OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER returned to Old Trafford today for the first time since he was sacked as manager of Manchester United.
The club legend was axed as manager back in November 2021 and had not been seen since at the ground where he made his name.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made his Old Trafford return
But he has turned up there today for the game against Wolves.
Ahead of the match, Solskjaer said: “I have not been back since then. It will be the first time for me.”
He clearly still finds it tough recalling his exit after a 4-1 defeat at Watford back in November 2021.
He said: “There are only two times when I have cried as a grown man.
“The first was after my testimonial because that was emotional and a year and a half ago when I had to leave, so that’s the two times when I’ve cried.
“Man United, it does something to you.”
The biggest welcome will undoubtedly come from his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson for whom Solskjaer revealed sentiment was not always a big thing.
He said: “The day I left I bought him this special bottle of wine and he said you didn’t have to do that son, thank you very much, you have my number you know where I am see you later.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson watches the game from the stands with Ole Gunnar Solskaer in the directors box for his first time back at Old Trafford since his sacking during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford in Manchester, Britain, 13 May 2023. EPA/Peter Powell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications" />Sir Alex Ferguson was sat a few rows in front of Solskjaer
“Bang that’s it. No sentiment there but that is the way he had to manage. He didn’t want to show his feelings with us. As a Manchester United manager you have to let players go when it’s your time to go it’s your time and he showed it straight, it was bang.”
Although Solskjaer has revealed he could have been gone long before after the club accepted an offer from Tottenham for him ahead of the 1998-99 treble season which he capped with the winning goal in the Champions League final.
Sir Alex knew it would be a mistake to let him go and encouraged him to reject the move, but ordered him not to tell anyone he had told him to do so.
He said: “I have a fax with Sir Alan Sugar’s name on it, Martin Edwards and a £5.5million transfer fee. The gaffer brought me into his office and said the clubs have agreed. I don’t want to sell you. If you stay here I am sure you will play enough games but you can’t say to me or anyone else that I have convinced you to stay.”
Speaking at “An Evening with Ole Solskjaer” in a central Manchester hotel on Friday night the club legend also revealed how being a neighbour of the boss during his time as a player lead to some strange extra duties.
He said: “You don’t want to let him down, he’s a father figure to me.
“He lived next door to me practically too and that was horrible.
“Sometimes he forgot his racing post or his suit and he rang me and said ‘have you left yet’ and I said ‘no’ so I had to go via Kathy and get his suit or racing post.
“Away games when you lose and he has got no ride back home and he says “Ole can I have a ride back home and in the car you are s*** scared of saying something stupid.
“It’s frightening but still he was a top manager. Unbelievable.”
