Solskjaer Downplays Immediate United Return

Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he dreams of becoming manager of the Old Trafford club but admits he is happy to take his career slowly.

The Molde boss, who is closing in on a second Norwegian title in as many years in his homeland, achieved legendary status during his 11-year United career, scoring one of the most famous goals in the club's history in the 1999 Champions League final, which secureda late victory over Bayern Munich.

Such is Solskjaer's burgeoning reputation that he has already turned down moves to Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers, and the 39 year old says despite his ambitions of managing United, he is happy to take his managerial career slowly.

"I'm not naive enough to say I can do that job but in life you should have big dreams and big goals.," Solskjaer told The Sun

"It's a dream but let's take just one step at a time."I want to become a manager in England.

"At the moment I've just started and it's been two years more or less in Norway. So the time will come. I've spoken to clubs and explained it's a bit early as I want to learn and don't want to jump too big a bridge at the start.

"After playing at United, the best players were always the best people - like Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Edwin van der Sar."

With two Norwegian league games remaining, Moldes lead title rivals Stromsgodset and Rosenborg by one and four points respectively and face strugglers Sogndal and Fredrikstad in their final two games knowing successive wins will confirm a second title in as many years for the former United forward.

His rise in his managerial career has seen him linked with moves to Villa and Blackburn, positions he both rejected in favour of continuing his career with a Molde side whom he spent the middle part of his playing career with prior to moving to United in 1996.

The 12-time Premier League champions have earned a reputation, during the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson, of producing a series of future managers, with the likes of Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Mark Robins all moving into management following spells at the club.