Staff : First team : Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

One of the biggest cheers of the 2005/06 season heralded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s return to first-team action as a substitute in December’s 2-2 draw at Birmingham City.

A gruelling 20 months on from the knee injury that looked to have put paid to the affable Norwegian’s hopes of ever appearing in a Red shirt again, Solskjaer was back. Although United’s rich post-Christmas vein of goalscoring form limited his chances – he made just two more full appearances and one from the bench before the season was out – his injury nightmare finally, hopefully, seems to be over.

Dubbed the baby-faced assassin courtesy of young looks and a ruthless ability to find the net, Ole’s clinical finishing touch was, of course, best exhibited at the climax of the 1999 Champions League final. Deep into injury time his instinctive toe-poke from Teddy Sheringham’s flick-on beat Bayern Munich’s Oliver Kahn to ensure victory, complete the Treble and cement his place in United folklore. That same season he also achieved the impossible, scoring four in 12 minutes as a late substitute in an 8-1 annihilation of Nottingham Forest – United’s record away win – in their own back yard.

Despite his injuries, Ole's intelligence with or without the ball remains an asset. He'll be around for some time yet. Ten years since joining United from Molde for £1.5m, he has two years on his contract and is already coaching young players at the club in preparation for a career after he hangs up his boots.

Position: Striker
Appearances: 362
Goals: 126
Joined United: 29 Jul 1996
Transfer Fee: £1.5m
Previous Clubs: Molde FC
United Debut: 25 Aug 1996 v Blackburn (H)
International Norway