Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named Premier League manager of the month

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been crowned Premier League manager of the month, becoming the first person in the Manchester United dugout to win the award since Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 1999 treble hero has won nine of his first 10 matches in charge in all competitions, with United securing 10 of the 12 Premier League points available last month.

That fine form saw him named January’s Barclays manager of the month ahead of Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl and Burnley’s Sean Dyche. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been crowned Premier League manager of the month for January

Solskjaer celebrated his prize with his entire coaching team. (L to R): Emilio Alvarez Blanco (goalkeeping coach), Michael Carrick (first-team coach), Mike Phelan (assistant manager), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (caretaker manager) Kieran McKenna (first-team coach), Mark Dempsey (coach).

It is the first time that a United manager has won the award since Ferguson in October 2012 – his final season and one that ended with the Premier League crown.

Solskjaer celebrated his prize with his entire coaching team and posed for a photo with them while holding the award. 

Asked about his impressive start at United on the eve of their game at Fulham on Saturday, Solskjaer said: ‘It’s been a great achievement.

‘The team deserves every single bit of credit – they’ve done it.

‘But I don’t look back at being proud of this and proud of that, I’ve never been that way, I’ve always looked forward and not sat down before a chapter is finished.

‘I reflect, but I’ve never [pat myself on the back] and said, ‘Well done’, maybe I should do more often. But that’s just me.’

The 1999 treble hero has won nine of his first 10 matches in charge in all competitions

Coach Michael Carrick pictured with Solskjaer on the touchline at Leicester last weekend

Solskjaer also revealed Manchester United have a clear vision of how they want to look in a bid to regain a spot at the Premier League‘s top table.

‘Every day I feel that I do help the club and put my stamp on it,’ Solskjaer said. ‘But decisions sometimes on the future of players are not down to me.

‘It’s the players, do they want to stay or move on but we have a vision and picture of how we want to look in a few years.

‘We have to think long term and also short term and I’ve got a picture of what this Manchester United team should look in a couple of years. I put my views to Ed and the club.

‘I’ve supported and followed United for many years and I did have a clear view on what I thought my opinion would be. You get a different view on players but we’re not too far away from when I came.’