Pranav Nair
Canada turn their attention to former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Former Manchester United manager and club icon Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is being courted by Canada to take over the men’s national team. This comes just two years before Canada co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the USA and Mexico.
Solskjaer made an impact during his spell as a player and manager at Old Trafford. He is yet to return to management since being let go by United in 2021 and could now take his talents to the inernational stage.
The North Americans are looking to replace John Herdman, who took them to their first FIFA World Cup in 36 years. However, he has since departed to manage MLS side Toronto FC.
According to the Evening Standard, Solskjaer and former Leeds United man Jesse Marsch are on Canada’s radar. Other names in contention include former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Paul Clement and former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka.
Forge FC coach Bobby Smyrniotis has also been interviewed and it now remains to be seen who comes out on top. Solskjaer’s time at Old Trafford might have ended with no trophies, but he did show the ability to compete against the best sides while playing attractive football. Not many managers since Alex Ferguson can claim to have managed that at the Theatre of Dreams.
Canada are keen to qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup. Should Solskajer accept the challenge, he will have a promising young squad at his disposal. LOSC Lille’s Jonatah David and Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies are the standout players and will give Canada a solid base to build a formidable team around.
International football has it’s own share of pitfalls and it should test Solskjaer’s ability to get the best out of the roster as a tactician rather then as a recruiter. Three years on from his last job, the jury is still out on whether the Norwegian can make the cut as a winning manager. Time will tell if that is the case.
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The likes of Jose Mourinho and Frank Lampard have already rejected Canada’s approaches. It remains to be seen if Solskjaer is brave enough to take up the challenge of managing an international side.,
