Solskjaer backed for Premier League return as Ipswich seek McKenna's replacement

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is being considered for the Ipswich Town managerial role, more than three years after his dismissal from Manchester United, with former United striker Louis Saha publicly backing the Norwegian for a Premier League return.

Ipswich are searching for a new head coach after Kieran McKenna left Portman Road, and Solskjaer, 53, has emerged as a candidate. Saha, who played alongside Solskjaer at Old Trafford, believes his compatriot has had enough time to grow from his previous experience.

“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves another chance in the Premier League,” Saha said. “He’s a top guy and I think he did a good job at Manchester United. Some periods were really good to watch, and others were difficult to manage with the personalities involved, because the foundation was unstable. Now, having a new start with a new club like Ipswich, I think he will have improved over the last three years. I think that’s exciting for him and for them.”

Solskjaer’s only Premier League management experience came at Cardiff City and Manchester United. His time at Old Trafford ended in November 2021 following a run of poor results, and a subsequent seven-month stint at Besiktas ended with his dismissal. He has been without a club since.

The 53-year-old was also considered for the United job earlier this year following Ruben Amorim’s sacking, with club chiefs holding talks before ultimately appointing Michael Carrick. Solskjaer has made no secret of his desire to return to management, telling the Oslo Business Forum in 2024 that he would welcome another call from United without hesitation.

“If the family asks, I would say yes every day of the week,” he said. “It feels wrong to talk about jobs that other people have now, but I would say yes, of course.”

Solskjaer has also spoken about his ambition to manage the Norwegian national team at some point in his career, though no timeline has been indicated. An appointment at Ipswich would mark his third Premier League role and his first since leaving United.