Should MU consider choosing Solskjaer if forced to dismiss Amorim?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was recently dismissed by Besiktas. Meanwhile, at MU, Ruben Amorim might leave during this challenging time because the situation is too much for the Portuguese manager to handle. On social platforms, supporters have proposed that the club’s leadership bring Solsa back to Old Trafford.

Besiktas dismisses Solskjaer

On the morning of August 29, Besiktas club terminated the contract of coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Besiktas lost in the 2025/26 Conference League play-off matches. Besiktas performed decently, drawing 1-1 away against Lausanne (Switzerland), but surprisingly lost 0-1 at home in the second leg, causing them to miss the qualification round. This was seen as the final straw forcing Besiktas to seek a new head coach.

Previously, Besiktas qualified for the Europa League qualifying round but were defeated by Shakhtar Donetsk and had to drop down to the Conference League play-offs. Although this was the lowest tier in European competitions, which should have been manageable for the Turkish club, they ended up losing in an unbelievable manner. This means the Turkish team will not participate in European cups for the 2025/26 season, the first time since 2022/23. To prevent further issues and calm angry fans, Besiktas had no choice but to part ways with Solsa.

Solskjaer took charge of Besiktas earlier this year after the club changed coaches mid-season. Under the Norwegian’s leadership, Besiktas improved significantly, finishing 4th in the 2024/25 domestic league. Notably, during that time, Solskjaer’s Besiktas consistently won important matches, including victories over the top two teams Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. The decision to sack Solskjaer, regardless of the reason, has sparked much debate in Turkey. Some believe Besiktas treated Solsa unfairly, as the club has never been patient with its head coaches.

Of course, the fault is not only with Besiktas. It also lies with Solsa, whose coaching style was considered incompatible with the current squad at Besiktas. However, from England, MU fans suddenly had the idea of a reunion between Solsa and the club.

Does MU’s board want Solskjaer back?

Although Erik Ten Hag brought two trophies to MU, he and the current coach Ruben Amorim have made some MU fans feel they were wrong to judge Solsa negatively when he was managing the club. Honestly, Solsa is regarded as the best MU coach since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, with two consecutive top-4 finishes (even finishing second) and reaching the Europa League final. Solsa’s spirit, mentality, and the so-called "Red Devil blood" still run strongly within him.

However, not all MU fans share this view. Many still recall doubts about Solsa’s tactical abilities. The Norwegian coach excelled in setting formations and strategies before matches but was slow or unresponsive to opponents’ changes during the game. Yet, compared side by side, Solsa might be much more adaptable than Amorim. MU supporters have struggled with the team to see the benefits of Amorim’s tactical system, which seems ill-suited for the Premier League. Up to now, Amorim’s favored 3-4-3 formation continues to prove ineffective at MU.

This formation demands a lot, especially in personnel — which is currently a problem for MU. They cannot bring in players suitable for Amorim’s 3-4-3 or even 3-4-1-2 system. MU’s last three games and the overall performance since Amorim took charge feel like two magnets with the same pole repelling each other. People have even asked Amorim to change the formation since MU has never adapted well to the three-defender setup, wasting many options. Amorim candidly said he would reluctantly consider it.

Amorim is clearly a "thorny issue" at Old Trafford. He is stubborn and inflexible. Fans would respect and trust Amorim more if he rotated formations and used all players in various positions but the players failed to perform — then the story would be different. But that’s not the case. Amorim’s discipline is good, but sometimes a coach needs to be "flexible" because it could lead to success. MU fans want the board to fire Amorim, but they cannot do so now. It seems the board’s "limit" has not been reached, so they continue to tolerate Amorim. Moreover, firing Amorim would come with a huge compensation cost.

For example, if MU wants to hire a new coach, they must pay a buyout fee as they did with Amorim. The board is currently complaining about financial difficulties, so firing Amorim now is not advisable. Perhaps Amorim will agree to leave after a mutual agreement to part ways. Then MU would reduce a worrying expense. As for Solsa? The board might consider him if they truly separate from Amorim, but the club would return to a state where everything feels "temporary." The journey back to the glorious past remains uncertain.

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