Manchester United have confirmed that former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the 2018/19 season.
He will lead the club for the remainder of the season with a permanent appointment due in the summer.
United have moved quickly following the sacking of Jose Mourinho yesterday and Solksjaer will be joined by former assistant manager Mike Phelan who has been named first-team coach. Existing coaches Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna are to remain at the club.
Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 366 appearances for United between 1996 and 2007. In 2008 he became the club’s reserve-team manager, before taking the managerial role at FC Molde in Norway.
He will take charge of the first team with immediate effect and will remain in place while the club "conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new full-time manager".
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is widely believed to be United's number one target to take over permanently in the summer but the club would have to pay a fortune to get him out of his current contract. Other potential candidates are former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone.
Solksjaer should prove a popular choice with United fans because of his goal-scoring record and association with one of the greatest periods in the club's history. He told the club's website: "Manchester United is in my heart and it’s brilliant to be coming back in this role. I’m really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club,”
United's executive vice chairman Ed Woodward this morning described Solksjaer as a "club legend".
He will be joined by Mike Phelan as first-team coach, together with Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna. #MUFC
