MAGIC MOMENT: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates his Champions League winner in 1999

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will package up an unusual souvenir when he ships his belongings back to Norway in the New Year.



Of course, his 1999 Champions League winners medal, pictures of his famous Nou Camp goal, six Premier League title medals and two FA Cup winner’s gongs will be among his Old Trafford memories in the hold making its way back to his hometown of Kristiansund after 14 years in England.



But the new boss of Molde, who starts pre-season training in Norway on January 10, will also have among his curios a fax dated August 1998 and signed by then United chairman Martin Edwards and Tottenham’s Alan Sugar.



It states that a fee of £5.5m had been agreed between the Reds and Spurs. The only thing missing on the fax is Solskjaer’s signature.



That would have rubber-stamped a move to White Hart Lane just two years after moving to United from Molde as an unknown 23-year-old.



Nine months after he refused to add his moniker to the contract Solskjaer ensured he’d forever be a United legend when he came on as a substitute in Barcelona against Bayern Munich to ‘put the ball in the German’s net’ and win the 1999 European Cup to complete the historic treble.



But that fax serves as a reminder to Solskjaer of the qualities of Sir Alex Ferguson as he begins his quest to build an empire at his new Norwegian post cribbed from the United manager’s blueprint.



“You will understand how close I was to leaving Old Trafford when you know there is a fax, signed by Martin Edwards and signed by Alan Sugar, the clubs had agreed a fee and they were just waiting for my signature. I still have it in my possession,” he told M.E.N. Sport. “The gaffer called me into his office and said the clubs have agreed but I don’t want you to go. He said I’d be a big part of my squad. He also said the conversation would be between the two of us.



“If he had said I am sorry to see you go but all the best in your career, then I would have gone. But he wanted me to stay and so I didn’t sign the fax.



“Hopefully I have paid back the £5.5m that had been agreed with Spurs!



“When you walk out of his office and he says you will be part of his squad you walk out ten feet tall. I was as happy as Larry. It is strange to see that fax.



“The manager deserves the credit for all the success I have had. That was just one example of the kind of manager he is.



“There will be a lot of Sir Alex Ferguson I will take into management. He has transformed me into the professional I have been over the last 14 years. He has drip fed things into me all the time.



“But I have to be myself as well. I will be thinking what would the manager do in this situation but I cannot be him. We have different personalities.”



But does Mr Nice Guy have a hairdryer in his locker?



“Ask my players in the reserves or my kids if I can do a hairdryer!” Ole said. “I encourage players. You cannot frighten players to perform. But when the attitude is not right you have to tell them.



“If they make the same stupid mistake and make it again and again you have to tell them. But I will never give anyone a hairdryer for missing a chance.”



Solskjaer’s famous 1999 goal has put him on the same Old Trafford pedestal as Best, Law and Charlton, Duncan Edwards, Eric Cantona et al. And he cannot thank the Reds fans enough for their adulation.



“It is surreal. For me it is very strange to be up there with those kinds of names. I look up to all the famous names,” he said. “When I meet Eric (Cantona), for instance, I am still star struck, even though I played with him! When you talk about these names you know you have been part of a great club.



“After you have finished football, you realise you have done something the supporters will always be grateful for. I will always be remembered for that goal in 1999. I just smile. I am proud and pleased. It is not a bad thing to be remembered for.



“I have met so many nice people and supporters at the club. I have enjoyed living in this area and have enjoyed going to games, meeting supporters and getting the thumbs up. I have never had one bother with one fan, ever, which is unbelievable. The day I leave will be very sad."



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