Solskjaer’s Army-to-Accountant Detour and World Cup Dream for Norway

LONDON:  In a revealing interview, Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has shared insights into his unlikely path to football stardom, admitting he nearly pursued a career in finance and that he harbors a clear ambition to manage the Norway national team.

Solskjaer revealed that his career was not a foregone conclusion. Due to being a “very late developer,” he believed he wouldn’t make it in football and dutifully entered the Norwegian army between the ages of 19 and 20.

“It made me more independent. I had to grow up,” he said of the mandatory service, which he believes instilled maturity and resilience—a mindset that fuelled his later success.

Even more surprising was his alternative career choice: “My best subject was maths, so if I wasn’t a footballer I probably would be an accountant or something with numbers or maths.”

His eventual move to one of the world’s biggest clubs was almost accidental. While playing for Molde, an international match against Azerbaijan proved decisive.

“I scored two very good goals,” Solskjaer recalled. “Coincidentally, Jim Ryan – the assistant manager – was watching [for] Ronny Johnsen, who we signed.” Ryan, sitting next to the Wolverhampton manager, assumed the rival club would snap up the young striker. Instead, Ryan immediately called Sir Alex Ferguson, saying: “I think I found one and he won’t be expensive. It’s a cheap one, but we’ve got to be quick…”

The suddenness of the move was overwhelming, turning his life upside down just 18 months after playing in front of 50 people for his local team.

After his managerial stint at United, Solskjaer revealed his ultimate career goal now lies with his home country.

“If you could only achieve one more thing in your career, what would it be?” he was asked.

“Maybe to be the next one [Norway manager], who knows? You always set targets.”

With his friend Stale Solbakken currently in charge and guiding Norway to qualification for the next World Cup, the opportunity is on the horizon. Solskjaer confirmed: “Next Norway manager. I do really, really like managing.”

He also expressed immense pride that his daughter has followed his footsteps, making an appearance for Manchester United Women, noting that the father-daughter duo are the only combination to have both played for the club.