How Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became too good to ignore for Manchester United

Manchester United have appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as permanent manager, handing the Norwegian a three-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2022.

Solskjaer appeared only to be an interim appointment when he came in to replace Jose Mourinho in December but results since then have made him simply too good to ignore.

United have won 14 of their 19 games under Solskjaer, scoring 40 goals and reinstilling some of that “regal swagger” the club became synonymous with under Sir Alex Ferguson.

A remarkable last-minute comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals was the icing on the cake of an impressive second half of the season and now the club can begin to plan for their future in earnest.

‘The next stage in our history’

“Since coming in as caretaker manager in December, the results Ole has delivered speak for themselves,” said United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward.

“More than just performances and results, Ole brings a wealth of experience, both as a player and as a coach, coupled with a desire to give young players their chance and a deep understanding of the culture of the club. This all means that he is the right person to take Manchester United forward.

“I want to thank Ole and the coaching team for everything they have done so far and congratulate him on this richly deserved appointment. The fans and everyone at the club are behind him as he looks to take us where we need to be and build the next stage of our history.”