Gary Neville has revealed a hilarious story of meeting ex-Manchester United teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the first time.
The Norwegian joined United from Molde in 1996 before going on to score 127 goals in 365 appearances, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League before hanging up his boots in 2007.
“And I remember Ole walking into the changing room at the Cliff for the first time, in 1996, and he walks in with what I can only describe as a jumper from the 1970s in Yorkshire,” told Sky Sports’ Off Script podcast (quoted by the Express).
“Woollen, bobbly. I genuinely thought he was a competition winner from Norway. He looked about nine, he was so thin, and then after about a week in training we played a small-sided game, and he had this technique of being able to score in short spaces.
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“He’d push the ball to the side and then stick it through your legs into the far corner. I thought: ‘He’s cleverer than he looks!”
Solskjaer was known as the baby-faced assassin during his time at United. Now aged 47, he still looks well for his age, and manages his beloved club.
Unfortunately the Premier League season has been suspended over the coronavirus, meaning we don’t know when United can build on their 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions under Solskjaer.
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His job has never been safer as a result — with the January addition of Bruno Fernandes benefiting the team massively, and now the manager can aim higher and try to build a team that will compete at the top.
In terms of being more clever than he looks, let’s hope those writing him off as United manager are saying the same thing this time next year — granted football resumes before then…
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