Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Faces Awkward Reunion With Two Man Utd Players

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a potentially awkward reunion if he returns to Manchester United with two players who remain at the club from his first spell in charge.

Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are the two main contenders to become the interim boss at Old Trafford until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim's sudden sacking.

The Portuguese was dismissed the day after a 1-1 draw at Elland Road against Leeds United following a breakdown in relations with football director Jason Wilcox behind the scenes.

United are now seeking an interim boss for the rest of this campaign, before appointing a permanent manager in the summer.

Darren Fletcher is currently in caretaker charge of the team and oversaw United's 2-2 Premier League draw in midweek against Burnley at Turf Moor.

The former midfielder will be in charge again tomorrow at Old Trafford when United host Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round of the FA Cup.

United's next game after this one is on January 17 against Manchester City at Old Trafford, when an interim boss could be in place by.

Both Solskjaer and Carrick have previously been in charge of United for varying amounts of time.

Carrick led United for three games following Solskjaer's sacking in late 2021, before Ralf Rangnick's spell as interim manager.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. (Image: Getty)

Solskjaer originally took interim charge of United in 2018 following Jose Mourinho's departure, which was later made permanent in March 2019.

In his two full seasons in charge, Solskjaer led United to third and second place finishes in the Premier League as well as the Europa League final, which Villarreal won on penalties.

The now 52-year-old was sacked in November 2021 after a poor run of form, and has since had a spell in charge of Turkish side Besiktas, where he was sacked in August 2025 following a failure to qualify for European football.

Last year, Solskjaer said he had only heard from three United players since he had left the club.

Two of those three remain at United in the form of Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire, plus defender Victor Lindelof who is now at Aston Villa after his Old Trafford contract expired last summer.

It could mean potentially awkward reunions with the likes of Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw, who remain regular starters at United and date back to Solskjaer's first spell in charge.

Dalot was sent out on loan to AC Milan under Solskjaer's charge for the 2020-21 season, but has since returned to become a first choice selection on either the right or left flank.

Shaw has had well documented injury problems during his time at Old Trafford, but has started all of United's 21 Premier League games so far this season.

In May 2025, he told BBC Sport: "For me, Harry Maguire has always been a leader and a fighter. I was never in doubt when I signed him. He walked in the door that he'll be captain. Of course there's another captain there, Bruno.

"So the two of them, top human beings. Them two and Victor are probably the only ones I've heard from in the club since I left."

Carrick is said to have already met United chiefs and Solskjaer is meeting club officials face-to-face today.