Revealed: The actual motive behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s shock journey to Molineux as ex-Manchester United boss is linked to Wolves job with strain rising on Gary O’Neil amid chaotic scenes after Ipswich defeat

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was back in the Premier League on Saturday – albeit only as a spectator.

Solskjaer scored 91 goals in 235 Premier League games for Manchester United as a player between 1996 and 2007.

He returned to England’s top division as a manager with Cardiff in 2014 before going on to occupy the United hot seat between December 2018 and November 2021.

Solskjaer has not had a job in management since he was sacked by United more than three years ago and he hinted last month that he was effectively retired when he told Norwegian podcast Bakrommet: ‘Now I do exactly what I want and enjoy myself. I have reached a position where I can pick and choose, and I am lucky there. Financially, I don’t need anything.’

Despite those comments, plus reports that he recently rejected offers from Denmark and former club Molde, Solskjaer is the favourite with multiple bookmakers to be the next permanent manager of Wolves.

Solskjaer watched Wolves at Molineux on Saturday when the Midlands outfit were beaten 2-1 by Ipswich Town.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at Molineux on Saturday afternoon to watch Wolves vs Ipswich

Ipswich won the game 2-1 thanks to a 94th-minute winning goal from No 14 Jack Taylor

Kieran McKenna was visibly delighted after seeing his side earn three points in the Midlands

Although the 51-year-old’s visit to Molineux seemingly had nothing to do with him possibly replacing under-fire boss Gary O’Neil, his attendance will naturally add fuel to the rumour mill.

Mail Sport understands that the real reason behind Solskjaer’s trip to Wolverhampton was that he had been keen to catch up with Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, who previously worked as a coach under the Norwegian at Old Trafford. Solskjaer is still close friends with McKenna, as well as Ipswich coach Martyn Pert – who also used to work with him at United.

Solskjaer and McKenna were pictured embracing before kick-off on Saturday.

There were also suggestions on social media that Solskjaer had wanted to attend Saturday’s game, in part, because one of his sons is an Ipswich fan.

Ipswich won Saturday’s game courtesy of an 94th-minute strike by Jack Taylor. A Matt Doherty own goal had earlier opened the scoring before Matheus Cunha equalised for Wolves.

Wolves have now lost four games in a row in the Premier League – a run of results that has seen them drop to 19th place, behind Ipswich in 18th.

There were chaotic scenes on the field after Saturday’s defeat. Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri was shown a second yellow card after the final whistle and had to be ushered down the tunnel by team-mate Craig Dawson, while Cunha was also involved in some pushing and shoving.

Cunha could be set for a lengthy ban after footage appeared to show him striking an Ipswich official in the face, dislodging his glasses.

Ipswich manager McKenna and former Man United boss Solskjaer shared a hug before kick-off

Saturday’s home defeat against Ipswich piled more pressure on Wolves manager Gary O’Neil

The final whistle was followed by chaotic scenes, involving plenty of pushing and shoving

Wolves left back Rayan Ait-Nouri (gold shirt) was shown a red card after the game was over

Elsewhere in the Premier League on Saturday, another team managed by a former Manchester United man lost 4-0 away at Newcastle. That was Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first defeat as manager of Leicester City. 

Dutchman Van Nistelrooy said afterwards: ‘Against a top team in the league and we help them in their way with a couple of set-pieces in their favour and it was going to be a hard afternoon.

‘I think it’s development of the team as well. We need to learn from these games and how Newcastle outplayed us in counter-attacks. They were clever in the block and on set-pieces. It is a long season. We move on, reflect and get better form this.’

Leicester’s next game will be against Wolves three days before Christmas.

Van Nistelrooy added: ‘Every game for us is huge. Everything has to be right to get results in the Premier League, and the next one as well [will be no different]’