OLE Solskjaer could have been on the slippery slope to retirement were it not for the inspiration of a Norwegian alpine skier and national hero.
The Reds' striker's comeback story is one of the most remarkable in sport considering he has battled for over three years to overcome a knee problem and reach Premiership and Champions League standard again.
Four goals in the league and Europe, culminating in last Sunday's winning two goals against Newcastle, is testimony to his miraculous recovery.
The outlook was so bleak for the 33-year-old European Cup goal legend that Sir Alex Ferguson only last December publicly admitted the club were considering a testimonial match as a `thank you'.
But Solskjaer refused to listen to the doubters.
He confronted me at the Reds' Carrington HQ last season after reading in an Norwegian newspaper that it would be extremely hard for him to return.
Damning headlines based on my story had wrongly written off his career.
But when he spoke to me at Carrington, after hearing my plea of innocence, he just smiled and said: "It's OK that's the kind of thing that is driving me on."
And drive Solskjaer on it did.
The striker's knee problems began in September 2003 when he received a knock against Wolves. He played on, scored against Panathinaikos at Old Trafford and was then forced to have surgery as the problem continued to plague him.
Just a month later Norwegian skiing legend Kjetil Andre Aamodt badly injured his ankle in a skiing accident in training in Austria. He broke the joint but also suffered considerable ligament damage.
For a sport that puts so much pressure on the ankle it was a depressing medical bulletin for the Oslo-born star who'd also had knee problems.
But while Solskjaer underwent two ops to give him hope of correcting his knee problem Aamodt had four lots of surgery.
United's star made his reserve comeback last December but was still some way off a senior return yet 35-year-old Aamodt returned to win Olympic gold in Italy in February.
It was a record fourth gold in the Games for the Norwegian and his haul of eight Olympic golds is unsurpassed.
Reunion
The Norwegian pair had previously met in Oslo and Solskjaer invited Aamodt to Old Trafford this season and celebrated the reunion with the winning goal in United's 3-2 win over Celtic.
Norway's soccer team boss, the former Manchester City defender Aage Hareide, told MEN Sport that Aamodt has been Solskjaer's spur.
"Ole's comeback is an astonishing story but Kjetil's too is remarkable," said Aage.
"Kjetil destroyed everything in his ankle and it didn't look good at all. To perform again at Olympic level and win gold is incredible and his is the only return from injury to a top level I can think is similar to Ole's. I think there were times when he was feeling bad about it all but I think Aamodt's predicament and patience encouraged him and in both cases their perseverance paid off.
"I think Ole looked at Kjetil and said if he can do it so can I.
"I admit at times I was one of the people who harboured concerns. But I also know what Ole is like and the kind of character he is. He would never be satisfied. He's a hard worker."
Hareide took Solskjaer to Molde in 1995 from his hometown club Clausenengen FK in the Norwegian Third Division before Sir Alex snapped up the then unknown 23-year old for é1.5m.
But Solskjaer's insistence on finishing an apprenticeship with Clausenengen summed up his character.
"I had seen him play two years before and I wanted to take him to Molde then," says Hareide. "But Ole wouldn't move because he didn't want to push it. He didn't think he was ready to step up and wanted to be patient.
"He wanted to stay in the lower division and practise and get better so he was ready for a bigger league. It was impossible to persuade him otherwise.
"He was an extremely determined character then and knew the path he wanted to take and how to take it. He is still the same now. It is 10 years since he left me at Molde but he's the same man. He never takes a wrong step and is always well prepared.
"That has stood him in good stead to tackle the huge task of coming back after this injury."
Hareide also praises Sir Alex's part in Solskjaer's successful comeback.
"As a manager the nature of the game is that the team comes first. That is the most important thing," Aage added.
"Sometimes it is difficult for a manager to handle anything else and take a full interest in all the lads who are injured when he has so much else to do and so much else to concentrate on.
"But I know he has been very patient with Ole and gave him his full backing. I know how much Ole appreciated Sir Alex's backing and patience. It would have been far more difficult to keep going without that."
Ambitions
However, Fergie was initially concerned that Solskjaer was adamant that his comeback story should be extended to the national team and he urged the veteran to concentrate on his club football.
But he has relented over Solskjaer's international ambitions.
Solskjaer, who is now United's second top scorer for the season behind Louis Saha, crowned his return to the goal lists for United at Charlton in August for the first time since 2003 by scoring twice for Norway in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Budapest against Hungary.
This weekend he is on duty in Athens against Greece in another qualifier.
"I was criticised by some people in Norway for trying to get him back into the Norway line-up so quickly," said national boss Aage. "But I had seen him against Porto in the Amsterdam tournament. His fitness levels were incredible. United were down to nine men but Ole was running all over the place and scored a goal out of nothing. His touch and movement were remarkable.
"I knew what I was doing and knew what he was capable of. Just to have him in the squad is fantastic because he lifts everybody.
"He does a great job encouraging others. His love for the game is fantastic and I am so happy he has come back in such great form."
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Ole - model player; true red ledgend.
'nuff said.
Ole should keep both his feet firmly on the ground. Just because twice he happened to be in the right place at the right time, doesn't make him a super re-incarnated goal-scoring hero. His past scoring record as a super sub and especially his winner against Bayern does make him legendary in the eyes of Man United fans. But he's now 33 and from what we've seen so far he's miles from being the player he once was and, by today's high standards, is just not good enough to make the first team
Louis - Ole looks in great shape and appears as sharp as ever. The great thing about Ole is that he does not have too many "miles on the clock". For me, he is best coming off the bench (I think he always has been better in that role) but his presence alone has clearly given the whole squad a lift and he will continue to score crucial goals for us. Don't forget that we took a complete hosing by Arsenal and Ole all but nicked an undeserved point for us near the end. The consummate goal scorer!
"just because he happened to be in the right place at the right time". Isn't that what makes a player into a goal scorer, that ability ot predict where he needs to be and to get there. Five out of six times nothing might come of a run but on the sixth attempt it produces a goal. The number of goals he has scored means it is more than mere coincidence or plain good luck - he is a quality, proven goalscorer who has done it every level. Plus his incredible loyalty shouldn't be overlooked.
Good comments, Sparky. His goal-scoring record since pre-season speaks for itself. And, if it wasn't for a freakish save by the angry German keeper, we would have Ole to thank for an unbeaten record this season. Very few strikers in world football are blessed with an ability to be in the right place at the right time, every time. 20legend is one of them. And that ability doesn't fade with age.
He was in the right place twice for Norway its not coincidence that he knows where he should be,he has always known that even when Fergie used to just use him as a sub because even then Fergie had no idea just like he has not now.
Fletcher and Rio are just the opposite they are always in the wrong place at the right time,Teddy was another who new where to be,you can hit some players on the head all day with a rubber spoon and still they cant grasp it.
LOUIS boston; Sorry but it's no fluke that he's in the right place at the right time.It's called skill! He doesn't need to be the same player! When Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman he wasn't the same Ali but his intelligence helped him out. Ole is still pretty sharp in the box. I played football myself at good fitness 'till I was 45.Ole still has a lot to offer.OT needs sunshine personalities and Ole has skill to match.Don't write him off!
What a fantastic player and what a fantastic attitude. Never ever give up. United have risen from the ashes twice (from debt and Munich) and Ole has shown us twice that by sheer perseverance one can reap the rewards. (Champions League and his injuries). United have had a host of great players but few to emulate the heart and desire of this man. Remember also the 4 goals he scored against Leeds after coming on as a sub.
He just never gives up.
His attitude is now and always has been second to none,he could be used as role model on how to be the perfect professional,and not lets not forget Fergie tried to sell him more than once,but he refused to go.
George, I never would have guessed you as over 45 but as your comments always seem so full of wisdom, it now makes a lot of sense!
Mary, Sale. SAF never TRIED to sell him as you said, SAF told him there were offers out of respect for him. The choice was up to Ole if he was interested in a move and the possibility of playing more first team football. But Ole was happy to stay and remain our super sub, it says everything about Oles attitude and you would never hear SAF complain that Ole never took the offers up.
Can somebody clarify a story i have heard.We have apparently paid atletico ¿¿5m "deposit" for torres for a summer move...Is this true or just another story making the rounds?Would explain the dry striker transfer window.
number 20 is a legend. Keeps us watching him here in the US with a passion. If that German lad didn't have longer fingers than Superman we would be top of the table by a lot
Never give up, never say die. United should carry on with the fighting spirit just like how Ole has recovered from the injury, and just like how he scored the last-minute goal that won United the Champions League in 1999 !!!
Louis, what the hell are you on about! Ole is an absolute legend and he can definitely still do the business. Give him a chance and he'll always hit the target. Yes he's 33, but that doesn't matter he's still scoring and playing well. Hope you'll be round for a long time Ole, you're top notch mate!
Mary, lets see if we can educate you today. Ole is a legend and thankfully posesses the ability to be in the right time at the right place. In case you haven't noticed, Rio plays at the back and makes numerous timely effective tackles (as Fletch attempts to do also). Because the ball does not end up in the opposition's net as a direct result of the timely tackle, this is not a 'wrong place'! The thread is about praising Ole. What's your problem you idiot?? Did you get out with Rio on one occasion, put out and then he didn't phone you back the next day??? In fact, I doubt it. I bet you look like Bella Emberg. Get over it.
Alias; Many thanks I'm actually 53 this month.I'm not older than you...just living in a different time zone!
Agree with most comments on here. He looks plenty fit enough and just as sharp as ever maybe lacking a little match fitness but he certainly looks more match ready than Rooney. I can't understand the comments to the contrary - sometimes I feel that some people don't actually look at how players play, they seem to just assume that at a certain age they will be slower and don't actually check with their own eyes if that is the case.
George, I'd keep that quiet if I were you - a lot of the posters on here appear to be so ageist (eg against Ole, Fergie, Scholesy, Giggsy) that they might write you off as too old to type!
Its what I have said all along. Ole is the bees knees to me. He has proved himself, and so why not play him every time in the first team without putting him on as a sub.
Big norm you have obviously had a good education,your manner without doubt confirms what I already knew,you no less about football than you do about how to love your nieghbour,to be called an idiot is not so bad,but by an oaf Big Norm so you are probably a little insignificant boy with nothing big about you apart from the outsized head you have.
Big Norm 85 you sound like the reincarnation of Declan Dublin who suddenly vanished or are you another Mick 2 or even Khaled as you both lack tact and have a complete lack of breeding(very poor education)
Danny Mills / Mary - With all due respect, my education / breeding is undoubted. (Mary) Despite your disparaging remarks about people from Belfast on a previous thread, whilst not wanting to get into a patriotic war of words, the education system in Northern Ireland is second to none in the UK. That's why I'm happy to correct your poor spelling and grammar. Neighbour is spelt n-e-i-g-h-b-o-u-r. The 'no' your refer to is actually spelt k-n-o-w as it is a derivative of the word knowledge .
The problem I have with you Mary is; Your incapable of having a normal debate on anything without exercising the need to spout off about Rio and Sir Alex. Rio is a world renowned quality defender, exceptionally highly rated by anyone who knows their salt within the game. Sir Alex has delivered the most successful era in Man U history having regenerated his team on numerous occasions Have some respect and some gratitude.
Danny Mills - Whilst my previous comments may well have been considered crass and crude, don't jump to conclusions without any basis for backing it up.
Big Norm - "the 'no' your refer to"? I think you need to check your own grammar before correcting other people who cannot be bothered to ensure they write perfect English all the time.