Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he can succeed where some of Manchester United’s greatest-ever players have failed.
Old Trafford heroes such as Bryan Robson, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Steve Bruce, Paul Scholes and Mark Hughes have all gone into management with the intention of one day following in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson.
But, while Giggs was given a four-game stint as interim boss after David Moyes got sacked in the spring of 2014, it is former Reds striker Solskjaer who has been handed a three-year contract and asked to bring back the glory days of Fergie's time.
Now the 46-year-old Norwegian wants to do what Pep Guardiola did at Barcelona — and bring an emotional charge to the club he loves.
Solskjaer said: “This environment really suits me.
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“It probably would have suited Robbo, Brucie and Roy as well. Scholsey and Gary, too, because we all worked with Sir Alex and are all from the same mould. The difference is that I am the only one who has been given the chance to manage this club after being a player here — though Giggsy got those four games, of course.
“I know the structure. I know the values and the philosophy. I know this environment because I worked in it as a player for so many years.
“That makes it different to the other clubs I’ve been at. It’s different because here we have some of the best players in the world to work with.”
Most of Solskjaer’s coaching staff share the manager’s passion for United after representing the club as players.
Assistant Mike Phelan – now in the frame to become the club’s first ever technical director – had a five-year stint as a midfielder before spending 14 seasons on Ferguson’s backroom team.
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Michael Carrick served in midfield with distinction for more than a decade, while fellow coach Mark Dempsey is a Manchester-born United fan who came through the club's academy and spent 15 years in youth development.
Solskjaer said: “I feel it’s an advantage that I was at this club so long as a player. Mick Phelan was the same, Mark Dempsey and Michael Carrick the same. We know what it means and what it feels like to be successful with United.
“We know that playing for this club isn’t for everyone. Not everyone can handle it. But the red shirt shouldn’t feel heavy. Playing for United is a privilege – but it’s also a responsibility. We have to be one of the hardest-working teams in the world, like we were when I played for the gaffer. We have a responsibility to do that – and to entertain the fans as well.
“For these players, this should be the best time of their lives.”
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When Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho on an interim basis in December, he resolved to repair the connection between the players and the club. Coaching became a secondary task in the first few days of his reign as he used his own experience as the man who clinched the Treble in 1999 to impress on his squad what was expected of them.
He added: “When I walked in for that first meeting, I had butterflies. We have some of the world’s best players, World Cup winners.
“I needed to be myself and talk from the heart. I didn’t know what response I would get, but I could see the players’ eyes light up when I spoke about how special it is to represent this club.
“But that can only go so far. You can live off your name for about 10 seconds and, the moment you start talking nonsense, they will find you out.”
