Solskjaer reveals gut-wrenching text before Man Utd sacking after players broke down in tears in dressing room

FORMER Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he received a dreaded text from chief executive Ed Woodward before being sacked.

The legendary Red Devils striker, who scored arguably the club’s most iconic goal to win the 1999 Champions League final, took charge at Old Trafford in December 2018 following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed as Manchester United manager after a 4-1 loss to WatfordAFP

Solskjaer has revealed the text he received from Ed Woodward before he was sackedYouTube / The Overlap

Initially an interim coach, the Norwegian, now 51, ended up spending nearly three years in the role.

He guided them to a Champions League quarter-final in 2019 and a second place finish in the Premier League two years later.

But in November 2021, after a run of just one win in seven games, Solskjaer was axed following a 4-1 defeat to Watford.

And he has now confirmed it was a text from Woodward that led to his dismissal.

Speaking on Stick to Football, he said: “At half-time against Watford I knew, that’s it.

“So the team talk at half-time was about ‘Whoever wants to play can play, put your hand up if you don’t want to play’. Made a few changes, couple of the lads actually in tears, and they had a go.

“Then after the game I knew, but I didn’t hear anything. But I still knew.

“The next morning you get a text: ‘I want to see you in my office’. So I knew.

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“I’d just left my missus at the airport and then text her ‘I think I’ll be coming back with you’.

“I took about five minutes with Ed [Woodward] and then stayed and spoke to some of the lads and did an interview because I needed to do it properly.

“I’ve always seen managers leave it… like two months later they slag someone off… that’s not me. I’m like ‘No, I want to do it now, tell everyone I’m proud and privileged and move on’.”

Solskjaer, who departed with a win percentage of 54.17, also insisted nothing about his future had been discussed prior to the Watford defeat.

But he claims he knew his time as head coach was up because “some of the players stopped running”, while others stopped “believing”.

Solskjaer left with Man Utd seventh in the Premier League as Austrian Ralf Rangnick came in to succeed him until the end of the season.

But very little improved after the change in manager as they finished the campaign in sixth.

Erik ten Hag was then appointed in the summer of 2022 – months after Woodward’s nine-year stint as Man Utd chief came to an end.

Former Man Utd chief Ed Woodward told Solskjaer he was being axedAFP

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