Assistant Manager of Manchester United, Mike Phelan, has signed a contract extension at the club in what could be regarded as the Premier League side's latest show of support for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. According to a statement by the club, the 59-year-old English football coach's renewal will see his contract ending in the summer of 2024, the same year in which Solskjaer's current deal ends although the Norwegian has the option to renew for under year.
Phelan returned to the Old Trafford outfit as a first-team coach when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed caretaker manager in December 2018 following the sack of Jose Mourinho. The Englishman who made 146 appearances as a player for the Red Devils between 1989 and 1994, was previously a key member of Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching team from 2008 to 2013. After the appointment of Solskjaer was made permanent, he was promoted to the post of assistant manager.
With a decorated CV as a player and subsequently as Sir Alex's right-hand man, Phelan is yet to assist Solskjaer into leading the current United side to trophies despite coming close in recent seasons. The Red Devils' poor run of form has also seen the Englishman come under immense criticism. Some have opined that him, as well as first-team coaches Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna are out of their depth and as a result, ought to be sacked for a new technical team to take over if Solskjaer is to be retained.
However, multiple reports from England have indicated that the Manchester United hierarchy has no intention of parting ways with Mike Phelan, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or any of the technical team members as they are the right personnel to handle the current project. After the international break, a rather hectic schedule awaits Man United with meetings with clubs such as Leicester City, Atalanta, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, all on the roster.
Instead of retiring Mike Phelan has signed a contract extension, we're doomed. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/HGFnwKfeH2
— Responsible Father of Three!!! @AndileMlondo) October 4, 2021
we wanted better coaches around Ole and the club went ahead with a Phelan extension
— haf (@bapieli) October 4, 2021
Mike Phelan contract extension this club isn't serious, best team we've had in years
— Harry (@spenceharreh) October 4, 2021
Christ, it's so sad seeing the cesspit of mediocrity this club has become. Nobody knows what Phelan does, yet he's been given a contract extension.
— adam. (@utdAdams) October 4, 2021
Mike Phelan got an extension on his contract as @ManUtd assistant manager dont even know what to say about this recent development cause truth be told I haven't seen his impact since he came in.
— Luke Skywalker (@CapuciOusmane) October 4, 2021
