Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's brutal five-minute meeting that dashed Man Utd job hopes

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left bitterly disappointed after a brief meeting with one of Manchester United's bosses

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed as Manchester United manager in a meeting that lasted just five minutes. In November 2021, a run of poor form to start the 2021/22 campaign culminated in United's 4-1 drubbing at Watford.

The defeat proved fatal for Solskjaer, who knew immediately that he would be sacked, even while the Red Devils were still only 2-0 down at half-time.

Yet, the Norwegian wasn’t officially relieved of his duties until he was called into a meeting by then-executive vice chairman Ed Woodward the following morning. There, the United legend met with Woodward for just five minutes before being sacked.

Solskjaer later told the Stick to Football Podcast: "At half-time against Watford I knew, that's it. So the team talk at half-time was about, 'Whoever wants to play can play, put your hand up if you don't want to play'. Made a few changes, couple of the lads were actually in tears, and they had a go.

"Then after the game I knew, but I didn't hear anything. But I still knew. The next morning you get a text: 'I want to see you in my office'. So I knew. I'd just left my missus at the airport and then text her 'I think I'll be coming back with you'.

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"I took about five minutes with Ed [Woodward] and then stayed and spoke to some of the lads and did an interview because I needed to do it properly. I've always seen managers leave it... like two months later they slag someone off... that's not me. I'm like 'No, I want to do it now, tell everyone I'm proud and privileged and move on.'"

The former Molde boss, who took over United as an interim manager in December 2018 and was appointed as permanent manager three months later, has been linked with the vacant interim position at the club again over the past week.

Following a seven month tenure at Besiktas last year, the 52-year-old was one of the potential managers who met United’s director of football Jason Wilcox over the past few days as the latter looked to appoint a successor to Ruben Amorim, who was sacked on January 6.

Both Solskjaer and fellow United legend Michael Carrick pitched for the job, though Carrick was deemed particularly impressive thanks to his plans and has now won the race. His appointment is set to be announced imminently.

United have reached an agreement in principle with Carrick for him to become interim manager until the end of the season. All parties are now working to finalise a deal, with Carrick’s contract expected to run until the end of June.

Confirmation of Carrick's arrival could potentially arrive later on Tuesday. The 44-year-old's first match at the helm is likely to be Saturday's Manchester derby.

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