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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Says In Interview That He's "Learned A Lot" About Football From Playing Football Manager

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Says In Interview That He's "Learned A Lot" About Football From Playing Football Manager

"It resembles real life, when it comes to who will be good players. They have done incredible research."

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he has "learned a lot about football" by playing the "fantastic" Football Manager series.

The Norwegian opened up about his love for the popular game in an interview with Dagbladet in 2016, during his second spell at Molde FK.

Solskjaer said he used to play Football Manager when he was a player and as a result, it helped him develop as a manager.

In fact, he says the FM series inspired him to "give young guns a change and see them develop" in real life.

"It's a fantastic game, I have learned a lot about football. I have learned a lot about players, especially young talent." the former Manchester United striker said.

"It resembles real life, when it comes to who will be good players. They have done incredible research. I remember thinking the same then, that I do as a manager, you want to give young guns the chance, see them develop.

"You could push a few buttons and get extra millions to buy a player. I never enjoyed that. I would rather win in spite of, than because of.

"Many of my players play FIFA and Football Manager. I think it helps them to understand football better."

Image: Dagbladet
Image: Dagbladet

In the fascinating interview, Solskjaer goes on to speak about the tactics he would go on to use in a virtual Norwegian Cup game against AaFK.

The former United striker also opened up about the games he used to play as a kid.

"I'm a football idiot," he confessed. "If didn't care about the games where you played yourself, I was in manager mode.

"I was 7-8 when I started playing with my cousins. It was Commodore 64 and we played The Boss."

Solskjaer isn't the only person in football to enjoy the popular Football Manager series.

Last year, French forward Antoine Griezmann posted his Arsenal team from a Football Manager save in the year 2023 and, along with a whole host of future stars, FM wonderkid Trincao was deployed on the right wing.

Griezmann hasn't signed himself for the Gunners but fellow Barca player Frenkie de Jong finds himself in the team, alongside Jadon Sancho and Andy Robertson.

It really is the greatest game in the world.

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Topics: gaming news, Football News, GAMING, Football Manager, Football, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer