Solskjaer retires due to knee injury

[DmanDmythDledge]

From Sky Sports (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_2690166,00.html):

Manchester United favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has retired due to a knee injury, according to Sky Sports News.

Solskjaer will be forever remembered in United folklore for scoring the dramatic winner in the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 1999.

That goal was one of almost 130 he scored for The Red Devils after joining from Molde in a £1.5million transfer 11 years ago.

He made over 360 appearances for the club, but recent seasons have been blighted by injury.

The 34-year-old did maintain a level of fitness last season, scoring 11 goals as United won the title and reached the FA Cup final.

But he did not figure during the pre-season campaign after undergoing a knee operation over the summer.

This was expected to be his final season as a player at Old Trafford, but he has now decided to announce his retirement.

Solskjaer's decision to quit could prompt Sir Alex Ferguson to rethink his attacking options prior to the close of the transfer window.

Along with Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Louis Saha, Solskjaer was expected to form part of Ferguson's plans up front.

But the United manager may now require further reinforcements in attack, having been linked with Bolton Wanderers' forward Nicolas Anelka.
A true legend, will be best remembered for scoring the winner in the '99 final, obviously. One of the best poachers in the history of the Premiership- pity that the last few years of his career ended up the way they did.

[superfrank]

Grudgingly, I admit I always liked Solskjaer. Good at his job and he seemed to be a good personality on the pitch. IIRC, he scored the winner for Norway against Brazil in the '98 WC match. I didn't think he was 34, he still looks like a 17 year old with that face.

[bellavistaman]

Absolute legend, what a man. Came across as a total nice guy too. Some pity.

[holidaysong]

I met him in Manchester when I was younger and I was completely in awe. A hero on the pitch.

[sligoman]

One of my favourite ever players. Super sub he was:). Probably one of United's most under-rated players. Will be missed on the pitch.

[DmanDmythDledge]

His stats compared to other strikers last season says it all about him:

Shevchenko: Played 51, scored 14
Kuyt: Played 48, scored 14
Ole: Played about 25 (mainly from the bench), scored 12.

Thread here (http://www.redcafe.net/showthread.php?t=168515) from Man Utd forum if you want to read it. Some great pics/videos. Just shows how highly regarded he was by the fans.

[sligoman]

he still looks like a 17 year old with that face.He was known as 'the baby-faced assassin'.

Name really suited him in fairness.

[superfrank]

I wonder if he still get's ID'd when he goes out.

[John83]

I wonder if he still get's ID'd when he goes out.
Outside of the UK, maybe. :)

Solskjaer always seemed likeable; a good professional. It says a lot that many people who despise his club have a good time for him.

He's a real loss to the game, and this is going to hurt Man Utd a lot - Tevez, Rooney and an injury prone Saha are all they have up front now.

[Sheridan]

Good player, always had a lot of time for and enjoyed watching him. Very clean striker of the ball. Wouldn't describe him as a legend by any means though, although that appellation is applied freely to Henrik Larsson (to whom Solskjaer was far superior.)

[jebus]

One of the only ManUre players I actually quite liked, still he should have left the club when he wasn't made first choice striker around 2000, or maybe even before. I always got the impression that Ferguson never rated him that highly to be honest

[osarusan]

That goal was one of almost 130 he scored for The Red Devils after joining from Molde in a £1.5million transfer 11 years ago.

Good bit of business that.

A great goalscorer, and he seemed like a genuinely likeable guy.

I can't remember one incident where he was involved in anything controversial.

[Red&White Rover]

Good bit of business that.

A great goalscorer, and he seemed like a genuinely likeable guy.

I can't remember one incident where he was involved in anything controversial.

Perhaps when Sol Campbell got sent off for "elbowing" him in the face. Ole made a bit of a meal of it....

[BrayUnknowns]

A very sad day for Man Utd FC. Ole was probably one of the clubs most natural goalscorers ever. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

Ole will always be a Utd legend for his role in the 99 champions league final.

[shakermaker1982]

United legend. Great player, just a shame he was injury prone once he hit 30.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Great player and as a Leeds United supporter I'm gritting my teeth to have to say it. An mhaith Ole.

Such a tragedy he didn't complete that move to Spurs in spring 99. :(

Sorry couldn't help it ...had to chuck that in ...I'm a petty, petty man.:D

[DmanDmythDledge]

Wouldn't describe him as a legend by any means though
If you were a Man Utd fan you would understand.


I can't remember one incident where he was involved in anything controversial.
dBjy4jO-Dd4

Call it cynical if you like but in my mind it shows how committed he was.

[Thomo]

even as a gooner, i'll say he was an amazing player, one i always feared when we played united. Hats off to the most prolific goalscoring norwegian paper boy i've ever seen!

[jebus]

Perhaps when Sol Campbell got sent off for "elbowing" him in the face. Ole made a bit of a meal of it....

A bit is a tad of an understatement isn't it? According to a interview with Rooney last year once a diver always a diver, so hopefully Ole wasn't reading that, and hopefully Rooney doesn't look back at a season highlights of 04/05 when he also cheated Sol Campbell and Arsenal out of a penalty.

Sorry I know this has little to do with Ole, but I ****ing hate Rooney and it's hard to keep in check when you can have sly digs at the ugly, over-rated ***** :)

[dfx-]

An excellent player...can't forgive him for that goal in February 99 though

Tyler: Solskjaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeer! :(

[DmanDmythDledge]

An excellent player...can't forgive him for that goal in February 99 though

Tyler: Solskjaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeer! :(
Had some of the Scousers biting their steering wheels.:D

[monutdfc]

Great player, but he always left the leg in on the defender clearing the ball

[John83]

Had some of the Scousers biting their steering wheels.:D
Their, you say?

[DmanDmythDledge]

Their, you say?
Yeah?:confused:

[osarusan]

Yeah?:confused:

I think he's rather annoyed that you used the correct pronoun because in keeping with the rules of the site, you really should have used they're or there.

[John83]

Yeah?:confused:
Sigh. Scousers, thieving, etc.

I'm getting old. :o