Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tribute

Before I go on to update you on what we have been up to I must use this blog to say how sad I am to hear that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has retired from professional football. After all, this blog is supposed to reflect my thoughts and reflections during my year out.

Solskjaer is one of my all-time favourite players - professional, deadly in the box, unselfish, passionate, thoughtful and the man behind the best feeling I have ever experienced. Allow me to take you back to a warm night in Barcelona on May 26th 1999. Manchester United were playing Bayern Munich in the final of the European Champions League. Bayern were 1-0 up and United had taken a bit of a battering in the second half, they were lucky not to be a few goals down. United bounced back and had a decent last 10 minutes but with 90 minutes showing on the electronic scoreboard directly across from where I was sitting, the Germans thought they had won it. I was clutching on to my scarf, praying for a break. I didn't want to go back to the UK and face the stick I'd get at work if United lost. Surely it was meant to be. United had already won the league and the FA Cup and had the chance of a historic and unprecedented treble. My good friend Phil had managed to get two tickets for the game only on the 24th and my good friend Tel's son was born in the early hours of the 25th allowing him to be at the birth and then head off to Barcelona. We'd even managed to get from Glasgow to Manchester for our flight in Phil's beat up old car.

A miracle happened. United won a corner. Schmichael, playing in his last ever game for United, charged up field leaving his goald exposed. Beckham swung the corner in, the Great Dane caused confusion in the defence, Giggs swung wildly at the ball, it feel to Teddy Sheringham who turned the ball in. OH TEDDY TEDDY - 1-1!

There was complete bedlam all around me. Grown men were crying. People were literally rubbing their eyes in disbelief. 3 minutes had been held up for injury time, 3 minutes to win it, the European Cup, the treble. The Munich players were on their knees, United sensed they had the momentum to win it and within seconds another corner had been won.

Beckham, who was outstanding all season setting up a remarkable 22 goals, swung the ball to the nearpost, Sheringham won the ball and flicked it on with his head and there at the backpost was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to turn the ball into the net and win the European Champions League and the treble for Manchester United Football Club. I will never truly be able to explain how I felt at that moment. The best drugs in the world could never recapture it. Sheer adrenelin, emotion, relief, passion, joy.....really I can't describe it. I burst into tears of happiness and was pulled into the seats behind me to celebrate with people I had never met before. Fans all around were hugging, kissing, looking to the heavens. I ran into the isle to find Phil who was sitting just along from me, our eyes bulged with delight as we embraced and climbed over a barrier to get to the very first row of the Nou Camp!

We literally could not believe what was happening. The celebrations were absoloutely brilliant. Every player had their song sung. 'Sit Down' by James boomed around the Nou Camp. Sir Alex lifted the cup and was then lifted on to the shoulders of Wes Brown and Raymond Van Der Gauwe right in front of us. As I said before, I think it was destiny. It was Sir Matt Busby's birthday, what a present!

So Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was responsible for a feeling I don't think I will ever experience again. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will forever be in the hearts of United supporters around the world. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a legend. He has not had an easy time of it since, bar a season he had on the right wing keeping Beckham out of the team. He has had 3 or 4 knee operations, yet he has battled back, kept his head down and carried on doing whatever Fergie asked of him.

Last season he repaid Fergie's faith by scoring 11 goals, including two against Celtic in the Champions League. He fell in love with United, the history of the club and the tremendous supporters and the club and the supporters fell in love with him. Needless to say he will live on forever as part of United's history.

LONG LIVE OLE!