Ole Gunnar Solskjær is a manager in Manchester United history who simply doesn’t get the flowers he deserves after the job he oversaw during his time at Old Trafford.
The former Red Devils striker took over back in December 2018 after the dismissal of José Mourinho, stabilising the ship and leading the club to their best Premier League finish in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
The Norwegian led the club to a second-placed finish in 2020/21, before being dismissed just a couple of months into the following campaign, spending nearly three years at them.
Solskjaer achieved a 55% win rate during his time as manager, averaging 1.9 points per game within his tenure, leading the club in the right direction before his own dismissal from the Theatre of Dreams.
He worked closely alongside another former player at Old Trafford, with his assistant manager another former player who was certainly underrated during his playing career.
Michael Carrick’s time at Manchester United
Midfielder Michael Carrick was appointed as Solskjaer’s assistant during the Norwegian’s spell in Manchester, taking the leap into management after his super professional career as a player.
The Englishman joined the Red Devils way back in 2006 in a £13m deal from fellow top-flight side Tottenham Hotspur – a fee that would prove to be a bargain given his time at United.
Carrick would go on to make 464 appearances for the club over a 12-year stint in the North West, ending his career at the club before venturing into management – eventually becoming temporary manager after Solskjaer’s sacking.
During his time as a player, the now 43-year-old won five league titles, one Europa League and one Champions League, along with 11 other trophies – offering a consistent presence during Sir Alex’s reign.
He often doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his time at United, often being overlooked by many for his work ethic and superb passing ability, which often saw him register countless assists.
However, the club appear to have already sold one player who could emulate Carrick’s success at the club, potentially living to regret his departure – especially for such a minimal transfer fee.
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The Carrington academy setup has been infamous for producing a conveyor belt of talent, demonstrated by the Class of 92, with all of the graduates cementing themselves in Red Devils’ history.
The current first-team also highlights how impressive the youth setup is in Manchester, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho just two players who have developed through the ranks and made an impact under Ruben Amorim.
However, one player who may have been sold too prematurely was midfielder James Garner, who had huge hopes of being a success with his boyhood club after breaking through during Solskjaer’s period in charge.
The academy graduate would only make seven first-team appearances, but it was enough for the Norwegian to rave about his displays, dubbing the youngster “the next Michael Carrick” – high praise indeed given his compatriot’s spell with the Red Devils.
“I believe he’s got the chance to have a great future. He knows we believe in him, we’ve got great faith in him as the next Michael Carrick. I know he’s young and I know it’s not fair on kids to compare to great players like Michael was, but he’s the same mould, he plays simple passes, plays through the lines.”
He would spend 18 months on loan at Nottingham Forest, catching the eye with his box-to-box displays, registering eight goals and 10 assists over his two separate loan spells at the City Ground.
However, his long-standing affiliation with his boyhood side would come to an end in the summer of 2022, joining Everton on a permanent basis for an initial £9m – a bargain given his form at Goodison Park.
Garner has since made 69 appearances for the Toffees, showcasing his versatility, operating in the middle of the park, as well as right-back but still thriving despite the unnatural role.
Games played
6
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
76%
Tackle success rate
75%
Tackles won
2.4
Duels won
5.9
Interceptions made
1.3
The 23-year-old has been restricted to just six league appearances this campaign due to injury, but has still managed to impress, providing a beautiful pinpoint pass to Beto in the 4-0 win over Leicester City.
The £9m fee now appears to be way too cheap given his recent success away from Old Trafford, potentially having a huge role to play under Amorim during his time in charge.
However, their loss now appears to be Everton’s gain, with Garner looking like the next in a long line of academy players which the hierarchy have offloaded too soon.
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