Ole Gunnar Solskjaer favourite to take shock managerial role as odds slashed on former Man Utd manager

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been named as the new odds-on favourite to take a new job and end his two-and-a-half year spell out of football after his Manchester United exit.

The Norwegian was sacked by United in November 2021 after a 4-1 defeat against Watford at Vicarage Road.

He has been out of football ever since, and although he admits that he has received many offers to make a comeback - including two from Saudi Arabia - he wanted to wait for the right opportunity.

If you asked fans to name that ideal opportunity for Solskjaer, their first thought might not be to name the Republic of Ireland job, which has remained vacant since Stephen Kenny was sacked in November.

But the role has been assumed on a caretaker basis by one of Solskjaer's former Manchester United team-mates, with John O'Shea taking the reins.

United icons Steve Bruce and Roy Keane have featured at the top of the bookmakers' odds for several weeks - but Solskjaer has effectively emerged out of nowhere to lead the current odds.

That's according to Betfair, who have priced the Norwegian up at 3/10 to take the Republic of Ireland managerial role.

He was previously available at odds of 80/1, meaning there has been a seismic shift in the likelihood of the 51-year-old.

The reason for that shift is unclear, with no indication that Solskjaer has held talks with the FAI.

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However, his name has been mentioned among Ireland supporters as one of their preferred candidates to take the role.

Speaking on The Overlap's Stick to Football about his future managerial prospects last month, Solskjaer explained: "I have a few offers, but I'm not ready.

"It's got to be somewhere I can be myself, not like anyone dictating, 'You need to do this, you need to do that'.

"When you have been at United and managed them, you learn a few things, and you want to do it your way the next time.

"I love England and the Premier League. Even the Championship feels stronger than ever. But I don't feel bound to England.

"Maybe a different challenge where I need to experience a new culture and learn a new language. The DNA and identity of the club are important, a club where I can be the best me. It has to be a match."