He never forgot his United roots. An Irish journalist has recalled how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacted when he told him he was a Liverpool fan, and United fans will love it.
JJ Devaney was covering the Champions League qualifier between Sligo Rovers and Molde in 2013, a time when Solskjaer was in charge of the Norwegian outfit. He spoke to the former United striker after the game, and professed that he was actually a Liverpool fan.
He told the Manchester Evening News what happened next:
I went up and there were a few journalists gathered around. You know me in social situations - shameless and straight to the point - so I stuck out my hand and I said, 'Ole, I'm delighted to meet you'.
And he fixed me with those blue eyes and they are kind of piercing and he does look younger than the age he actually is.
So I shook hands with him and said, 'Listen I thought you were a fantastic player, brilliant player, and even though I'm a Liverpool fan I just wanted to shake your hand.'
You would think that's really nice. He didn't move a muscle in that face. His eyes fixed on me and he said, straight up, with no jocularity: 'If I'd known you were a Liverpool fan, I wouldn't have shaken your hand.'
Not exactly something you would associate with Solskjaer's bubbly personality. To be fair, he was almost definitely joking with the reporter, although United fans will still be delighted to hear this.
He certainly seems to have little time for Liverpool, giving this answer after they defeated his Cardiff team in 2014.
The striker spent 11 years as a player at Old Trafford, before then moving into a coaching role at the club. He spent three years as Molde manager starting in 2011, before having an ill-fated spell in charge of Cardiff and returning to the Norwegian club.
He will have the United job until the end of the campaign, although he has indicated that he would like the position on a permanent basis. The club's supporters are certainly happy with his impact so far, with the team seeming completely different to the one than we have seen in the last few months.
Not bad for a former Liverpool supporter...
