‘Confirmed interest’ - Ex-Man City and Leeds United striker in frame for EFL job as Man Utd reunion claim made

Former Manchester City striker Robbie Fowler has emerged as a surprise candidate for the manager’s job at Bolton Wanderers following the decision to sack Ian Evatt.

The Trotters, who won promotion from League Two under Evatt’s guidance in 2020 before winning the EFL Trophy in 2023, were beaten 2-0 in the play-off final by Oxford United last season, but have hugely been off the promotion pace this time around.

Fowler, a 26-time England international, who also played for the likes of Liverpool, Leeds United and Cardiff City, is aiming to forge a career as a manager in English football after spells in Thailand, India, Australia and Saudi Arabia - and sources close to the 49-year-old he is interested in taking over at the Toughsheet Community Stadium as he aims to steer the team to promotion.

Liverpool icon Fowler joined Manchester City in January 2003 after an 18-month stint at Leeds United. The striker, who had only joined Leeds for £12m in November 2001 arrived at City for around £6m after prolonged efforts from Kevin Keegan to get the transfer over the line.

He scored a combined total of 21 goals in 80 appearances for the then newly promoted side, with his best season coming in the 2004/05 campaign when he registered 11 goals in 32 appearances before his dream return to Anfield in January 2006.

Robbie Fowler’s career as a coach

Legendary Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler became player-manager of Thailand side Muangthong United shortly before his retirement from professional football in 2011. He led the team to an impressive 10 wins in 15 matches before taking up a role in the Reds academy.

He returned to management eight years later with Brisbane Roar in Australia’s top division and won 11 of his 23 games before resigning during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fowler won just three of his 20 games at East Bengal when he returned to coaching that same year before joining Saudi side Al-Qadsiah in June 2023, where he was unbeaten with six wins and two draws from eight matches before surprisingly being sacked by the club after four months.

Fowler is understood to be in the frame for the Bolton job but is expected to face competition from other candidates such as the club’s popular former manager Sam Allardyce who famously led them to the UEFA Cup on two occasions, ex-Rotherham and Wigan Athletic boss Leam Richardson and former Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher.

Bolton are ninth in League One and currently three points adrift of sixth placed Stockport County, who are aiming for back-to-back promotions.

Ole Gunner Solskjaer targets shock Man Utd reunion

Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunner Solskajer has reportedly expressed a strong desire to bring wantaway Red Devils star Marcus Rashford to Besiktas this month. Rashford has been frozen out of Ruben Amorim’s plans since December and has not featured in the Premier League since a 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest.

The 60-time international is admired greatly by Solskjaer from the pairs time together at United and is a player of huge interest to the Istanbul club after publicly stating his desire to leave Manchester United for a new challenge. Turkish football journalist Gokmen Ozcan understands Rashford is on the club’s shortlist, with Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco, Marseille and Barcelona also being linked with the 27-year-old attacker.

Solskajer recently joined Besiktas on an 18-month contract as manager - in what is his first managerial position since being sacked by United in 2021. The Norweigen got off to a dream start by hammering Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the Europa League in his first match after replacing Giovanni Van Bronckhost in the dugout.