ManUtd legend Robson leaves his duties as Sheffield United manager

Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton were both great players, but they never became legendary managers, now a another legend of English football is experiencing the same situation

Former Man Utd player and England captain Bryan Robson left his job as Sheffield United manager after turning down a chance to move upstairs and leave first team affairs to a new man.

Management has been difficult for the once fantastic midfielder who used to dominate English football in the 80’s. He never managed to build a great team at Middlesbrough with loads of cash available. He couldn’t do much with Bradford City.

A new chance at his former club WBA looked promising, but after saving the club from relegation, he never managed to turn things around the next season and the Baggies was again relegated. A few weeks into the new season it was time to leave again.

Will this be the end of a long and difficult manager career for the 51 year old former England captain ?

And ‘Sir Solskjaer’ has won it!!!

Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson… and now Sir Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Solskjaer has been named a 1st class Knight of the St. Olav’s order, the Norwegian equivalent of being ‘Knighted’ .

The 34 year-old is among the youngest who have ever received the royal title, which is usually given to significantly older contributors to society.

The reception was carried out in secrecy and hasn’t been officially confirmed by the Castle, but Dagladet has had the title confirmed from several independent sources.

Even though it’s only weeks since the 34 year-old from Kristiansund hung his boots up as a player, it is not for his efforts for Manchester United and the national side that’s behind the title. It’s his exertions for the community and his status as a role model, among other things his endeavours as a UNICEF-ambassador, which have impressed King Harald.

Allegedly there’s a bigger ceremony planned in his hometown, Kristiansund, in conjunction with the title, before he’s headed towards the Castle for an audience with the king. .
Solskjær is the oldest non-regal recipient of the ordercross, which has been given earlier this year to people like the writer Herbjørg Wassmo (64), Dagblad-drawer Finn Graff (68), and supreme court barrister Jan Einar Greve (74).

Fergie praises Solskjaer’s growing confidence as a coach

The Norwegian has been a part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching staff since being forced into retirement by a persistent knee injury.Having scored 126 goals for United, He has been working with the strikers at all levels, and earned himself some praise from Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Ole has been working with the forwards and alongside Rene Meulensteen, our technical skills development coach,” Ferguson told Inside United.
“He’s started with the first team, and he’s just building his confidence as a coach.”

“He was always in the dressing room as one of the players and all of a sudden he’s a coach.

“But he’s doing great, we’re really pleased with him.”

Treble winner Stam retires!

THE HAGUE (AFP) – The Dutch international and former Manchester United defender, Jaap Stam, announced his retirement Monday.

Stam, 35, played for United from 1997 to 2001 and participated in the club’s treble in 1999 when they won the English Premier league, the European Champions League and the FA Cup as well as the Intercontinental Cup.

Stam won two other English league titles in 1997 and 2000.

Known as “the rock of Kampen” after the Dutch amateur club where began his career, the 1.91 metre tall defender made his professional debut at the age of 20 for Zwolle in the Dutch second divison.

He made his international debut at 23 with a 1-0 loss to Germany in 1996 and went on to win 67 caps for the Netherlands including their semi-finals performances in the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000 and Euro 2004.

Stam became the most expensive Dutch player in history when he was bought by United for around 11 million pounds (22 million dollars) in 1997.

It was Stam’s revelation in his biography that United coach Sir Alex Ferguson had made an illegal approach to him while he was playing for PSV Eindhoven which is believed to have contributed to his sudden departure from Old Trafford.

Stam said afterwards he was surprised Ferguson accepted the 16-million-pound Lazio bid for him in the summer of 2001, just two years after he had helped United lift the Champions League trophy in 1999 after an unforgettable 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in Barcelona.

“Manchester United know they made a mistake in selling me,” Stam claimed.

Given that Stam prospered in Italy while United endured a trophy-less 2001-02 campaign, that view will be shared by many of the club’s fans although Ferguson has refused to admit he made an error in selling the Dutch defender.

In January 2002, while at Lazio, Stam tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. He was suspended for one month and fined 30,000 pounds (60,000 dollars).

He later switched clubs in the Serie A, playing two seaons for AC Milan from 2004 before returning home to the Netherlands to play for Amsterdam’s famous Ajax club in 2006 where he ended his career six months earlier than intended.

“I’m not up to the standard that’s needed. I already wanted to stop at the beginning of the season but I convinced myself that I could go on,” he told a press conference Monday.

“Now, I can’t go on. I’m not the type of player who gives only 50 percent and I never was.”