I’m a former Man Utd manager but now I’m living a new life coaching kids football
FORMER Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened up about his new life coaching kids football in Norway.
The Norwegian coach managed the Red Devils for three years before being sacked in November 2021.
Since his departure he has taken time away from professional team management to coach kids aged 14-15 in his home country.
The 50-year-old spoke to The Athletic about his recent lifestyle change.
Solskjaer said: “I’m doing a lot of coaching, four times per week, and we have three teams.
“I’m helping the kids, who enjoy it. You see a different side to football, the grassroots – except it’s all plastic pitches here.
“You see the brightness in their eyes, they listen to you, they want to learn.”
The former United chief had a 13-year management career beginning at Manchester United, where he led to U21 team.
He then became the head coach twice at Norwegian giants Molde and was the also the boss at Cardiff City before returning to Old Trafford for the first team.
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But Solskjaer has admitted he misses the professional scene.
He added: “But you start to miss it professional football when you see the games, either in person or on television.
“Since I left United, I’ve travelled around as a fan with my kids, going to places like Napoli, Milan and Dortmund to experience games. We loved it.”
Solskjaer is currently coaching his youngest child Elijah and previously coached his eldest son Noah.
Meanwhile his daughter Karna has followed in her father’s footsteps and played for Man Utd in their academy system and now plays as a forward for AsFK Fortuna.
Solskjaer had an 11-year spell at Old Trafford where he made 366 appearances and scored 126 goals.
He added: “This is how I remember growing up as a footballer. It’s lovely being with my youngest son Elijah.
“Just as it was when I coached our eldest son Noah after I was sacked at Cardiff — and our daughter Karna just before I joined Man United.”
Karna made one senior appearance for United in the 2021-22 Women’s FA Cup, making Ole and her the first father-daughter pair to play for the Reds Devils.