I have to say that I am surprised that former Manchester United forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has picked Cardiff City as his first destination as a manager in the Premier League.
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan appears to be a very unstable manager, who like many of the foreign owners in the Premier League doesn’t fully understand football.
After flirting with Aston Villa a couple of years ago I expected OGS to enter management with a club that has a more traditional manager.
But he didn’t and Cardiff announced the hiring of OGS on their web site saying:
“Cardiff City Football Club are delighted to announce that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has joined the club as first team manager,” read a statement on Cardiff City’s official website.
“Following discussions with Tan Sri Vincent Tan and club chairman Mehmet Dalman, Ole, joining Cardiff City from Molde FK, today (Thursday) met with his new squad at the Vale training ground and will soon be unveiled to the press at Cardiff City Stadium.”
Unlike many former United players Solskjaer has been a success as manager, winning two league titles and the cup in his 2 1/2 years in charge at Molde. The former United striker was very upbeat at his first Cardiff press conference, expressing his pleasure at being handed the job.
“I’m a lucky man to be a manager in the Premier League,” he said.
“I hope to inspire, motivate and improve the players with my philosophy.
“I want to create a culture here.”
But the former Manchester United striker is under no illusions over the task he has to keep Cardiff in the Premier League:
“Short term, it is important for us to start getting points. We have [to play] seven of the teams from 10 down [in the Premier League] at home.”
“Long term I would like us to finish above Swansea – that must be an aim.”
Solskjaer has signed what is being called a “rolling contract” and has laughed off reports that Sir Alex Ferguson had warned him against taking the job.
“He has wished me the best and given me some good advice – as he always does. I had a good conversation with him.
“It it absolute nonsense [that he told me to turn down Cardiff].”
