What Happened to Ole Gunnar Solskjær?
Ole Gunnar Solskjær is a Norwegian professional football manager and former player, best known for his prolific playing career at Manchester United and his subsequent managerial spell at the club. After being sacked by Manchester United in November 2021, he took on a brief role as manager of Turkish club Beşiktaş in early 2025, which ended in August 2025. As of July 2026, Solskjær is currently out of a permanent managerial role, having recently been linked with the Ipswich Town job and a temporary return to Manchester United, while also serving as a UEFA technical observer.
Quick Answer
Ole Gunnar Solskjær was most recently the manager of Turkish Süper Lig club Beşiktaş, a role he took in January 2025 but was sacked from in August 2025 after failing to qualify for European football. Since then, he has been without a permanent managerial position. In January 2026, he was linked with a return to Manchester United as interim manager, but the role went to Michael Carrick. As of July 2026, he has been linked with the vacant Ipswich Town manager job and was reportedly approached by the FA for the England head coach role, though he continues to serve as a UEFA technical observer.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Scores Champions League Winning Goal
Ole Gunnar Solskjær famously scores the injury-time winner against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League final, securing Manchester United's historic treble.
Retires from Playing Football
After a career plagued by knee injuries, Solskjær announces his retirement from professional football.
Appointed Molde FK Manager
Solskjær returns to his native Norway to manage his former club, Molde FK, leading them to their first-ever Tippeligaen titles in 2011 and 2012.
Takes Charge of Cardiff City
Solskjær takes on the managerial role at Cardiff City, but the club is relegated from the Premier League during his tenure.
Appointed Manchester United Caretaker Manager
Following the dismissal of José Mourinho, Solskjær returns to Manchester United as caretaker manager, sparking an immediate improvement in the team's form.
Becomes Permanent Manchester United Manager
After a successful interim spell, winning 14 of his first 19 matches, Solskjær is appointed permanent manager of Manchester United on a three-year contract.
Sacked by Manchester United
Following a poor run of results, including a 4-1 loss to Watford, Solskjær is sacked as manager of Manchester United.
Voluntary Coaching at Kristiansund FK
Solskjær begins coaching the youth team at his hometown club, Kristiansund FK, on a voluntary basis, maintaining a connection to football.
Appointed Beşiktaş Manager
After three years out of top-flight management, Solskjær is appointed manager of Turkish Süper Lig club Beşiktaş, signing a deal until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Sacked by Beşiktaş
Solskjær's tenure at Beşiktaş ends after just nine months, as he is sacked following the club's failure to qualify for European football through the Conference League play-offs.
Suggests 'Retirement' from Management
Solskjær suggests he is 'retired' from management, enjoying life on Kristiansund island, but remains open to an exciting international job. He also continues as a UEFA match analyst.
Linked with Manchester United Interim Role
Solskjær is linked with a shock return to Manchester United as interim manager after Ruben Amorim's departure, but the club ultimately appoints Michael Carrick.
Resumes UEFA Technical Observer Role
After being linked with the Manchester United interim job, Solskjær returns to his role as a UEFA technical observer for Champions League matches.
Linked with Ipswich Town Manager Job
Solskjær emerges as a leading candidate for the vacant manager position at newly-promoted Ipswich Town after Kieran McKenna steps down.
Reportedly Approached for England Head Coach Role
Reports indicate that the FA explored Ole Gunnar Solskjær as an option for the England head coach role before appointing Thomas Tuchel, though he was not a serious candidate.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Ole Gunnar Solskjær's journey in football has been marked by iconic moments as a player and a challenging, yet often promising, managerial career. After a legendary playing career with Manchester United, where he earned the nickname 'the Baby-faced Assassin' and famously scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final, Solskjær transitioned into coaching. He managed Molde FK in Norway across two spells, winning two Tippeligaen titles and a Norwegian Football Cup, and had a brief, less successful stint with Cardiff City.
His return to Manchester United as caretaker manager in December 2018, following José Mourinho's dismissal, sparked an immediate upturn in form, leading to his permanent appointment in March 2019. During his tenure, Solskjær led United to a second-place finish in the Premier League in the 2020-21 season and reached the 2021 UEFA Europa League final, which they lost on penalties. However, a poor run of results in the 2021-22 season ultimately led to his sacking in November 2021.
Following his departure from Old Trafford, Solskjær spent over three years out of top-flight management, though he did coach the youth team at Kristiansund FK on a voluntary basis from September 2022 and served as a UEFA Match Analyst. In January 2025, he made his return to club management, taking the helm at Turkish Süper Lig side Beşiktaş. This spell was short-lived, however, as he was sacked in August 2025 after the club failed to qualify for European football through the Conference League play-offs.
In November 2025, Solskjær indicated he was enjoying a semi-retired life on Kristiansund island, stating he was financially secure and would only consider a return to management for a truly exciting project, particularly mentioning a national team role. Despite these comments, January 2026 saw him heavily linked with a shock interim return to Manchester United after Ruben Amorim's departure, a role that ultimately went to his former assistant, Michael Carrick. He subsequently resumed his duties as a UEFA technical observer.
Most recently, as of June 2026, Solskjær has emerged as a leading candidate for the vacant manager position at newly-promoted Ipswich Town, following Kieran McKenna's departure. Furthermore, in July 2026, reports surfaced that the FA had explored Solskjær as an option for the England head coach role before appointing Thomas Tuchel, though he was not considered a serious candidate. Solskjær remains without a permanent managerial role as of July 19, 2026, continuing to assess his options for a return to the dugout.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Ole Gunnar Solskjær made different choices?