Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has become part of Manchester United folklore, but his exploits beyond the pitch are not fully appreciated outside of Old Trafford.
That is according to former Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell, who caught Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the tail end of his prolific playing spell at the Red Devils.
Fraizer Campbell, who was later managed by Solskjaer at Cardiff City, felt that the 53-year-old Norwegian was ‘even more effective’ than his legacy would suggest.
“Obviously, Manchester United fans appreciate Solskjaer massively,” he told BBC Radio Manchester, as per BBC Sport.
“But outside of Manchester, I don’t think he was on people’s radar and he was absolutely unbelievable.”
United In Focus has now taken a deep-dive analysis into three claims that Campbell made in his assessment of former Cardiff City and United manager Solskjaer.
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1. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man Utd goalscoring stats and his reputation both on the pitch and off it
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is well remembered for being the man ‘who finished the treble’ for Manchester United after his killing blow in the 1999 Champions League final.
“He scored so many goals and never kicked up a fuss,” Fraizer Campbell said.
According to Transfermarkt, Solskjaer made 366 overall appearances for Man Utd from 1996 to 2007 and he netted 126 times and registered 53 assists for the club.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man Utd stats:
Goals: 91 — Premier League (235 matches)
Goals: 19 — Champions League (77 matches)
Goals: 8 — FA Cup (30 matches)
Goals: 4 — League Cup (11 matches)
Goals: 1 — Champions League qualifying rounds (4 matches)
Goals: 0 — Community Shield (5 matches)
Goals: 0 — Club World Cup (3 matches)
Goals: 0 — Intercontinental Cup (1 match)
Goals: 0 — UEFA Super Cup (1 match)
The United legend’s reputation as a ‘super sub’ showed that he never threw his toys out of the pram during his playing spell under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
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Head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of Besiktas speaks during a press conference after the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round second leg match between Besiktas and St. Patrick's at Tupras Stadium in Istanbul, Turkiye on August 14, 2025.
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2. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s deep understanding of football beyond doing what a conventional striker did
Solskjaer was not restricted to being an out-and-out striker and the Man Utd cult hero showed as much with the versatility that he offered Sir Alex Ferguson.
“He would sit and study the opponents’ back four and where the weaknesses were so that when he came on he knew what he needed to do,” Campbell added.
Solskjaer scored 120 of his 126 efforts for Man Utd from inside the box, but the former Norway international’s versatility in different playing positions was clear.
Positions from which Solskjaer netted for Man Utd are posted below (via Transfermarkt).
65: centre-forward
43: second striker
30: right winger
8: left winger
2: attacking midfielder
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3. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s influence on the Man Utd youth academy talent as a player
Solskjaer’s career at Old Trafford was curtailed by injuries in its later stages, but the former Molde player became an experienced figure in the United dressing room.
Solskjaer’s silverware success at Man Utd under Ferguson:
6 Premier Leagues: 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03 & 2006-07
2 FA Cup: 1998-99 & 2003-04
1 Champions League: 1998-99
1 Intercontinental Cup: 1999
“It was unbelievable for me as a youngster to be around someone like that. It was incredible and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves,” Campbell continued.
“He was methodical in everything that he did.”
During Campbell’s time at Old Trafford, Solskjaer was a veteran figure in the Man Utd dressing room for emerging talent like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.