The Premier League’s Manager of the Month award for January is rightful recognition for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s remarkable impact at Old Trafford, but the Norwegian’s stunning start to life as United’s caretaker manager stands up to scrutiny within a far wider timeframe.
It was well publicised in early January that no Reds boss had ever enjoyed a better start in the role, but Solskjaer has continued to blaze a luminescent trail in his opening weeks in charge.
No other United manager came close to winning his first eight straight games at the helm while, with nine wins and a draw, Solskjaer’s start is comfortably the best ever enjoyed in the first 10 games. Sir Matt Busby and Frank O’Farrell are his nearest rivals in terms of return, having won seven, drawn two and lost one in the same number of matches.
Only Herbert Bamlett, in 1927, managed to match Ole’s feat of reaching 10 games without a loss. After winning three and drawing seven, his United team slipped to defeat in his 11th game in charge.
This means that if the Reds win or draw at Fulham, Solskjaer will also be out on his own with the longest unbeaten start to any managerial reign in club history.
The Norwegian’s 90 per cent win ratio has, perhaps most importantly, been achieved in hallmark United style, with attacking football yielding a spate of goals.
?️ Three fantastic #PL wins for #MUFC during January helped Ole make a record-breaking start at Old Trafford… pic.twitter.com/T98vz466Hp
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 8, 2019
The 25 scored under Solskjaer is also a club best, narrowly edging out the 24 scored in the first 10 games under JJ Bentley (1912) and Sir Matt Busby (1946).
At the other end of the field, defensive solidity has also been a welcome feature of late – only Ron Atkinson conceded fewer goals, with six to Solskjaer’s seven.
It has taken under two months for Ole to set records and pick up his first piece of silverware, but the Norwegian is too savvy to dwell on his achievements.