The Reds’ 70-year-old manager has said he will carry on for at least another three years at the United helm.
But, while Euro big guns Pep Guardiola of Barcelona and Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid have been heavily linked with the post when it becomes available, Fergie believes novice Solskjaer would be ideally suited to dealing with the pressure of the job.
And he says he is already a step ahead of other former Reds because he always knew he wanted to become a manager.
Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce and Roy Keane, amongst others, have all turned their hands to management, with varying degrees of success, after leaving United.
But Ferguson believes Solskjaer’s preparation for life in the hot-seat, including taking notes about training sessions, has set him apart from other United alumni.
“I think the problem for a lot of footballers today is that when they get to the end of their careers they decide they want to become coaches because they have nothing else in their mind that they think they can do,” said Ferguson.
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“Whereas Ole always wanted to stay in the game, so from an early age he was preparing stay in the game as a coach or as a manager, as he is at the moment. So he has given himself a better chance than the rest.
“Ole was always one of the professionals that used to take down all the notes from the training sessions and games.”
Solskjaer, Ferguson’s former reserve team manager, led Norwegian side Molde to their first league title in his first season as a manager last year.
And Ferguson insists the 38-year-old, who was linked with the Portsmouth job in October, has all the attributes to become a top boss.
“He has got an inner toughness, there’s no doubt about that,” added the United manager. “He is a nice man with a lovely manner about him.
“If you go to a club in Norway that have never won the league ever in their history and you win the league you have to have something about you to do that.
“He has brought in his own staff. He’s brought two coaches from United as part of his structure to the club so he knew where he was going. A useful thing to have in management is good decision making.
“It’s possibly one of the most important things and he has been decisive, so yes he has got a lot going for himself.”
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Legend!
YES i can see the future now SOLSKJAER PLAYER MANAGER it dont get any better than that LOL
I don't think he has enough experience to replace the 'Great Man' yet but he could work as assistant to Guardiola or Mourinho so he would be ready to succeed after they left.
Ole that's great endorsement to add to your CV.
About right.
Young manager not career-scared by lack of dosh.
And for 3 further years increasing the Fergie family wealth ....... a YES man.
It will not be hard to replace the current Fergie
How bout stepping down now fergy
Come home Ole!
I really can't think of a better option for us. SAF staying for three more seasons before handing over to OGS. He's United through and through, intelligent, well respected and well on the road to showing he has the ability to do the job. Yes please!
I certainly hope that OLE can fill SAF's boots! It will be tough, but Ole would be a great alternative after Fergie! Please make Ole your successor, SAF! That would be great!
proud to be a rag, united til i die
When he decides to retire in another 20yrs Fergie still forgets the most important thing our midfield.So he is after another keeper Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle have made enquiries about Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm who has impressed since joining from Utrech
Yes please, pretty please with sugar on, can you start on monday Ole?
My first choice from way back. A few more years experience in Europe with Molde and he will be Ole made. No Danny that does not read old maid.
He already has the respect of the football world, he already is one of the most nicest guys in the game that you could ever wish to meet, loves this club with a passion has a brilliant football brain and I bet the players would want him back here as much as they wanted Scholesy back.
Come back Ole gend.
He should bring himin now as his assistant.
How about Ole coming in now and working the next 2-3 years under SAF as his Number 2! he will do a better job than Mike Phelan!!
great idea... with Teddy Sheringham as his assistant
I always fancied this choice. He's intelligent, respected,knows the set up at Old Trafford inside out and has the inner strength and hunger to succeed. He would not be fazed by following Sir Alex.
A few more years learning the ropes in his current role, perhaps with a decent European run, would certainly help to endorse his candidacy. I'd fancy Paul Scholes as his No 2; that's assuming he's not still playing!
My second choice - and it's a close call that would not disappoint me - would be Martin O Neil.
I think 'the Chosen One ' would be a disaster for the club.
Ole won't have enough experience at the top level to take over from SAF, I suspect, but he could well be a candidate after that.
From Ole's point of view, he has to experience tough times as a manager and face bigger challenges. Anyone can look a great manager when things are going well (look at Roy Keane for example). He has to do well in Europe, which probably means moving to a bigger club than his hometown team. He also has to manage bigger player egos than he'll find in Norway.
If he can work on that in the next few years he'd be a candidate after Jose Mourinho is sacked for blinding David Platt and smuggling himself onto the pitch whilst banned, dressed as Anderson.
2OLEgend! Bring it on. He'd make a good manager at United, and he WILL stay through thick and thin. Unlike the "special" one
When the slippers and pipe come out, his little scottie dog looks up at him lovingly against the back drop of his crackling fire, set centrally within his engraved italian marble fireplace, crystal glass tumbler with two fingers of single malt held firmly in hand, looking across at his loving wife knitting baby socks (Ok it is a bit over the top) I think SAF will look back on the last two years as the most difficult of his managerial tenure, indeed, his footballing life as a whole.
I love the man for what he has done for Manchester United. So much pleasure, so many memories, so many laughs, not so many lows.
Ah…how nice it is to reminisce about good times in an East Manchester pub on a cold January Sunday afternoon. This is especially true when you have been supporters of the club for many a long year, before I knew what the word ‘mortgage’ was, before SAF was even dreamed about at OT and his greatness was something yet to be experienced by the faithful.
But now is the time to clear out, forget the romantic aspects and get back to business. United don’t have to win a trophy every year. However to retain its core support it must be true. True to the supporters, true to itself also. That goes for the owners, the backroom and on the players on the pitch.
To the deluded numpties who have been unable to see the recent slide from grace, the Glazer apologists who must be on the payroll, or know someone who is, and the loons and hangers on who thought Manchester United began when the premier league was formed, I say to you, wake up.
To rise up we have to experience pain. I bet SAF never thought he would be on a learning curve at 70 years old? How dare the Glazers act as saviours when taking out far more than has been given. It makes a mockery of the Reds I sit with each week who have given far more by way of ‘support’ to the club than that bunch of clowns ever will.
Best laugh of 2011. Martin Edwards skulking about on the Premier League bus behind Ryan Giggs in the pouring rain outside our beloved Manc Cathedral. Where is the comparison?
One thing I can say is this; Myself and fellow reds have put more into United than he ever will and wont ever get a place on the team bus. But we still go because it is Manchester United.
Hughes and Cantona
I have previously commented that the person to directly replace SAF will most likely be a high profile, big win, short term manager- all fingers pointing to Mouriniho.. I belive that the reason for this will be the need for this replacement to be their own person.
This also enables the board to sack this manager when they dont live up to hype, and for the true replacement to come- someone like Solskjear, Moyes etc who will be the one to take the club forward.
If i'm right I put this as about 5 years for Solskjear to develop as his own man, perhaps switching clubs to a larger team meanwhile. I dont think him being an assistant to SAF will help his managerial qualities, but may in fact hinder his development. Thoughts?
'But Ferguson believes Solskjaer’s preparation for life in the hot-seat, including taking notes about training sessions'. If it was a Phelan 'session' he wouldn't have needed much paper! 'Today we will uuurr dribble round cones..........again'!
Yes, I agree, maybe in a few years Ole, like others have suggested, you could do with more experience in Europe at the highest level, probably working with a top level manager who knows what he is doing, somebody who doesnt spend millions on rubbish, and doesn,t lie through his back teeth to his own fans, good luck Ole, your time will come.
Where in this article doe's ferguson say that solskjaer has the potential to be a future man u boss?More headline c..p.