Manchester United are closing in on appointing an interim manager with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick the leading candidates until the end of the season
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is one of the favourites to take the Manchester United manager’s job until the end of the season(Image: Cemal Yurttas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly scheduled for a face-to-face meeting with Manchester United executives on Saturday regarding the interim manager’s position. United are seeking to appoint a temporary manager for the remainder of the season, following the decision to call time on Ruben Amorim’s 14-month tenure on Monday.
Ruud van Nistelrooy and current interim head coach Darren Fletcher were considered for the role, but now Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are seen as the leading contenders. Carrick, who previously served as a first-team coach under Solskjaer and had a brief stint in charge after his departure, met with United’s hierarchy earlier this week.
According to the Press Association, Solskjaer will meet with director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada on Saturday to discuss the position, following initial talks.
The hero of the 1999 treble has already once taken the reins at United, stepping in after Jose Mourinho’s departure in December 2018.
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Solskjaer was given the permanent role in March 2019 and guided United to second place in the Premier League in the 2020/21 season. The Norwegian also led United to that season’s Europa League final before being leaving the club in November 2021.
The former forward has returned to Manchester after attending the funeral of Norwegian coaching icon Age Hareide in Molde on Thursday.
Solskjaer seems to be vying with Carrick for the interim role until the season’s end. The 44-year-old ex-midfielder is believed to have already met with Berrada and Wilcox and is available following his departure from Middlesbrough last summer, reports the Mirror.
United are reported to be keen to appoint a former player with ties to the club to guide them through the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
They will then embark on an extensive search for a permanent replacement for Amorim, with The Mirror also reporting that Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino are among those being considered – and that Sir Alex Ferguson will not participate in the selection process.
Van Nistelrooy, who served as United’s interim manager in October and November 2024, has been ruled out this time. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s third-round FA Cup match against Brighton, interim manager Fletcher indicated that he isn’t currently seen as a candidate for the role until the season concludes.
“I’ve not, no,” Fletcher told reporters when asked if he has held discussions with Sir Jim Ratcliffe about his future. “I speak to Omar and Jason. That’s how the processes work. For me, I’ve been focusing on the job in hand, preparing the team for these two games.
“There’s been no thought or conversation about my future. Honestly, the people in Jason and Omar have given me full responsibility to take control of these two games, make my own decisions, lead the team, guide the team, prepare the team, and that’s what I’ve been doing.
“There’s been no conversation with anybody outside of those two people in higher-up positions in the club.”
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