It's hard to believe it now, but the general reaction to the baby-faced assassin's potential signing in 1996 was very similar to the aura of scepticism surrounding the Cardiff City Stadium following his managerial appointment last Christmas. After all, the circumstances were quite similar - he had earned his badges in Norway, flourishing as both a lethal finisher and managerial novice at Molde. Both sets of supporters were both left to wonder - could he take step to the next level? While supporters of the Welsh club have been left disappointed, with Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's abject relegation doing nothing to allay fears, Manchester United might as well have dedicated a shrine to their 1999 Champions League final hero. The epitome of the super-sub, he wrote himself into Mancunian folklore with a four-goal salvo during a 12-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest, during their treble-winning season. An embodiment of self-sacrifice, he gained widespread acclaim for hauling Newcastle winger Rob Lee to the ground when through on goal in a crunch match with the Tyneside club, picking up the red card and effectively ruling himself out of the coming matches. He may never have established himself as a first-choice striker at Old Trafford during an 11 year spell with the Mancunian giants, but he certainly contributed a gargantuan amount to Sir Alex Ferguson's troops, and nestled himself into the hearts of the Red Devil faithful.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
