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Tonight, we will see one of Manchester United’s most loved players return to Old Trafford but this time as the opposing team’s manager. He wore the number 20 as a player, scored over 120 goals for United, was their savior in many games and went by the name Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also known as the “baby faced assassin”. Solskjaer, who was recently appointed as manager of Cardiff City, will take the Welsh club to his old stomping ground today and is expected to receive a huge welcome from the Old Trafford faithful who are eager to show their love to the “super sub”.
Here are 4 defining moments of Solsksjaer’s career as a Red:
4. Sending off against Newcastle
Ole showed a fanatical loyalty towards United
This was one of the many incidents that showed Solskjaer’s loyalty towards Manchester United. During the end of the 1997-1998 season United were in danger of losing the title to Arsenal and were in desperate need of a win against Newcastle United to close the gap on Arsene Wenger’s team.
Newcastle were the first team to score a goal before David Beckham managed to equalize, but more than a point was needed for United to provide competition to Arsenal. Solskjaer was introduced in the 80th minute with the hope of turning the tide in United’s favor.
Things took a turn for the worse when Robert Lee got the ball outran United’s defense and was heading for a one-on-one with the Red Devils’ keeper. Solskjaer ran across the entire field and purposely committed a professional foul on Lee earning him a red card but preventing him from scoring a certain goal. This was one of the incidents that made Solskjaer a household name at United.
3. Comeback goal against Charlton
Ole had a knack for scoring important goals
The Norwegian had an injury ravaged time from 2003 to 2006 but finally got back to his best in the 2006-2007 season. Solskjaer was a substitute against Fulham but did not manage to score but that was soon to change in the coming days.
The striker was brought on as a substitute against Charlton Athletic, 3 days after his return against Fulham, where United were leading 2-0. The striker scored a trademark late goal against Charlton helping United to a 3-0 win much to the glee of the supporters who longed to see their favorite player back to his goalscoring best.
2. Goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup
The goal against Liverpool was one of Solskjaer’s best
Sir Alex Ferguson has Solskjaer to thank for keeping his treble hopes alive in 1999. Manchester United were up against Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup in the memorable 1998-199 season.
Liverpool went ahead thanks to a goal from future United player Michael Owen before Dwight Yorke equalized for Sir Alex’s team in the 88th minute. Solskjaer was brought on in the dying minutes of the game with the score tied 1-1 and a replay looking almost certain.
The Norway international crept into the opposition box received the ball and fired past David James giving United a 2-1 victory over their bitter rivals. Manchester United eventually won the treble in 1999 thanks to Solskjaer’s valuable help.
1. Champions League winning goal
The goal against Bayern was Solskjaer’s best ever?
This was the goal that made Solskjaer a legend at Manchester United. The Norwegian helped United complete one of the most famous comebacks in history on that fateful night against Bayern Munich in Barcelona.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were losing 1-0 to Bayern before Teddy Sheringham equalized for the Reds in the 90th minute. Solskjaer was brought on for Andy Cole during the dying moments of the game to try and break the deadlock.
The tension in the atmosphere was thick due to the possibility of a penalty shootout between the two sides. However moments after Solskjaer’s introduction he scored a decisive late goal past Oliver Kahn and sealed United’s fate as the winners of the Champions League in the process. The goal against the German’s made Solskjaer almost like a god in the eyes of the United supporters.
