Solskjaer signs new Manchester United contract

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has signed a new three-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Saturday. Solskjaer's United finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the 2020-21 Premier League season and reached the Europa League final, losing 11-10 on penalties to Villarreal. United confirmed the Norwegian's new deal contained an option for a further year.

Solskjaer delighted with new United contract

Solskjaer said: "Everyone knows the feeling I have for this club, and I am delighted to have signed this new contract. It is an exciting time for Manchester United, we have built a squad with a good balance of youth and experienced players that are hungry for success. I have a fantastic coaching team around me, and we are all ready to take that next step on our journey. Manchester United wants to be winning the biggest and best trophies and that's what we are all striving for. We have improved, both on and off the pitch, and that will continue over the coming seasons. I can't wait to get out in front of a packed Old Trafford and get this campaign started."

Former United striker Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho on a caretaker basis in December 2018, after the Portuguese boss was sacked, and was handed the job on a permanent basis three months later. He committed to a three-year deal at the time and has now signed up to stay at Old Trafford.

Woodward's days numbered

There is change afoot at the club, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward due to leave at the end of the year. Woodward said Solskjaer had justified the club showing their faith in him with the extension. "Ole and his staff have worked tirelessly putting the foundations in place for long-term success on the pitch," he said. "The results of that have become increasingly visible over the past two seasons and we are all looking forward to seeing this exciting team develop further in the years ahead. What is especially pleasing is the way this progress has been achieved with a blend of young, homegrown talent and top-class recruits, playing attacking football in the best traditions of Manchester United. We are more confident than ever that, under Ole's leadership, we are heading in the right direction."

Waiting for silverware

Solskjaer has yet to win a trophy as boss of the Red Devils, or reach a major domestic cup final. However, United have finished third and second in the league in his first two full seasons at the helm, guaranteeing lucrative Champions League income. They finished five points ahead of third-placed Liverpool last term, losing just six of 38 domestic league games, albeit that was not enough to be competitive with City, who took the title by 12 points.

Their 2020-21 win percentage of 55.3 in the Premier League was the second highest United have achieved in a season since Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013, beaten only by the 65.8 per cent they managed under Mourinho when finishing second in the 2017-18 campaign.

The 73 league goals they scored was the highest United have tallied in the post-Ferguson era, with the team's 12 away wins in the top flight also the most they have mustered since the long-serving Scot stepped aside.

In fact, United have not lost away from Old Trafford in the Premier League since going down 2-0 to Liverpool in January 2020 – that is a run of 26 matches.