Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to manage Molde after leaving Manchester UnitedGood luck to
20LEGEND. I follow reserve team football, and he has done an amazing job. Look out for a few great talents coming through. Some are filtering in like DeLaet, but look out for Josh King, Magnus Ekriem (especially), Nicky Ajose etc. No coincidence that the reserves are full of Norwegian talent. Rumours are that Red Nev will take over the reserves. Ole goes to cut his managerial teeth and who knows in the future...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/09/ole-gunnar-sloskjaer-manchester-united/printOle Gunnar Solskjaer has been named as the manager of Molde, severing a 14-year tie with Manchester United. Solskjaer was unveiled by the Norwegian club today after deciding to quit as United's reserve team manager.
The 37-year-old's spell at Old Trafford will probably best be remembered for his injury-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich. It was one of 126 goals in 366 appearances for United, his £1.5m original move from Molde in 1996 going down as arguably one of the shrewdest pieces of business in Sir Alex Ferguson's time as manager.
Although the player's career was eventually ended by a persistent knee injury in 2007, Ferguson had long-since identified Solskjaer as management material and offered him the chance of becoming reserve team manager as part of a coaching shake-up that saw the Norwegian work alongside Warren Joyce.
However, with his three young children, Noah, Karna and Elijah all growing up, Solskjaer has now decided to join his old club, leaving with Ferguson's blessing. "Ole has had a good period with our reserve team, which has given him a foundation to start somewhere else," he said. "He feels it is time he went back to Norway, which also helps his family situation. He has been a fantastic servant to us and I am sure he will do well.
"He has worked with some really good young players in our reserve team and has contributed to their development. Once he gets experience of managing a club in its own right, who knows where it will take him? Molde is a very progressive club in Norwegian football, so this is a good start for him."
Solskjaer replaces the former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler at Molde, who finished 11th in the Norwegian top flight last season. He will take up his duties in January ahead of a campaign that begins in March, with Ferguson believing the move will work to United's benefit too. Solskjaer has already identified the talent of Mame Biram Diouf, who is enjoying a positive first season in the Premier League with Blackburn after joining on loan from United after his move from Molde.
"We have a good contact base in Norway now," said Ferguson. "It is difficult to say what Ole will do long-term but he has made a conscious decision regarding his family, which worked out well with the fact that Molde were looking for a coach."
It has been suggested that Gary Neville, who has made only three appearances so far this season and has suffered a succession of muscular problems in recent years, is being lined up as a replacement. However, Ferguson insists there are no plans in place. "I have no idea who takes over the reserves," he said. "We will just leave it at the moment."
