As interim boss Michael Carrick continues to impress at Manchester United, a former candidate for the position faces a new assignment. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in the mix for another Old Trafford spell just over four years on from his dismissal as the club’s permanent manager but United eventually chose Carrick instead. That appointment has quickly paid dividends, with the 44-year-old securing Premier League victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. Solskjaer, who was a team-mate of Carrick at United in the 2006/07 season, has been out of work since departing Besiktas earlier this campaign but will be monitoring one of his former club’s competitors closely this week.

The Norwegian is spending this season serving as a UEFA technical observer for the Champions League. The responsibility brings him back to England this week, with Solskjaer attending Liverpool‘s fixture against Qarabag at Anfield. He’ll be observing another manager who finds himself under scrutiny, with Reds boss Arne Slot looking for a response from his players after a weekend loss at Bournemouth left them outside the top four in the league and questions over his future came to the fore. It’s a slightly more encouraging picture for the Merseyside outfit in Europe, however, as victory over their Azeri opponents would guarantee Liverpool a top-eight finish in the Champions League standings and help them bypass an additional play-off round.

Solskjaer is part of a group of more than 20 current and former players and coaches entrusted by UEFA with the technical observer role. Others include former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, ex-England manager Gareth Southgate and current Portugal chief Roberto Martinez.

“Instead of just watching the game for a specific reason – in my capacity as a national-team coach – you are watching it in a more holistic way and appreciating the development of the game and the competition itself,” Martinez explained when commenting on how his UEFA responsibilities compare with his Portugal task. “It could be different types of performance – from young players, for example – or the way the competition is getting tougher physically and cuter tactically with the new trends within the competition.”

According to UEFA’s description: “During each game, the designated UEFA Technical Observer collaborates with UEFA’s Performance Analysis team to gather video and data. The UEFA Technical Observers receive footage from various angles, including broadcast, tactical and high-behind views, which they can review either live at the stadium or remotely.”

Each observer must also select the player of the match for every game they oversee, whilst the group as a whole will convene to decide the player, young player, team and goal of the season. Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele claimed player of the season honours in 2024/25, with Vinicius Junior and Rodri the winners in the two years prior.

Victory over Qarabag on Wednesday could help Slot and his team build up a head of steam in the race for a top four finish. Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return as manager after leaving Real Madrid, though Slot brushed off those rumours.

“Yes he called me and said: ‘What do you think about the team because I am going to take over in six months, can you tell me a little bit more?’” Slot joked when asked directly about the matter. “Or maybe earlier. Maybe he takes over tomorrow!… No, no, no. This is one of the weirdest questions I ever got.

“What is there to say? I am working here for a little bit more than one and a half years and I really like my work over here. We won the league last season, struggled more in the league this season. That is also obvious, so yes what is there left to say?”