• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed for Manchester United in the summer of 1996. He scored 18 Premier League goals in his first season with the club. Getty Images
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed for Manchester United in the summer of 1996. He scored 18 Premier League goals in his first season with the club. Getty Images
  • In February 1999 Solskjaer came off the bench to score four goals against Nottingham Forest, helping United to an 8-1 win. Seen here surrounded by teammates after scoring one of the four. Getty Images
    In February 1999 Solskjaer came off the bench to score four goals against Nottingham Forest, helping United to an 8-1 win. Seen here surrounded by teammates after scoring one of the four. Getty Images
  • Solskjaer scored his most famous goal in May 1999 - the injury time winner in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Getty Images
    Solskjaer scored his most famous goal in May 1999 - the injury time winner in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Getty Images
  • The 1999 Champions League triumph completed a unique treble - the Premier League title, the FA Cup, and the Champions League in one season. Getty Images
    The 1999 Champions League triumph completed a unique treble - the Premier League title, the FA Cup, and the Champions League in one season. Getty Images
  • Solskjaer's career post 1999 was plagued by injuries. Getty Images
    Solskjaer's career post 1999 was plagued by injuries. Getty Images
  • In August 2006 Solskjaer returned from injuries to score his first Premier League goal in three years. He announced his retirement from football a year later. Getty Images
    In August 2006 Solskjaer returned from injuries to score his first Premier League goal in three years. He announced his retirement from football a year later. Getty Images
  • In 2010 Solskajer took over as manager of Molde in Norway, a club he previously spent time with as a player. He won league titles with Molde in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Norwegian cup in 2013. Getty Images
    In 2010 Solskajer took over as manager of Molde in Norway, a club he previously spent time with as a player. He won league titles with Molde in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Norwegian cup in 2013. Getty Images
  • Solskajer came back to the Premier League as Cardiff City's manager in January 2014, though he was let go after only nine months in charge. He returned to Molde, where he has been in charge until the present day. Getty Images
    Solskajer came back to the Premier League as Cardiff City's manager in January 2014, though he was let go after only nine months in charge. He returned to Molde, where he has been in charge until the present day. Getty Images

Finally confirmed! Norway's Prime Minister gets it right this time as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named Manchester United manager


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

She jumped the gun previously, but Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg got it right this time as she congratulated fellow citizen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on his appointment as Manchester United's interim manager.

Rumours were swirling yesterday as to who would replace Jose Mourinho in the Old Trafford hot seat, with Solskjaer among the front runners.

Then the official Manchester United website published an article featuring some of Solskjaer's goals during his time as a player at the club, only to describe him as the new interim manager. The article was swiftly removed but not before thousands around the world saw it.

This prompted Solberg to hit the publish button herself before deleting her tweet which read: "Great day for Norwegian football. Good luck keeping control of the Red Devils @olegs26_ole."

However, she was back on Twitter today and managed to get it right just minutes after the official confirmation came through from United.

Her support for Solskjaer wasn't taken in the best spirit by all on Twitter.

The eventful past 24 hours saw another social media gaffe, this time involving United's Paul Pogba.

The French midfielder, whose relationship with Mourinho was known to be strained, posted an image of himself on his Instagram and Twitter accounts with a smug look on his face and a description reading: "Caption this!" immediately after the announcement that the Portuguese was leaving the club. The post was deleted minutes later.

Suggestions spread across social media that the post was part of an Adidas marketing campaign and was removed because of its bad timing.

Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 366 appearances for United between 1996 and 2007. In 2008 he managed the club’s reserves, before taking the managerial role at Molde in Norway.

He will be United's caretaker manager until the end of the season.

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