Solskjaer will open Milk Cup in Coleraine
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Man United Legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is on his way to Coleraine to officially open this year’s Milk Cup.
MANCHESTER United favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will open the Milk Cup in Coleraine on Sunday, July 27.
Solskjaer's arrival coincides with the first ever appearance of a club from his home country at the event.
Norwegian outfit Rosenborg are up against clubs of the calibre of Chelsea, Everton, holders Guadalajara, Maccabi Haifa and Brondby in the Junior section.
Past winners Manchester United line up in the Premier event and Solskjaer, who won 67 caps for Norway, says: "This is one of the best competitions in world youth football.
“I know many of our players have competed at the Milk Cup over the years including Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.
“I am excited to be involved and look forward to welcoming a team from my own country."
The United hero spent most of his career at Old Trafford making 266 appearances for United and scoring 126 goals during a very successful period for the club.
Solskjær played in the 1998 World Cup for Norway and Euro 2000.
As part of United's 1999 treble winning team, he shot himself into the annals of Old Trafford history by scoring the decisive last-minute goal in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in the Nou Camp Stadium, Barcelona.
Milk Cup chairman Victor Leonard says: "We have received very positive feedback from Ole Gunnar and United. We have a very strong link with Manchester United and the fact that Ole Gunnar is now reserve team manager at the club and in charge of many players who have competed at the Milk Cup makes his visit all the more fitting."
In August last year Solskjær announced his retirement from football after failing to recover from a serious knee injury. However, he has remained at Old Trafford in a coaching role, as well as in an ambassadorial capacity. He is now Manchester United's full-time Reserve team manager, taking over from Brian McClair and Jimmy Ryan, who had filled the role in a caretaker capacity.
He says: "It's a great challenge. I felt that I needed a little bit more responsibility than I had and when the club asked I was delighted, it's a great step for me.
“It is a big job and a nice job to have - and it's also a great time to have those players. They're all 18 or 19, on the verge of breaking into first team football either here or on loan at other clubs, so you've got determined, hungry boys who match my ambition."
