Sport

Ole Gunnar Solskjær ‘shortlisted’ for Club Brugge manager’s job

It's been almost 18 months since he last coached at senior level.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 7th April 2023

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær could return to football management as Club Brugge are reportedly considering him as their new head coach.

The club legend and ex-United boss has been out of first-team coaching ever since his time at Old Trafford came to an end on 21 November 2021 following a torrid run of results, culminating in an embarrassing 4-1 loss to Watford.

Ole spent a total of three years as manager after getting the job full-time following an incredible start as interim coach and has been heading up the youth squad for his hometown team, Kristiansund BK, since September last year.

Taking charge of his youngest son Elijah’s under-14s side, it’s been a while since Solskjær has been involved at the senior level. However, according to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Norwegian has been named “on the shortlist” at Brugge.

The Belgian Pro League side have been without a permanent manager since they got rid of former Premier League manager Scott Parker, who lasted just 12 games at the club.

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While fellow countryman and current Standard Liege manager Ronny Deila is said to be the first-choice target for Club Brugge, Tavolieri claims that Ole is also in the top three alongside former Bayern Munich assistant coach, Dino Toppmoller, who left along with manager Julian Nagelsmann last month.

If the 50-year-old can rediscover the kind of form he found during his high points — winning 14 out of his first 19 games, not to mention going on the longest unbeaten run (29 matches) of side in English top-flight history — it could be a masterstroke for a club of Brugge’s calibre.

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Ole also finished third and then second in his first two seasons at United and took them to the latter stages of multiple cup competitions. Meanwhile, the Belgian team won their 18th title last season but are currently sitting fifth in the table, 20 points off the top and in need of some rhythm.

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Whether Ole would even consider an offer at this time remains to be seen and no formal approach is yet to be made, especially with others above him on the list.

Moreover, with both of his sons still playing for Kristiansund, his eldest Noah making his senior debut against United in a friendly back in 2019, he might want to stay close to home for now.

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Nevertheless, his time at Old Trafford was very much a story of ‘almost but not quite’, with some Reds still believing he deserved more time and better backing in the transfer window.

Could it be time for him to make a comeback in first-team football?

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Featured Image — Manchester United (via Twitter)

Sport

Keely Hodgkinson is setting up her own running event next year as she prepares for a world record attempt

Danny Jones Danny Jones Keely Klassic race Keely Hodgkinson world record attempt race 2025

Greater Manchester’s middle-distance running maverick, Keely Hodgkinson, has just been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year and we couldn’t be prouder, but she’s already eyeing up her next accolade: the 800m world record – and she’s hoping to do it at her own brand-new running event.

The Atherton-born athlete was one of Team GB’s shining lights at Paris 2024, storming ahead of the pack to win her first Olympic gold medal in just her second summer games but it’s been an unbelievable calendar year for her as a whole.

She already held the British women’s record before going on to not just defend her title but actually better her time at the European Athletics Championships back in June, with only five people in history having ever run it faster than her.

However, the Tyldesley-schooled track star believes she isn’t too far away from achieving another dream and one which would forever cement her amongst the sporting greats. She’s even creating the perfect opportunity for herself early in the new year.

Hodgkinson is launching an all-new running event of her own called the ‘Keely Klassic’, which is set to take place in Birmingham and will effectively serve as her first real attempt at smashing the 800m record.

Being registered as an official Bronze meeting on the World Athletics Indoor Tour, the day of racing will feature around nine heats involving top athletes, live music and entertainment, as well as celebrity appearances and more.

With the BBC themselves already in talks to broadcast the very first edition of what her teams hopes will be an annual event, it is rumoured to be an hour-long televised show and the headliner will be Keely’s attempt at breaking a 800m record – or two…

As well as aiming to smash Jolanda Ceplak’s all-time best (1:55.82) set on 15 Februrary 2002 – which just so happens to be the day Keely was born and when the Klassic will be taking place – she’s also going to try and surpass the outdoor record of 1:53.28 set by Czech runner Jarmila Kratochvilova back in 1983.

Speaking to the BBC after lifting the 2024 Sports Personality Award, the 22-year-old runner and Olympian said: “I’m pretty close [to the world record], I would like to think. I have seen this year what my body is capable of and I’m excited to push on.

“That world record is something I will always have in the back of my head. But I have so many years to get stronger so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”

She also said she has no fear in making her goals public as it only serves as motivation to push for them under the public eye, having done exactly the same in the lead-up to her first Olympics back in Tokyo.

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The Wigan hero made it clear that the 800m world record was what she wanted next almost immediately after winning gold in Paris back in the summer and it sounds like her preparation and training has now got her into what sounds like touching distance.

Hodgkinson made a point of thanking her coach Trevor Painter on the stage after he name was revealed too, stating, “I wouldn’t be where I am without his guidance that I’ve had since I was 17.”

She only doubled down on her gratitude after the fact as well, adding: “I trust in Trevor and Jenny [Meadows] a lot. I know what shape I’m in before I step on the start line.

“[A world record break] all depends if it comes together and that can depend on many things in athletics”, she insists, but it’s clear that if she does manage to go and smash another feat – be that the indoor/outdoor record in 2025 or another time in the near future – their wisdom will no doubt play a part.

Roll on the Keely Klassic.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Erik van Leeuwen (via Wikimedia Commons)/BBC (screenshot via YouTube)

Sport

Is Marcus Rashford really gearing up to leave Manchester United in January?

Danny Jones Danny Jones Is Marcus Rashford leaving Manchester United?

Marcus Rashford has been one of the best homegrown talents at Manchester United in recent years and a fan favourite ever since he broke onto the scene back in 2016, but things haven’t been going so smoothly of late and it now looks like he could be leaving the club after nearly two decades.

Despite hitting the heights of 30 goals during the 2022/23 campaign, Rashford‘s output over the past couple of seasons has dipped and he has been known as more of a ‘purple-patch’ player throughout most of his time as a senior player at Old Trafford.

There is nothing United fans want more than to see the Wythenshawe winger rediscover his form and go on another one of those streaks as a fresh chapter begins under the new head coach, Rúben Amorim, but it looks as though Rashford could be gearing up to call it a day in the iconic red shirt.

Now 27 years old and entering what would be traditionally seen as his peak for most footballers, the number 10 told journalist Henry Winter that he is “ready for a new challenge”, which could very well signal a move away from Man United in the upcoming transfer window.

Having spent a day off with the veteran sports writer this week, the pair visited his old primary school Button Lane to hand out hundreds of Christmas presents, watching kids play on the football pitch he helped fund and once again tackle the issue of food poverty in Greater Manchester and beyond.

As Winter goes on to explain in his lengthy post on X, Rashford woke up to headlines speculating that his boyhood club have now put him “up for sale” and are reportedly willing to listen to offers in January.

Although the Manc footballer didn’t categorically outline a desire to leave, nor to stay necessarily, he did say that he feels “next steps” are due but that “when I leave it’s going to be no hard feelings. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.

“If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse”, he continued. “I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person. When I leave I’ll make a statement and it will be from me”, adding that he’ll always be a Red, “100%”.

So how likely is it that Rashford will leave the club in January? Well, being left out of the Manchester derby – a decision he made no bones about being disappointed over – clearly signals that Amorim wasn’t totally happy with his overall preparation but the Portuguese manager did respond in a shrewd manner:

Agreeing with the United star, who at one time was considered one of England’s hottest prospects and is still unplayable at times when operating at his very best, the 39-year-old was mindful not to respond defensively to his comments but turn them into what he hopes will be shared motivation.

It’s also worth noting that Rashford wasn’t the only one dropped from the derby-winning team: Alejandro Garnacho, undoubtedly one of the club’s most promising talents who already delivers game-changing performances as his teammate has done so many times, was also left out for one reason or another.

Amorim reiterated that each week can be a clean slate and that he intends to observe everything from how players train and eat to how they dress and carry themselves around Carrington, especially when it comes to “engaging with the [rest of the] squad”, so this seemingly wasn’t an effort target the two.

The 39-year-old also assured that his decision wasn’t a disciplinary issue in any way, as Rashford hasn’t been left out of matchday squads or at the very least benched by former boss, Erik ten Hag, for turning up late to a team meeting and a rogue night-out in Belfast.

All that being said, while it appears there is no personal issue with Rashford, another element that will no doubt factor into whether he decides to leave United will be his increasingly fractious relationship with sections of the fan base, having shared more “despicable” direct messages with Winter too.

‘Enough is enough’: Marcus Rashford calls out fans for ‘months’ of abuse
Rashford has called out abusive supporters in the past and perhaps the endless online vitriol could result in him leaving United.

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Lastly, it’s also important to consider whether or not he is the right fit for Amorim’s unwavering 3-4-3 system that he is starting to implement on the current collection players.

Rashford has pace, skill, finishing ability and a great passing range, but his best position has always been cutting in off the flanks and unless he can nail down that spot as the left-sided number 10 (a position where there is already plenty of competition), the only other option is as a striker or a left wing-back.

Now, with lots of other attacking and creative midfielders in contention for those players sat just behind and on either side of the number nine, and two big-money forwards rotating up front, it will likely be a scrap every week to get in that starting XI.

Moreover, with Amad Diallo already showcasing exactly the kind of energy levels and persistent pressing that Amorim wants from his two 10s and his wing-backs, in particular – not to mention reaping the rewards for his efforts against Man City and in previous matches – it’s might be a case of can/will Rashford match that amount of running when asked.

Perhaps the better question is, do you think it’s time for Rashford to take on that new challenge away from Manchester United and do you expect to see him leaving in the January transfer window?

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Featured Images — soccer.ru (via Wikimedia Commons)

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