Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after humiliating defeat to Watford

Manchester United have officially dismissed manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a 4-1 defeat at Watford that has left the club humiliated. So who steps up to the biggest job in football?

Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester United has decided to dismiss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager after a humiliating 4-1 defeat away to Watford on Sunday.

An emergency virtual board meeting was called by the Glazer family during the second half of the match and within the talks, which started at about 7pm Sunday night (UK time), the group managing director, Richard Arnold, was instructed to negotiate the precise terms of Solskajer’s departure with the Norwegian.

It is believed that it would cost United about £7.5 million in severance pay to end his three-year tenure.

Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has officially been sacked.

Solskjaer signed a new contract in August but his deal is understood to include a one-season compensation payment should he be sacked.

Darren Fletcher, the club’s technical director, is poised to take temporary charge.

Solskjaer admitted he was “embarrassed” after his team’s fifth defeat in their last seven Premier League games.

He was booed by fans after the final whistle which marked the side’s seventh defeat in 13 games.

Manchester United can confirm that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as Manager.

Thank you for everything, Ole ❤️#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2021

Asked after the match if he was still the right person to lead the club, he said: “I always have belief in myself. Of course, at the moment it’s a difficult time for us, I can see [that]. I can trust every single one out there to give what they have. The staff is fantastic but the results are difficult of course but I believe we can turn this around.”

United’s latest slide comes after heavy pre-season investment on Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane that were expected to turn the team into title-winners for the first time since 2013.

Financial results released this week for the first quarter of the season showed United’s wage bill has risen 23 percent.

However, that has not been rewarded on the field as the Red Devils find themselves 12 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea down in seventh and out of the League Cup.

Solskjaer famously scored United’s winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich but has failed to win a trophy since his return to the club.

His legendary status as a United player meant the 48-year-old retained the support of fans even as results went downhill in recent months.

But even they began to turn on him on Sunday as he was booed while holding his hands up in apology.

Ole's post-match reaction.#MUFC | #WATMUN

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 20, 2021

“We were outfought,” said Solskjaer. “The first half is the worst we’ve played and it’s hard for me to explain why we played the way we did.

“The boys are in a terrible place in their heads now -- we have let ourselves down and the fans down. It’s hard to stand here and explain that, but that’s football and we have to take the flak for it.”

Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag are the frontrunners to be Solskjaer’s successor.

United goalkeeper David De Gea supported his manager saying everyone had a part to blame in the blame game.

For sure something is wrong. It is very wrong. What we are doing is very low level and very poor. I have to say sorry to the fans.

“It’s been very bad for a long time. For a club like Manchester United, we have to fight for trophies and for big things. We are far from that. Let’s see. We have to keep working hard and stick together. We always say the same things but that’s the truth. We have to look at ourselves, one by one.”

De Gea added: “I think it’s not acceptable. It’s easy to blame the manager and staff but sometimes it’s the players.

Originally published by The Times

Originally published as Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after humiliating defeat to Watford