Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is responsible for the greatest red card in Manchester United history

Years before he was in the Old Trafford hot-seat as Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took one for the team against Newcastle in the 1997/98 campaign.

The score was 1-1 when United were on the attack. They flooded the box as David Beckham curled in a cross from the left flank.

Literally everyone bar the goalkeeper was up for the hosts but they couldn't get on the end of the cross. However, Newcastle cleared their lines and broke quickly on the counter attack.

The ball ended up with Rob Lee and it was almost like he the freedom of Manchester as he raced towards goal from his own half.

There were no defenders facing him and he was on his way to a one-on-one opportunity with Raimond van der Gouw in the 89th minute.

But before Lee had the chance to pull the trigger and snatch a late win for the visitors, Solskjaer emerged from nowhere and cynically hacked him down.

Referee Uriah Rennie showed him a red card that was as clear as day but the Norwegian had prevented a nailed-on goal with his genius tactical foul that ensured United didn't lose.

After being shown his only red card for United, Solskjaer got a pat on the head from Beckham as well as a standing ovation from United supporters.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson was not best pleased and let his No.20 know about it by fining him.

Speaking on the High Performance podcast all those years later, he said: "When I say a fair way I've had one sending off and "I was so told off by the gaffer [Sir Alex Ferguson], he absolutely slaughtered me in the dressing room, two weeks' wages fine, against Newcastle.

"I learnt a lesson then... that that's not the way we want to win at Manchester United, we don't do it that way."

It was almost a carbon copy of Federico Valverde's match-winning red card for Real Madrid at 0-0 against rivals Atletico in the Supercopa in January 2020.

Valverde, who took out Alvaro Morata, was praised by opposition manager Diego Simeone and even received the Man of the Match award after Real won.

Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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