Man Utd legend backed for Middlesbrough job after Championship admission - 'It's worth the risk' | OneFootball

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been linked with the Middlesbrough job, and FLW's Boro fan pundit has been discussing his suitability.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Middlesbrough are on the hunt for a new boss after Rob Edwards walked out on the Teessiders for Wolves just under a third of the way through the Championship campaign.

Boro sit in second place heading into the international break, but are now searching for a replacement for the outgoing Rob Edwards, who, after just four months at the club, has jumped ship for the Premier League outfit.

Edwards was appointed during the summer, with his last job being with Luton Town in the Championship, where he was dismissed in January 2025 due to the Hatters' perilous position in the table, but now finds himself in the top flight once again.

Middlesbrough have been linked with numerous names, including Tony Mowbray, Gary O'Neil, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Raphael Wicky and Carlos Corberan, but most recently with former Manchester United and Besiktas boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Norwegian has been out of work since August 2025 after being dismissed from his role at Besiktas following the Turkish club's failure to qualify for any European football for the 2025/26 campaign.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has never appointed any manager who was currently in a job, and with Solskjaer out of work, he fits the criteria.

Football League World's Middlesbrough fan pundit, Liam Day, has shared their view on whether Solskjaer is someone Boro should take into consideration for the managerial role at the Riverside or not.

Liam said: "I'd definitely take him, to be honest. I think you would be silly not to.

"He did very well at Manchester United. Obviously, he fell off towards the end, but you know that club can get really toxic and a first big job, I would say.

"With Besiktas, that sacking seemed really unfair. He's got great experience; he played some really nice stuff at Man United.

"I can see why some fans would be hesitant, but a risk may need to be taken.

"He's got good experience, and I think it's definitely worth the risk because he could do really well for us."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to a role in the Championship, with the Middlesbrough vacancy open

In the Stick to Football podcast with Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott, Solskjaer opened up about a return to management, and said he would be willing to manage in the Championship, saying: "I'm looking, I'm open.

"When my kids ask me (where), I'm telling them mid-Championship and up, but I’m a football man. Is it Norway? Sweden? It’s about working with people. When I played Football Manager and Championship Manager, I like to defy the odds."

The 52-year-old began his managerial career in his native Norway with Molde in November 2010, signing a four-year contract to become the manager of the side that he scored 31 times for in 42 appearances before signing for the Red Devils.

Solskjaer won Molde’s first-ever league title in 2011, and backed it up again the following year by winning it again, followed by a Norwegian Cup triumph in 2013.

Then came a brief stint with Cardiff in January 2014, with the Bluebirds fighting relegation in the Premier League, which he was unable to save them from, leaving the Welsh side after eight months following a poor start to life in the Championship, before returning to Molde once again a year later, where he stayed for three years.

In December 2018, he was appointed as caretaker manager at Man United following the departure of José Mourinho, and would become the club's permanent manager in March 2019 after winning 14 of his 19 games in charge.

Solskjaer became the third-fastest United manager in history to reach 50 wins, achieved third and second place finishes, and narrowly missed out on the Europa League final in 2021 on penalties to Villarreal, before a dip in form would see him lose his job in November 2021.

A three-year hiatus from management followed before joining Besiktas in January 2025, but he would again be dismissed in August 2025 after finishing fourth and only managing a Europa League qualification place.

Whether Solskjaer is a serious candidate for the Boro job remains to be seen, but he has been open about his willingness to try his hand in the second tier, and given his pedigree in management, Middlesbrough would be doing themselves a disservice to not consider him.