth interview with fans that took place in Manchester earlier this week.
During the event, Solskjaer made it clear that he has sights set on a return to the dugout after recharging his batteries away from the public eye. However, he also refused to close the door on a return to Manchester United at some point in the future.
Solskjaer said of his plans: “I’ve got another job in me, if it’s the right chance and exciting enough. There are so many clubs, but I’m not going to work just for the sake of working. It has to be something special, a new culture, or a club that really excites me. Or maybe they will want me back at the club (United) in some capacity, who knows?”
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While it appears unlikely that Solskjaer would ever return in a managerial capacity, it isn't out of the question that he could represent the club in a different role in the future.
Just this week it was claimed that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani plans to offer prominent roles to Manchester United legends if his takeover proposal is successful. And although it's unlikely those plans currently involve Solskjaer, a willingness to engage and work with popular figures from the club's glory years could stand the former striker in good stead in the future if Sheikh Jassim does end up acquiring United from the Glazers.
After initially turning to an interim manager, Manchester United have enjoyed success after appointing Erik ten Hag as Solskjaer's permanent successor in the summer.
And while Solskjaer has wished the Dutchman every success in the role, he is convinced that his former United assistant Michael Carrick is destined to replace him at the helm in the future.
“I mean this with my whole heart: I’m sure he will be the manager of Manchester United one day,” Solskjaer said.
“Michael is class, from top to bottom. Integrity, loyalty, respect, knowledge; he’s got absolutely everything. I hope we do well with Erik, really hope so, and when he goes that Michael has had enough years for the club to say, ‘Come back, Michael, because we need you’.”
