Man Utd relieve Solskjaer of his duties.

Man Utd send Ole Gunnar Solskjaer packing [Getty]

Manchester United have wielded the axe on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following Saturday's 4-1 loss at Watford.

The Red Devils have won only one of their last seven Premier League matches and are seventh in the standings,12 points behind table-toppers Chelsea.

The 20-time champions' first-team coach Michael Carrick has been placed in temporary charge as they search for an interim manager up until the end of the 2021-22 season.

"It is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision," the club wrote. "While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success.

"Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as manager and our very best wishes for the future.

"His place in the club's history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a manager who gave us many great moments.

"He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family."

Solskjaer is the sixth Premier League managerial casualty of the season, following the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham, Xisco Munoz at Watford, Steve Bruce at Newcastle, Daniel Farke at Norwich, and Dean Smith at Aston Villa.

Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 11 campaigns [from 1996-2007] including the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final against Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.

The English giants travel to Spain to take on Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday evening before their clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

Win percentage of Manchester Utd managers in the Premier League post-Sir Alex Ferguson:

53.8% - Jose Mourinho (1.89 points per game)

51.4% - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (1.8)

51.3% - Louis van Gaal (1.79)

50% - David Moyes (1.68)

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