Manchester United Fans Club

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Manchester United legend and heroes among the red devils fans has confirmed his retirement from the games after an ongoing knee injury, but his Old Trafford days are far from over.

Famously nicknamed “the baby-faced assassin”, Solksjaer has been with the club for the past 11 years making 366 appearances and scoring 126 goals overall in his wonderful Old Trafford career. He was signed from Molde of Norway for a bargain of £1.5million. One of Solksjaer most valuable goal was again Bayern Munich in the Champions League final that help United win the treble.

34-year-old Solksjaer even scored 11 goals last season to help United won the Premier League crown, but the knee problem has never been fully overcome. He will remain at United as an official ambassador and a coaching capacity. Ole will be dearly missed as a player, but he will go on to serve the club as an ambassador and a valuable coach.

‘I would like to thank the manager (Sir Alex Ferguson), the coaching and medical staff, and most of all the supporters who have supported me through my career,’ said Solskjaer.

‘They have been fantastic and were a real inspiration to me when I was out injured. ‘The support they gave and the staff showed me during that time was the main motivation for me making my comeback.

‘I feel proud to have represented Manchester United for 11 years, and have some very special memories.’

His fondest, though, will always be scoring on his debut just 6th minute after coming off the bench to secure a 2-2 home draw with Blackburn on August 25, 1996. With great agony, his last goal was also coming on as a sub against Blackburn at Old Trafford in March, scoring in the 90th minute of a 4-1 win.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes also paid a glowing tribute to Solksjaer. ‘Ole is guaranteed a place in United’s history and football’s history with his goal in the European Cup final,’ said Hughes.

‘But he brought so much more to Manchester United. He had a huge influence over many years. ‘I met him on many occasions. He is a true professional, a very humble man, but a very successful one. ‘Ole has many qualities and I’m sure that will help him going into another period in his life.

Meanwhile, Solksjaer’s father Oyvind revealed the decision to quit had not been an easy one for his son. He wanted to keep playing, this is sad for us and him that he has to quit because his knee injury are not making the expected recovery.

Solksjaer believed himself that he still had a lot to offer on the football field,if he’d just recover. Sadly looking into our current player, no one are able to be called a new super-sub for United for the time being.

Video of Manchester United vs Bayern Munich in Champions League Final, Barcelona 1999.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=M-cw16JgvFw

Ole’s United Honours:

Premier League (6): 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07
FA Cup (2): 1999, 2004
UEFA Champions League (1): 1999
Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999
Community Shield (2): 1996, 2003