Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is that much of a top bloke, he’s told Manchester United staff to stop calling him ‘boss’.
Polite employees at United felt the need to address him properly after he took the reins at Old Trafford on a caretaker basis.
But having known the same people from when he was a player and then reserve team manager at the club, he finds it uncomfortable and promptly brought it to a halt.
“It’s all about the values in a family – that you care about each other, support each other and of course know each other,” Solskjaer said in a forum with Scandinavian supporters’ club United-Supporteren.
“[Carrington receptionist] Kath was the first person I saw when I came here.
“Then I met the staff who’ve been here since I was a player. They started calling me ‘boss.’ I told them: ‘Stop that. My name is Ole. Call me Ole’.
“We’ve worked together and known each other for so many years. I didn’t want them to call me boss.
“We have to protect the core values in a football club: the relationship between the coach and the players, and the relationship between everyone who works at Carrington.”
Solskjaer has created a relaxed and positive atmosphere around the camp and really set the tone with first gesture: gifting receptionist Kath a bar of Norwegian chocolate upon his return to United.
The former Molde manager also showed his class recently by attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial charity dinner Tackle 4 MCR,’ which plans to ‘address rough sleeping and homelessness on the streets’ in the city.
It’s a subject bigger than football and Solskjaer delivered the perfect message: “Tonight isn’t about blue or red, it’s about Manchester.
“It is about raising money for people who are sleeping rough. I’ve been here in Manchester now for a couple of months and have been living in the city centre I have seen so many people sleeping over and it’s something we can all help out with.”
sportbible.com
