Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to retire at 34

Long-time Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed he will retire.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to retire at 34 After 11 years at Old Trafford, the Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announced his plans to retire, after continuous problems with a knee injury. Solskjaer is 34 years old, but always placing Manchester United before his personal health forced the striker to make this decision. He will remain at Manchester United as a coaching assistance and will represent the Red Devils as an official ambassador of the club.

“I would like to thank the manager. The coaching and medical staff and most of all the supporters, who have supported me through my career. They have been fantastic and were a real inspiration to me when I was out injured. The support the fans 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," Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, after announcing his retirement.

Solskjaer joined United on July 1996 from the Norwegian Molde F.K., for a transfer fee of £1.5 million and has been with the club since, scoring 92 goals from 235 appearances. In 1998, offers for the young footballer came from many other Premiership clubs, but Solskjaer decided to stay with Manchester United and scored the winning goal in the 1999 victory at the UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich, helping United get the Treble that same year. The dedication of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to Manchester United inspired fan-songs such as "Who Put the Ball in the Germans' Net?" and "You Are My Solskjaer".

United fans still worship the Norwegian striker, even though he has been plagued by injuries in the past few seasons, rarely appearing on the field. However, in 2006 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed a contract with Manchester United, which would allow him to develop his coaching abilities - he may be retiring from active football, but not from Manchester United.

Published on 08/28/2007