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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Is Responsible For The Greatest Red Card In Manchester United History

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Is Responsible For The Greatest Red Card In Manchester United History

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer really did take one for the team.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

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

Years before he was in the Old Trafford hotseat as a manager, the "babyfaced assassin" took one for the team against Newcastle in the 1997/98 campaign.

With United drawing 1-1 with the Magpies, they flooded the box after winning a late corner. However, Newcastle cleared their lines and broke quickly on the counter attack.

The ball ended up with Rob Lee and he had 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.

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

Valverde was praised by opposition manager Diego Simeone and even won the Man of the Match award after Real won.

After being shown his only red card for United, Solskjaer got a pat on the head from David 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."

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Topics: Football News, Football, Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer