Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lead his team to the Norwegian title for a second season running after beating Hønefoss 1-0 at home. They started today just one point clear but after a shock defeat for Strømsgodset by Sandnes Ulf, Molde were crowned champions.
Solskjaer won the title in his first season in charge of the club he played for before joining United, the first title in their 100 year history, and now has delivered consecutive titles.
Well done Ole!
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go on the wee son. over the moon….along with cantona my all time favourite player and i would say hes many others too….would absolutly have u as united manager, keep it up ole boy…really happy for u and well deserved…..fergie surely will have 1 eye on his progress and fergie loves him too so i wouldnt be surprised if his form keeps up that he will be in the old trafford dug out as a reds manager….a long way away but u never no……
Another good example that financial strength is not everything in football. What Ole is doing now is nothing less than impressive. No wonder Aston Villa wanted him before the season.
The 5 top spending clubs in Norway (budgets for 2012, all numbers in NOK. 1 NOK = 0,11GBP):
1. Rosenborg: 195 M NOK
2. Vålerenga: 120 M NOK
3. Brann: 110 M NOK
4. Viking: 96 M NOK
5. Molde FK: 90 M NOK
Source: TV2 Sporten
http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/tippeligaklubbenes-budsjetter-2012-vi-har-ressurser-som-ikke-kan-maales-i-kroner-3730443.html
Amazing just fucking amazing legend as a player and on his war to the same status off it well done ole
Finally, chelsea lost 2 points
It would be great to see the boy succeeding Fergie.class, hunger, passion and loyalty.may be he just need further experience at top level, of course leading Molde into two successive league title is a great achievement but its totally a different story to be the top manager of a top club like united.its extremely hard job, so may be Fergie is still searching for the perfect candidate.but seriously I still love Ole to be our next manager.
ForzOlé
Destined for greatness.
Alec will not be relinquishing the reins any time soon. Ole can continue building his experience in the meanwhile. Winning and then retaining the title of his home country is a solid start. Reminds me of someone?
20legend.
He is a natural leader and winning is in his blood. Winning the norwegian league isnt that hard but retaining it is. He has an extremely strong personality and I think he will be ready for greater things sooner rather than later. I do hope he will be ready for the greatest job of them all some time in the future. Nothing would make me more proud of our club than seeing 20legend taking over for SAF when the time comes.
With his professionalism, personality and genuine love for the club i cant think of any safer hands than his.
Congratulations to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer! Molde are
Champions again! Will always be my all time favourite
United player
@TheProphet – cheers for the link
Ole was a wonderful servant to the club and gave us class, professionalism, old-fashioned modesty and genuine appreciation for his club, its history, traditions and fans.
He never complained, put the team before himself and turned down lucrative offers to go elsewhere such as Spurs.
Much of the credit for young players coming through to the 1st team is due to him.
If he were to become United manager at some time in the future the club would be in safe hands beyond doubt.
Ole Ole.
wow, well done Ole and congrats. Ole taking over at United after a few years is like a dream, but with success like this and if he keeps this up in the upcoming years it gives a better possibility.
Well done Ole . Legend. First time was brilliance, second time know how. It shows that he’s no fluke. I think in this modern game Ole is more than proven he’s capable of managing United and maintaining the clubs success.
@theprophet
They did spend quite heavily last season though? Not quite representative in that case
And Solskjaer has won it!!!!
good watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6yVr4Ixq8A
Giggs, VDS, Rio, fans and SAF interviewed about Ole. 5:15 to 8:30 is in norwegian but its Ole talking about how Nils Johan Semb (Far left, under 21 coach for norway) and Åge Hareide (Molde manager when Solskjær was there) helped him along in his career before he signed for United.
The question is where does he go from here – surely a third Norwegian title would be on the cards but that would not solve his biggest weakness which is to manage in the PL and to get European experience. A mid table PL team would be logical but it would be very hard to achieve the necessary level of success required to take over United.
Would be great if he qualifies for CL and brings Molde to OT. Congratulation to Ole again.
Oooooooooh ole ole, Ole ole ole Gunnar-solskjare !!!
Good for Ole a Utd legend,but winning 2 titles in Norway hardly quallifys him to take over from Sir Alex,I love him but some lads need to get realistic
If Ole is to have a chance at managing United he needs to continue developing his side and make some progress in the Europa league. No disrespect, but think Ole is unlikely to be the next manager as I think that will come to soon for him. That is not saying it couldn’t happen, just that it needs time…… and some luck.
@ MrKirie.
Their budget was actually lower. Molde had 72 M NOK in his first season (2011), although Solskjær was given 20M NOK to spend on new players. He bought Even Hovland, Jo Inge Berget, Davy Claude Agan, Johua Gatt and Børre Steenslid for 16M NOK. I believe Magnus Wolff Eikrem joined Solskjær on a free transfer (with Manchester United having a favourable option to buy him back at a later time). However, Solskjær also sold Molde’s topscorer from 2010, Pape Pate Diouf to FC Copenhagen for an amount between 15-20 M NOK. He also got 3M NOK for Emil Johansson (Groeningen). So he has not spent his way to glory.
Altight
i dont follow the norwegian league much, although i am Norwegian. Just seemed to remember him buying a bit. Still has a lot to do before taking over from SAF, but it would be a fantastic story.
Obviously, you cannot compare the Norwegian league with Premier League. But it sure is a nice stepping stone for him after coaching the Man United reserves. With two consecutive league titles, I guess it is only a matter of time before Ole will move on to a greater task.
Well, he need to steps up now and try managing bigger club. Only then we can asses whether he got what it take to be SAF successor.
Brill Ole. Shows what working graft does for the soul
Winning comes easy to winners, I expect to see him move to England soon and put himself into a position to make his mark with an eye towards Fergie’s chair. I would love to see him succeed Fergie, but he needs some time in England first.
Brilliant stuff Ole!
A couple of very careful career moves en route and he’ll be in charge at United one day. How sweet that would be.
20LEgend. A winner managing in the Reserves and twice winner in the Norwegian league. Someone said it’s easy to win the Norwegian league, if that is so, why couldn’t Molde win it for 100 years? Ole did it twice in 2 years. He deserves credit for what he has achieved.
SAF should have some sort of co-operation with Molde to send our fringe players there on loan.
Does anyone know what formation generally deploys?
Paying top dollar for a supposedly top manager does not always bring about success. Solskjaer’s strength that he reads the game well has been documented in the past. Another positive is that he knows the culture and history of the club, and is highly likely to promote youth. Unlike Mourinho.
Barca always promotes from within, although they do have an unreal bunch of players. But given Solskjaer’s ties with United, it could be a good fit when SAF finally retires.
Success in other leagues does not represent anything. Look at AVB, perfect records before he came to England and see how he has struggled, although it was in part the huge egos in Chelsea’s dressing room, but who is to say it won’t happen with some of our players when Sir Alex does move on?
damn! wait to go Ole. Baby face has aged well.
Well done Ole! Keep it up lad, there appears to be another great career ahead of you. It’s a long way to United, still a bit of a pipe dream really (but it would feel just as good!)
However, if we can get enough Fergie time, I’d not bet against a late strike for the Manager’s position from the baby-faced assassin.
Well done ole. I would love if he become United manager one day. But at this moment it is too early. The best he could do is become the assistant manager of our team. Learn the trade and tricks from SAF and then take over. Or become number 2 with Pep as our number 1. I have full confidence that Ole can become our manager in future but he needs experience. I won’t say he needs to manage other PL club. He should stay at our club and then take over the manager spot. I have nothing against Phelan but I feel ole could be better as our Number 2 instead of phelan. That way ole could have direct contact with our players and when he takes over it would be a much easier job. Pep had an easier job at barca because he had worked with Messi,Iniesta,Pedro,etc.
To suddenly ask ole to take over from Sir alex would not be correct. I would give my full support to ole but what worries me is if we don’t perform well in the first few months of charge people would be against him. I don’t want a chelsea like situation here. A stable manager who our fans give support and time.
So for me Ole should come here and work with SAF and learn the tricks from the great one himself. Then he could take over depending on when SAF retires. If Sir alex retires in 1 or 2 years then I believe it would be too early for ole to take over. But for me He should come to our club before he becomes our manager. I have full support for Ole.
So much of love for this man. And I find such uncanny resemblance of Chicharito to Ole. Okay, not so uncanny. Both baby faced, super subs, happy, and great human beings.
Congratulations Ole! And there’s nobody else better in the world to become Manchester United’s manager. We’re not talking short-term gaffers, that’s not our thing, the person taking over Sir Alex has to be someone who’s going to be there for a long long time, and I’m taking tens of years, and I see nobody else better than Ole. He’s getting the experience now, so I don’t think he’s too young whatsoever, and I’m sure he’ll shadow Sir Alex for a while first. And the winning mentality is already ingrained into the history of our team, so the next person taking over, will have an easier job. But the most important thing is that the person has to feel the same values and understand the club well, and it just has to be an ex-United player. Has to be. I can’t see a Mourinho, or a Pep. They’re decent managers, but it erodes our culture a bit. Come on Ole! Hate the day that Sir Alex steps down, though inevitable, but the only thing that can make that better will be Ole.
Actually, I’d totally love a GNev too. Ah, any ex-Red would do.
You are my Solskjaer
My only Solskjaer
Another league won, in your Norway.
One day you’ll have’ta
Succeed the Gaffer
Until then, godspeed now, Ole!
KingOfStretfordEnd says:
“We’re not talking short-term gaffers, that’s not our thing, the person taking over Sir Alex has to be someone who’s going to be there for a long long time, and I’m taking tens of years, and I see nobody else better than Ole”
I would love that but we have to be realistic also. I feel gone are those days where a manager would stick for so long. Ole if succesfull could be a long term manager but again that depend on his success here and his willingness to continue for that long. I don’t want want a manager change for every 2 seasons but to expect a manager to manage for 10 seasons would be very difficult. We have to remember there cannot be another Sir alex. To take over form Sir alex is one of the toughest job. So a proven manager could be a better choice for 4-5 seasons then Ole or some other ex red could take over. Taking over from Pep would be easy than to take over from Sir alex. But Again like I said if Ole does become the next manager I would be more than happy. But M y bet is on Pep.
I guess that’s some truth in it- that we can’t expect managers to stick around for so long. And especially so, if its a foreign manager. You don’t expect him to settle down at United for the rest of his life, and we’d hate a “The future… nobody knows” sort of person as our manager. Had that too much with players already. But I guess the closest we can get to having a long-term manager is by having an ex-Red, someone like Ole.
And by having an experienced manager take over, first, it’s fine but I don’t really welcome the idea of getting “tainted” by someone like Pep or Mourinho. Haha. But i guess a large proportion are the emotional, romanticized sort. Sort of explains why I love Rooney but still bear a grudge. And why Cole shouldn’t smell OT no matter how good a LB he is. Or like how the thought of Baloteli at United just makes me want to puke. You may be the best, but if you don’t fit our values, I’m not warming up to you. And I doubt that our fans will turn against Ole even if doesn’t do too well with us at the start. That’s the difference between United fans and those fans from the cash clubs.
I can understand PEOPLE’S FRUSTRATION toward’s Mourinho as he is cocky but Pep is a good guy. He promotes youth players and has a good rapo with players. So pep would be good choice.
How can pep have “an easier” job when he took over a club floundering slightly due to not fulfilling expectation. Pep has instilled what it,takes to play for a huge,club in barca and improved them both tactically and mentally. He had potential in his posession and has let them realise they’re brilliant players and has done that in a successful. They achieved glory but he has motivated them to chase for more, an endless hunger and a keen attempt to keep the tradition of a club like fergie has done with united. The spaniard may or may not be the right choice for united, guess time will clarify that or even if he or mourinho are actually considered (like many, i hope the portuguese doesn’t get it) but pep is a talented meticulous manager and has certainly not found it “easy” whilst managing one of the high pressured clubs in world football.
congrats to ole, another to add to his cv. He should stay at molde, make some progress in europe and learn before making that next step to tougher positions. He has ambition and wants to manage united, i see no reason why that’d be impossible.
“Paying top dollar for a supposedly top manager does not always bring about success. Solskjaer’s strength that he reads the game well has been documented in the past. Another positive is that he knows the culture and history of the club, and is highly likely to promote youth. Unlike Mourinho.
Barca always promotes from within, although they do have an unreal bunch of players. But given Solskjaer’s ties with United, it could be a good fit when SAF finally retires.”
This comment is Spot on.
The only way to find out if Ole is the one or has what it takes is to throw him into the deep end. Or bring him as no 2 for Sir Alex. I hope he doesn’t goto any English teams in the EPL as I just simply dont like the idea of that. I’d rather he goto a decent league like Germany or Spain, could pick up a few traits or two from those leagues and instill his own agenda into our Manchester United team with our traditions still in tact. Just my 2 cents anyway.
Samuel
When I said easier Job I meant easier job to gel with players as he was the youth manager at barca so he had worked with Messi,Iniesta,Buscuits etc earlier. He knew the strength and weaknesses of his players as he had worked with them, It would not be easy for any manager to just come and start winning trophies from word go unless he is aware about his players strength and weakness. Pep is a top class manager who would do well here. Period.
Ole gunnar, finally something good spawned from the evil empire in the west. (I am from sweden).
Ash – fair enough and that’s exactly why fans would need to be patient with whoever comes in, maybe not long drawn patience but perseverance nonetheless. Looking at ole for example, he’s learnt and added to his managerial knowledge from fergie, he wouldn’t make any radical or drastic revamp of the club. He knows the philosophy of bringing youth through and buying them and also searching for top players that fit into united, he knows the history, he knows everything. The testing thing would be him having the mental strenght to cope but you hope the experience ge gathers aids him if he steps up at some point. It would be a risk but not as bad as some make out. I hope ole does well and can get the job because out of all united ex legends, he seems to have the best potential to be a world class manager.
Happy for Ole, but still it does not mean he can take charge of Utd when SAF retires
the lad still needs to work it out with bigger clubs instead and then may be one day get his chance with Utd
A lot of people think that he shouldn’t be United manager until he coaches a top club. And even if he doesn’t do well at a top club, can he then come as he has fulfilled that requisite of simply being a coach at a top club? If he is successful at a big club will it mean automatic success at United? The fact is you just don’t know. Pep was never more than manager of the Barça youths when he took over and he had unprecedented success. And I don’t want to hear ‘yeah but look at the players he had’. That’s a bullshit
argument. You still need to coach them, discipline them and inspire them and he did it.
Solskjaer has United in his blood, he has his coaching badges and his has natural ability, presonality and leadership skills to manage and coach football teams. He has also won two leagues in a row with a team who has never won it in their history has as made Molde emerge from the shadow of teams like Rosenberg similar to what ferguson did at Aberdeen. He is nearly 40 years old so he is not a kid and he has played and performed at the highest level.
Is there a hint of romanticism in thinking he could manage United? Yes, there is. But if you look at his acheivements and character he ticks a lot of boxes that any prospective candidate would need to tick.
Congratulations to Ole.
Two titles in his first two years is a great achievement in the context of where Molde was before he came along. It says a lot for his character that he brought the United way to Molde and its been paying dividends.
Can he step up? I wish, I hope. Let’s see.
It may too early to talk of him as a United manager – even someone such as myself who would love to see him in the United dug out – but there is no question he has laid down a marker for the post in the future.
I think SAF knows who he wants to succeed him and I’ll be fine with that.
Well done ole!!
@bobby charltons combover
Ole might tick all the boxes except one. SAF himself said the next manger has to have vast experience in the game because being the top man at the biggest club in the world isn’t just about selecting 11 players to play on a Saturday afternoon. SAF admitted that he himself would struggle if he came to UTD now from Aberdeen because of the size and the global profile of the game these days.
Not saying ole can’t be the manager one day but IMO he’s not even a top 5 candidate right now. Too many people thinking with their hearts and not with their heads. The glaziers won’t pick someone just because he’s the sentimental fans choice and rightly so. Look what happened with Liverpool and Dalglish he NEVER should have got the job full time but the fans romantic ideas of bringing back a club legend put pressure on the new owners to appoint him and we all know how that turned out.
If we are going to consider Ole then why army we talking about Keano or Steve Bruce as well. Both are every bit club idols who have at least managed in the EPL before and I dare say Keano knows the club just as well as anyone.
Come home and stop wasting your time in Norway OLEGEND!!!
What it takes to be a United boss is class,graft, balls, and loyalty. 2Olegend has them all. The fact that he returned to his youth team says it all, Molde not winning the title for a hundred years shows that ole wasn’t looking for quick success but rather repaying the team he was brought up in. he has only been involved with 2 teams his whole career, soon he will have achieved all he can with Molde meaning there is only 1 place for him to go.
Bobby Charlton’s Combover – Spot on post. Someone said if we are talking Ole then why not Keano or Bruce? Ole ‘s intelligence of the game is second to none, knows the game inside out. Tougher than people think too. 20LEGEND
Super win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer!!
I think it’s a really great achievement and shows what a good manager he is and what a potentially great manager he could become. People may say that the Norwegian league is substandard but what should be noted is that he’s gone to a club which hasn’t even won the league in its entire history and won successive titles – an amazing feat in my opinion. You can only beat the competition put before you with whatever resources at your disposal and he has done exactly that. He is definitely enhancing his reputation and I think the world will take notice!!
I’m beginning to think that he is capable of taking over the reins from Sir Alex when he retires.
I truly wish Ole well and hope to see him in the United dugout in the future
@United till I die – I totally agree with letting hearts ruling heads. While my post may seem like I am in favour or Ole as the next manager I’m not convinced he should be but he shouldn’t be disregarded either simply because he hasn’t been at the helm of a big club.
I agree there is no way Dalglish should have been appointed and people who want old heroes like Shearer for example to be manager is plain stupid.
That said sometimes there is managerial talent that has maturity beyond it’s years and I think Ole might be one of those.
I think the main thing he might have against him is The Glazers who as you say won’t be willing to appoint a fans favourite but will ‘play it safe’ with an established name.
Brilliant job. He’s shown that last season wasn’t a fluke and he’s shown loyalty by not running off to England after one year. However, if he is to progress in management he now needs to move on. A Norwegian club with a £10m budget is a far cry from the Premiership. A job managing an ambitious Championship side would be a good next step.
@ Bobby charltons combover
I agree the glaziers will play it safe and go for established name who can continue our success. When SAF retires we will be entering one of the most important times in the clubs history. With our current debt it’s important we maintain some level of success so we can continue to pay down the debt.
For me personally Jose Mourhino is the the man for the job. From a pure footballing standpoint his record is as good as anyone’ in in the game right now. He’s had success in England and he seems to get the best out of his players. Because of his success so called big name players want to work with him which can only help in attracting players to the club. People can say just having the chance to wear our shirt should be enough for players to join the club but unfortunately that’s not enough these days and given our current financial situation having him would help in that regard. I also think he would help us tactically as that’s not exactly SAF strong point and Mike Phealen is just a yes man.
Mourhino does come with baggage. His antics on the sideline against Barcalona when he put his hands on the coach was a disgrace and a embarrassment to the club and it would need to be made clear from the start that that type of stuff wouldn’t be tolerated at man utd. I know there are concerns about his lack of promoting youth and the style of football he sometimes plays but I won’t get into that right now. IMO At the end if the day the list of people to replace SAF is going to be very small with only the best of the best being considered.