Manchester United has announced former player Ole Gunnar Solskjær as their new manager barely a day after Jose Mourinho’s sack.

Image: Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Solskjær will serve as the club’s caretaker manager for the rest of this 2018/19 season.

Solskjær, who spent most of his football career with the Red Devils, scored a total of 126 goals in 366 appearances for United. His career at Old Trafford started in 1996 until 2007. He also played for the Norwegian national team between 1995 to 2007. In 2008, he was appointed the club’s reserve-team manager, before taking the managerial role at FC Molde in Norway.

A statement from United reads, “Solskjær will take charge of the first team with immediate effect and will remain in place while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new full-time manager. He will be joined by Mike Phelan as first-team coach, working alongside Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna.”

Speaking on his new appointment, the 45-year-old Norwegian football icon said: “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,”

United’s Executive Vice Chairman, Ed Woodward, described his relationship with the former striker as cordial and heartwarming, adding that Ole is a club legend with huge experience both on the pitch and in coaching roles.

“His history at Manchester United means he lives and breathes the culture here and everyone at the club is delighted to have him and Mike Phelan back,” Woodward said.

“We are confident they will unite the players and the fans as we head into the second half of the season.”

Solskjær is expected to successfully manage United’s disappointing form and boost their confidence ahead of the second EPL phase for the 2018/19 season.

The Red Devils are sixth-placed with 19 points behind league leaders, Liverpool, and 11 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Current results from Mourinho’s first 17 games have been adjudged the club’s worst performance in 28 years.

On Tuesday, prior to United’s official announcement, the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg celebrated Solskjaer’s new appointment on social media, describing it as “a great day for Norwegian football” and wishing him good luck at Old Trafford. The tweet was later deleted.