David Beckham believes fan power and the support of former manager Sir Alex Ferguson will help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer land the full-time job at Old Trafford and propel Manchester United to more glory.
Beckham and Solskjaer won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League crown during their time together at United, and the former England captain is delighted to see how well his friend has done since replacing Jose Mourinho as manager in December.
Speaking to reporters in Miami, where he is president of the city's new Major Soccer League team, Beckham said the Norwegian's success has not surprised him.
'Seeing Ole do so well, it's obviously great to see, especially as a fan,' said Beckham.
'But, as a friend and a former team-mate, to see someone who knows and understands the club come in and do as well as he has done has been great.
'He's just brought the players together, and the players have responded in the right way, the way the fans hoped.
'He's obviously gained experience in Norway, and in that spell at Cardiff but now he's come back and done what he's done. It makes us former team-mates very proud.
'(But) I'm not surprised at all. We had great players, talent and infrastructure at the club - everything Manchester United is all about.'
Many fans had started to wonder about that during the final joyless months of Mourinho's reign but Solskjaer has brought the smiles back.
Prior to Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Wolves, Solskjaer's United had lost twice in 18 games - to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, avenging the latter in stunning fashion by winning the return leg to reach the last eight of the Champions League.
They will now meet Barcelona in the quarter-finals, which means the 46-year-old will return to the scene of his most famous moment in a United shirt where he scored the stoppage-time winner to beat Bayern Munich in the 1999 final of Europe's elite competition.
It was confirmed last week that Beckham will play in a game to mark the 20th anniversary of that night at Old Trafford on May 26, when it is expected he will be joined by Solskjaer, and with Ferguson in the dugout.
Beckham, 43, helped to create that winning goal with a trademark dead-ball delivery and he thinks memories like that have been crucial to Solskjaer's success.
'Ole gains that respect from the players because he had done it. He'd been there on the biggest stage and won,' he said.
'And he's done it in a mature way, a way that is respected by not just younger people but older ones. Having the support of 'The Boss' has also helped him and given him confidence.'
Things have gone so well for Solskjaer it is easy to forget he is still officially only a temporary solution and is meant to be returning to his full-time job as Norwegian side Molde's manager in May.
Asked if he thought there was any way that would be allowed to happen now, Beckham said: 'That's not down to me to decide but look at the fans.
'They've loved the time he has been the manager so far. They want that to continue.'
humabko
0
nonsense talk, spoiler.
Yuuadi
0
This is what happens when you give an interim coach a job before what he was called for ends.. Arsenal 2-0 UTD WOLves 2-0 UTD
He hasnt got the job yet
wuaacdmpu
0
Not after the loss to Wolves 😂
Redbcdl
0
So many chameleon Man United fans. The club must hire him now.
Awesome88
0
Giving OGS the job will be a huge mistake
tourayousman
0
OGS disave the job 100% we all no that football is all about loss an Winn. so fake Manchester United fans sul stop talking nonsense about OGS ok
Jafferson
0
Beckham is correct.
typewrit
0
Ole hasnt achieve anything yet, looks like 6th place is almost guaranteed.
Chima92
0
OGS needs 💯 backing 4rm the board to sign quality players who would help the club compete 4 titles n serve on a long term. despite Man Utd's recent poor run of form i still insist OGS is perfect 4 this club. Man Utd must spend massively this summer if they r serious abt challenging 4 titles next season.
_ManUMartial09
1
maybe we need more time to decide! but if Solskjær is given the job then bloody Woodward back him up in the summer transfers...
_ManUMartial09
1
say no to fucking ole gunner we dont want him he is worse
bloody chameleon you are
_ManUMartial09
1
We have to sign quality players who can win games single_handedly. There is too much complacency in this team since we beat PSG. As for me I expected this to happen coz I saw Wolves beating all the top teams. Man utd should have retained the team that played Barcelona coz I do not see the hunger in Lingard, Rashy, Matic and Pogba.
Pogba, Matic, Lingard, Martial seem to have lost form after returning from injuries whereas Rashford is concerned, he is not a team player... Scott McTominay should be used more often in the starting XI, in my opinion..
_ManUMartial09
1
If i was pogba, i would have left man u bcoz they are a decade away from the elite levels like mancity liverpool barca real juve and so on.
if you would've watched the game you would never type that comment... it was Pogba that was lousy in the game..i feel sometimes he is just overrated!
Liydeikmpr
0
If i was pogba, i would have left man u bcoz they are a decade away from the elite levels like mancity liverpool barca real juve and so on.
Japacknrtz
0
But we cannot go back to eras of MOYES, LVG and Jose. At least there is momentum with this team, we need to strengthen in the summer
Japacknrtz
0
We have to sign quality players who can win games single_handedly. There is too much complacency in this team since we beat PSG. As for me I expected this to happen coz I saw Wolves beating all the top teams. Man utd should have retained the team that played Barcelona coz I do not see the hunger in Lingard, Rashy, Matic and Pogba.
Meant to say PSG not Barcelona
Japacknrtz
0
We have to sign quality players who can win games single_handedly. There is too much complacency in this team since we beat PSG. As for me I expected this to happen coz I saw Wolves beating all the top teams. Man utd should have retained the team that played Barcelona coz I do not see the hunger in Lingard, Rashy, Matic and Pogba.
Vuhacdepsy
0
not yet he is still learning
Licdinyz
1
say no to fucking ole gunner we dont want him he is worse
Musacdklpr
3
I think Ole is loosing his marbles, he should have just kept the young team that beat PSG. Matic, Lingard and Martial have proved to be useless since coming back from injuries...
diydimnpz
0
not yet UNITED IS OUT of FA CUP HERE .. IT'S A REAL MESS
duabilt
0
sorry for typing error
duabilt
0
this is something very bad man United players are not focusing on the game at and the other thing rushoford is very selfish he don't give the ball to other ,coash must talk with Rushdie plz, you know the there is no one shooting but just for Wolfe to put the goal that's is bulls hit man United fan from Namibia I'm very angry for this game
Mutloprstz
0
united should not only give him the job, they should also give him support most especially financial support
Benosky1
2
This is what happens when you give an interim coach a job before what he was called for ends.. Arsenal 2-0 UTD WOLves 2-0 UTD