Manchester United

Mike Phelan to assist Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United?

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 19 December 2018

Former Manchester United assistant boss Mike Phelan is reportedly being lined up as interim manager Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer's number two at Old Trafford.

Mike Phelan is reportedly being lined up for a return to Manchester United as interim manager Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer's assistant.

Phelan spent five years as Sir Alex Ferguson's number two between 2008 and 2013 before being moved on as a result of the Scot's retirement.

The 56-year-old had previously been a player, worked with the reserves and acted as a first-team coach, spending 19 years as a United servant in a number of different roles.

The Telegraph reports that the board are keen to draft in someone with intrinsic knowledge of the club as they look to steady the ship following a poor first half of the season.

Solskjaer is expected to be confirmed as the new interim boss in the coming days after United appeared to accidentally reveal his impending appointment.

The Norwegian will replace Jose Mourinho, who parted company with the 20-time champions earlier today with the team sitting 19 points off the top of the Premier League table and 11 adrift of the Champions League places.

Phelan, who most recently managed Hull City from 2016 to 2017, is understood to be the frontrunner to be appointed alongside Solskjaer, with the board acknowledging that getting rid of him when David Moyes initially joined was a mistake.