Manchester United appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

In a widely-anticipated move, the Norwegian was handed the role after taking over from Jose Mourinho, who was sacked in December.

Since arriving from Molde on an interim basis, Solskjaer has guided the club to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and into the challenge for the top four in the Premier League.

He also became the first United boss to taste victory in his first six league matches in charge and has only lost once - against Arsenal this month - in the following seven matches.

In a club statement, Solskjaer said: "From the first day I arrived, I felt at home at this special club.”

"It was an honour to be a Manchester United player, and then to start my coaching career here.

"The last few months have been a fantastic experience and I want to thank all of the coaches, players and staff for the work we’ve done so far.

Ed Woodward, Executive Vice Chairman, insisted that the decision is the right one, based on Solskjaer's performance both on match days, and the training ground, since he took over.

"Since coming in as caretaker manager in December, the results Ole has delivered speak for themselves," he said.

"More than just performances and results, Ole brings a wealth of experience, both as a player and as a coach, coupled with a desire to give young players their chance and a deep understanding of the culture of the club. This all means that he is the right person to take Manchester United forward."