Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s final words at Manchester United during his first spell still linger with a sense of unfinished business.
“This club means everything to me… I’m going to leave by the front door, because I think everyone knows I’ve given everything for this club… unfortunately, I couldn’t get the results we needed, and it’s time for me to step aside.”
It was not the language of a manager detached from the institution, but of a true club legend who fully understood the weight of the badge and the expectations that come with it.
Five years on, with United once again searching for stability following Ruben Amorim’s departure, the idea of Ole returning as caretaker feels less like nostalgia and more like pragmatism.
Manchester United’s post-Ferguson era has been defined by experimentation. Different managers, different philosophies, different tactical blueprints, none allowed sufficient time to embed themselves, yet all asked the club to fundamentally reshape its identity.
Gary Neville’s critique following Amorim’s exit cut to the heart of the issue. “The experiments have got to stop,” he said. “Man Utd have got to appoint a manager that fits the DNA of their club.” United have repeatedly tried to bend themselves around managers rather than appointing managers who understand what United are supposed to be.
This is where Solskjær’s name naturally resurfaces, as online betting sites soon marked him out as the post-Amorim favourite. Ole is not a revolutionary tactician, nor does he arrive with a rigid ideology that demands wholesale structural change. What he does bring is an instinctive understanding of Manchester United’s culture: fast transitions, attacking intent, trust in youth, and an emotional connection with supporters.
During his first tenure, particularly between 2019 and 2021, United played some of their most fluid football since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. The side counter-attacked with pace, pressed aggressively in big games, and restored a sense of belief among fans who had grown weary of cautious football and constant resets.
As a caretaker, Ole would offer something United desperately need right now: calm familiarity. He would not need months to learn the club, nor would he demand tactical upheaval. His presence would steady the dressing room, reconnect supporters, and allow United to finish the season with clarity rather than confusion.
Crucially, it would buy the club time. Time to properly plan for a permanent appointment ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
However, Ole’s potential return should not be mistaken as a long-term solution. Even his most ardent supporters would acknowledge that his first spell ultimately fell short of delivering silverware. His role now would be transitional, setting the tone for what comes next.
That next appointment must heed Neville’s warning. “You can’t say these managers are not good coaches,” he said, “but they’ve all come in with different ideas, different styles of play, different philosophies and none of them really fit the Man Utd way.”
United’s next permanent manager must be attack-minded, brave, and aligned with the club’s historic identity. Neville was explicit in his assessment. “The club have to find a manager now who’s got experience, who’s willing to play fast, entertaining, attacking, aggressive football.”
This is not about chasing trends or importing systems that thrive elsewhere. Ajax will not change for anybody. Barcelona will not change for anybody. United should not either.
Ole as caretaker would act as a bridge between eras, a reminder of what Manchester United football should look like while the hierarchy finally commits to a coherent, long-term vision.
His return would not be about rewriting history but about restoring direction. Ole once left “by the front door.” A short return could help ensure the next manager walks into a club that finally knows who it is again.
COMMENTS