Cardiff City confirm Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appointment

As expected Cardiff City have confirmed the appointed of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their new manager on a rolling contract, with the former Man Utd star replacing the sacked Malky Mackay in the dugout. The popular Norwegian has departed Molde FK in his homeland to take up the reins at the Welsh club, who have dominated the headlines in recent weeks due to the contentious actions of their controversial owner Vincent Tan.

It has been a torrid couple of weeks in the Welsh capital but supporters will now be desperately hoping that Solskjaer’s appointment brings both stability and success. The 40-year-old takes charge of a side just one place and one point above the relegation zone, with his task a simple one: keep the Bluebirds in the top-flight. He can currently be found at 4/9 with bet365 to do just that, while the club can be found at 7/4 to suffer the dreaded drop.

Solskjaer makes the switch from Molde, with whom he has led to back-to-back Norwegian league titles (2011 & 2012), along with the domestic cup last season, He leaves the club with a record of 69 wins, 25 draws and 31 defeats from 125 matches in charge.

He will now reportedly be handed £25million in the January transfer window to bolster his new squad. If this is true, then it will no doubt raise eyebrows as Tan had heavily criticised Mackay only a two weeks ago for speaking about recruiting a player or two, and it was cited as a major factor behind his departure.

Solskjaer’s first match in charge is away to Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup, which is followed by West Ham at home in the league, before daunting back-to-back away games at Man City and Man Utd. On Saturday 8th February he will get his first taste of the spicy Welsh derby when his new side travel to fierce rivals Swansea.

Solskjaer’s First 6 Games

• Newcastle (a) FA Cup
• West Ham (h)
• Man City (a)
• Man Utd (h)
• Norwich (h)
• Swansea (a)