Four years ago - on March 28, 2019 - a dream of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's came true.
After a spectacular three months as interim manager of his beloved Manchester United, the Norwegian was given the job on a permanent basis as excitement brewed at Old Trafford like never before in the post- Sir Alex Ferguson era. Sadly for Solskjaer and those supporters who believed that one of Ferguson's own could bring back the glory days, it wasn't to be.
Sacked in November 2021 following a torrid start to the new campaign, the 'Baby-faced Assassin' and hero of United's famous 1999 treble win was forced to endure an emotional exit, welling up with tears in his final interview. Since his departure, Solskjaer - who's a married father of three and recently turned 50 - has being doing something which many Red Devils legends have struggled with - laying low.
"I'll spend some time with my family," he declared to club media on his final morning as manager at United's Carrington training complex. "That's been probably the most difficult part, through the pandemic, with Norway being open and here being closed, my family moved back to Norway and the young one, he loves it back there, so we've lived apart."
Just a few days after his sacking, The Athletic reported that Solskjaer was spotted near his Cheshire home to pick up a takeaway. Diners noticed the legendary striker and thanked him for his work at Old Trafford, to which he humbly replied: "Thanks lads, I tried my best."
As Christmas was just around the corner, Solskjaer also sent a luxury hamper as a token of gratitude to United's staff. It was a kind gesture which made 'several' of his old colleagues cry.
Solskjaer remained on English soil for a few months to watch his daughter, Karna, play for the Red Devils' youth team. He was spotted at multiple games before she left the club last year to join second-tier Norwegian outfit AaFK Fortuna.
Solskjaer also took the time to give his temporary successor, Ralf Rangnick, a helping hand after taking over in the Old Trafford hot seat. "I spoke with Ole last Sunday before the game against Chelsea for almost two hours," a grateful Rangnick explained following his appointment. "He was very generous to spend, as I said, [more than] one-and-a-half hours on the phone with me, telling all his inside details about the team."
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Before Rangnick rocked up, Michael Carrick had steadied the ship for three games as caretaker manager. Having worked so closely with Solskjaer during his tenure, Carrick made sure to get the ex-Norway international's blessing before replacing him.
"I didn't just take the job and forget about Ole," the former United midfielder, now manager of Middlesbrough, recently told the Daily Mail. "He was the first one I spoke to. He said, 'You have to take it, 100 per cent', because that's the man he is. I've the utmost respect for him."
With United now on a different path under Erik ten Hag, Solskjaer has returned to the sidelines in a less glamorous but just as rewarding role. His time back in Norway has included coaching his son at hometown club Kristiansund's academy, taking training for the club's under-14s before managing the team for a number of youth fixtures.
The youngsters at Kristiansund were even more delighted when Solskjaer's ex-team-mate, Roy Keane, flew to Norway for a catch-up and visited training. Posing for selfies and signing autographs, Keane's generosity is a sign of his longstanding friendship with Solskjaer, with the pair often meeting around Cheshire during his time back at Old Trafford as boss.
Keane isn't the only former colleague who he has time for, too, with Solskjaer travelling to Doncaster last February to watch Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town in action. Alongside Mike Phelan and Carrick, Irish coach McKenna was part of the 50-year-old's backroom staff at Old Trafford.
As for Solskjaer's own managerial prospects, he was recently linked with the Iran national team job before allegedly turning the offer down. Norwegian outlet VG also claimed that he'd been approached by a Premier League club, but they also faced rejection.
Another report from The Athletic states that Solskjaer has rewatched all 168 matches in charge of United, eager to improve his tactical understanding and return to management with a bang. "I'm one hundred per cent sure to create a football environment," he declared in his farewell interview. "That's where I'm good at and, at some point, I'll probably be back [working in football]."
"See you soon," were his parting words and that's what some lucky fans will do on Friday, May 12, as he spends an evening in Manchester at the Mercure Hotel. It's sure to bring back memories.
