Name : Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Birthplace : Kristiansund, Norway, 26/2/1973

Height : 174cm - 5ft 9in

Weight : 74kg - 11st 9lb

Full International : Norway (22 caps, 11 goals)

Position : Forward

Squad Number : 20

Debut : 25.08.1996

Appearances (1996-1999) : 111 - 41 as sub

Goals : 45

 

After playing part time Third Division football in Norway for Clausenegen FK, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer moved to Premier League Molde in 1995. His performances earned him a place in the national team, and it was not long before he started to attract the interest of bigger clubs throughout Europe. He was also dubbed the Norwegian Alan Shearer.

In the summer of 1996 Alex Ferguson paid a £1.5m fee for Solskjaer's services. Not expecting to be playing for United until the new year, Solskjaer found himself almost a permanent fixture in the first team, scoring on his first team debut, and ending the season as top scorer with 19 goals, 18 of them in the League. A firm favourite with the United faithful, his performances during this season prompted his old manager at Molde to claim that if he had known he was going to be this successful he would have asked United for more money!

A full international for Norway, he won a League Championship medal in his first season and helped United to the semi-final of the European Cup, finding the net in the second leg of the Borussia Dortmund game, only to find his goal ruled out when the referee spotted a 'mystery' foul. In addition to this he was also recognised by his fellow professionals, being short listed for the 1997 PFA Young Player of the Year Award.

Ole represented Norway at the 1998 World Cup finals, playing three matches as the Vikings reached the second round, only to be knocked out by Italy.

Did You Know?

He won the Norwegian Player of the Year Award in the 1995-96 season.

He scored on his debut for Manchester United, the 87th player to do so.

He is known as the ‘baby faced assassin’, because of his youthful looks. A nickname he personally dislikes!

He played 19 games and score 13 goals for the Norwegian under-21 team.

 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer