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Mike Phelan has been appointed as Manchester United’s assistant manager on a permanent three-year contract.
Phelan returned to United in December as part Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ’s backroom staff but was yet to agree a full-time deal.
United are seeking to appoint a technical director this summer and Phelan has been linked with that new position in recent weeks.
However, Solskjaer wanted Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant to remain part of his coaching staff and will be pleased to retain him in a hands-on role.
“I am thrilled to be back as assistant manager,” Phelan said in a statement.
“Manchester United has been a huge part of my life since I joined as a player in 1989 and I am delighted to be able to continue that relationship in this key role.
Show all 26 1 /26Manchester United: Keep or sell? Manchester United: Keep or sell? Who will Manchester United keep this summer? It has been a rollercoaster season for Manchester United leaving Ole Gunnar solskjaer with key decisions to make over who should stay and who should leave this summer
Man Utd via Getty Images
Manchester United: Keep or sell? David De Gea Form is temporary, class is permanent. Riddled with errors of late but remains United’s most important player, even when in the last year of his contract. Keep
Action Images via Reuters
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Sergio Romero A reserve goalkeeper yet says everything about United’s recruitment that he is one of the better signings of the post-Ferguson era. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Lee Grant Third-choice, veteran goalkeeper whose home-grown status means he helps to meet squad requirements for European competition. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Ashley Young Set to spend a third straight season at right-back, having signed a new contract, yet surely cannot be the automatic first-choice. Sell, yet likely to stay
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Diogo Dalot Some glimpses of promise but the jury’s still out. At 20-years-old, clearly still raw, though needs to perform more consistently when handed opportunities. Keep
Action Images via Reuters
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Antonio Valencia Solskjaer recently confirmed for the first time that club captain Valencia’s contract would not be renewed come the end of the season. Sell
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Luke Shaw After several years of treading water at Old Trafford, Shaw has been a quiet success story of an otherwise forgettable season. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Chris Smalling Will be United’s longest-serving player when Valencia departs. Signed a new contract. A new centre-back should make him compete for his place. Keep as cover, for now. Keep as cover, for now
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Phil Jones Another survivor of the Ferguson era. Comes in for an undue amount of criticism, but his longstanding injury problems and inconsistency undermine his case to stay. Sell, yet likely to stay
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Victor Lindelof A contender for United’s player of the year alongside Shaw, though form of autumn and winter has tailed off. Keep
REUTERS
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Eric Bailly A defender with raw gifts but a questionable injury record. Seemingly unfancied by Solskjaer. Close to outgoing Spanish-speakers like Herrera and Mata. Keep as cover, for now
EPA
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Marcos Rojo Has played a pitiful amount of football since renewing terms last year. Offers nothing while out for long periods of time for unspecified reasons. Sell
AP
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Matteo Darmian Surprise starter against City, United have attempted to offload Darmian for several windows now. Should finally cut ties this summer. Sell
EPA
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Nemanja Matic Increasingly appears as if holding midfielder’s best days are behind him. Currently first-choice in an area of the pitch where United must improve. Sell
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Fred United’s fourth-most expensive signing of all time has suffered a difficult first year. Questions remain over his ability, despite a handful of competent showings. Keep, for now
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Scott McTominay Recently emerged as a useful squad player in the mould of Darren Fletcher of late. Questions remain over long-term place but deserving of more opportunities. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Paul Pogba An enigma. Important commercially and has the natural ability to dominate on-the-pitch too but inconsistent. Real Madrid’s interest is no secret. Keep, only sell for record money
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Andreas Pereira Yet another to have signed new terms, yet has rarely taken opportunities granted to him. Sell, but likely to stay
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Ander Herrera Expected to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. A player who clearly ‘gets’ the club but fresh, younger alternatives would be welcome. Release
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Alexis Sanchez A symbol of the club’s poor decision-making and arguably its least successful transfer of the modern era. Astronomical wages may prohibit a sale. Sell, if possible
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Juan Mata Edging closer to the exit door, with no new contract signed. Perhaps too languid for Solskjaer's ideal style of play. Like Herrera, a young alternative would be preferable. Release
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Jesse Lingard A regular target for criticism but also an academy product who has earned his current status at Old Trafford. Needs to rediscover match-winning ability of last season. Keep
AP
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Anthony Martial Valid questions remain over whether he will reach his potential, though natural ability is clear. Having just signed until 2024, he is likely to stay around for a while yet. Keep
REUTERS
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Romelu Lukaku A better player than his time at United suggests. If Solskjaer can fit him into a coherent system, he should stay. If not, hard to see him as a substitute. Keep, but sell at right price
EPA
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Marcus Rashford One of the few players United fans would be disappointed to lose. Contract talks are ongoing, with current deal effectively set to expire in two years. Keep
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“Since returning in December, I have enjoyed working with Ole, Michael [Carrick], Kieran [McKenna], Mark [Dempsey] and Emilio [Alvarez] and we are all focused on preparing for the new season.”
Solskjaer said: “Mike is a great person to have around and has been invaluable to me since we returned in December.
“He brings a wealth of experience to this role with along established connection to the club.
“We have a good group of coaching staff and we are already working on the challenges that lie ahead of us as we plan for the new season and the future beyond.”
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