Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaces Jose Mourinho as Man United manager

Molde FK´s headcoach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates after the UEFA Champions League third round, second leg qualifying football match between Molde FK and Hibernian at the Aker Stadium in Molde, Norway, on August 16, 2018.Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have announced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim manager.

On Tuesday the club sacked Jose Mourinho as manager after two and a half years in charge at Old Trafford.

The Premier League club appeared to make the announcement about his replacement by mistake on their website on Tuesday evening, but the page was later deleted.

A video posted on the team's official website on Tuesday evening featured Solskjaer scoring the winner in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 1999.

It was captioned: "Solskjaer becomes our interim manager, 20 seasons after clinching the Treble with THAT goal at Camp Nou..."

Image source, ManUtd.com
Image caption,

The Manchester United website page which appeared to confirm Solskjaer's appointment

United, who are sixth in the Premier League, will look to appoint a permanent boss at the end of the season.

Solskjaer's first game in charge of United will be against Cardiff City on Saturday - he was relegated from the Premier League with the Bluebirds during an eight-month spell as manager in 2014.

"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," said Solskjær.

Following the news that Mourinho would be leaving the club United released a statement saying: "A caretaker-manager will be appointed until the end of the season while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager."

Media caption,

WATCH: Football fans react to Jose Mourinho sacking

It had already been confirmed the new manager would not be current assistant manager Michael Carrick, academy boss Nicky Butt, or former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Who is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

He is currently head coach at Norwegian association football club from Molde

Solskjaer is a former Manchester United player who scored 126 goals for United in 11 seasons at Old Trafford.

He currently manages Norwegian side Molde but their 2018 season has finished for the winter and does not restart until March.

The former Norway international will temporarily take over the manager job, and will have ex-United coach Mike Phelan as his assistant.

Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg welcomed Solskjaer's appointment on social media, writing: "Great day for Norwegian football. Good luck keeping control of the Red Devils." She later deleted the tweet, after United took down their initial video announcement.

Why was Jose Mourinho sacked?

Image source, Getty Images

The 55-year-old manager guided United to League Cup and Europa League titles, after taking over from Louis van Gaal in May 2016.

But they are sixth in the Premier League, 19 points behind leaders Liverpool, who beat them 3-1 on Sunday.

In a statement yesterday Manchester United said: "The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future."

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