Man Utd fans give final send-off to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Old Trafford banner

Manchester United fans unveiled a final farewell to former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford on Thursday night as Arsenal visited in the Premier League.

Solskjaer was relieved of his duties last month when a heavy defeat to Watford was the final nail in the coffin after a dismal run of results that also included home thrashings at the hands of fierce rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

Despite the wheels falling off his reign as manager, fans in the Stretford End were keen to thank the Norwegian for his service to the club – totalling nearly 20 years on and off since 1996.

A banner unfurled prior to kick-off against the Gunners read, ‘2Ole Legend’.

Solskjaer’s dismissal from United remained amicable. He requested to do parting interview with in-house media after he was let go so that he could properly address supporters and his ongoing love for the club – a very unusual thing for a departing manager to do.

The 1999 Champions League winner was sure to wish the players the very best for the rest of the season when he gave his final message to the squad he has shaped over the last three years, while he was said to be overjoyed to see the team beat Villarreal in the first match after he left and hear travelling United fans still singing his name on the trip to Spain.

After away trips to Villarreal and Chelsea under the leadership of caretaker manager Michael Carrick, the Arsenal clash was United’s first at home without Solskjaer.

Newly appointed successor Ralf Rangnick, who will now be in charge as interim until the end of the season, before taking on a consultancy role until 2024, was watching on from the stands. The revered German coach has at last been granted the visa he needs to start work.

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