Solskjaer: Rare Interview with NRK Discussing His Life, Coaching Career, and Future Possibilities

Why did you agree to this interview? 
"Normally, I don’t enjoy interviews very much, but this time it was at my good friend’s request, and I respect him, so I made an exception. I’m also happy to be able to chat about football and life with the NRK team here in my hometown of Kristiansund."

How is your life now?
"I’m living a ‘football retirement’ lifestyle, finally able to spend time with family and watch my kids’ football games. Aside from occasionally doing match analysis for UEFA, I spend most of my time building my dream house by the seaside here in Kristiansund. My life is very relaxed now; I’m able to live at my own pace, and I’m really enjoying it."

Do you have any thoughts about returning to coaching in the future?  
"Right now, I’m in a position where I have options, so I’m not in a rush to return to coaching. If a truly interesting opportunity comes along, something that would reignite my interest enough to pull me away from my current life, I’d consider it. It would take enough passion and the right team to make me leave home."

What are your thoughts on possibly becoming the Norway national team coach?  
"If I were to coach a national team someday, my ideal choice would, of course, be Norway. I believe a national team coach should come from the country, as that best reflects the nation's true strength. I hope to see Norway return to the international stage soon—that’s my hope and everyone’s expectation."

How do you view your time coaching Manchester United? 
"Looking back at my years at United, I’m still proud of everything we achieved. We finished third and second in the league and reached several key semifinals. At the time, we thought signing Cristiano Ronaldo was the right choice, but in hindsight, it might not have been the best decision. But everything was based on what we knew then; things might have turned out differently if we did it over."

What are your impressions of Erling Haaland?  
"I remember when he came to Molde for a trial at age 16, we already saw he was something special. His independence and discipline made a strong impression on me. Once, during preseason camp, he had to return home early because of a family bereavement. We planned to take him to the airport, but he insisted on handling the whole journey himself. Seeing such a young player show that level of independence really stood out to me."

What are your plans for the future?  
"I’m truly enjoying my life right now, but I haven’t completely ruled out returning to coaching. I don’t care if it’s a top club; what matters to me is the team atmosphere and the project itself. I’m a football lover, and I enjoy building a team bit by bit. Friends joke that I should learn Spanish, so maybe one day I’ll consider coaching in Spain, haha. But for now, I’m just going with the flow and cherishing my current life."

As the interview wrapped up, the host shared a humorous story about reporting on Solskjaer’s appointment as Manchester United manager. On the day Solskjaer was named head coach, the NRK reporter was sent to Manchester to create a news story about him. However, due to time constraints, he couldn’t secure interviews with anyone inside the club. So, he stood outside United’s training facility holding a sign that read, “Honk if you love Solskjaer.” Pogba passed by and gave him a strange look but didn’t honk. The photo of him with the sign quickly went viral online, becoming an "awkward" classic moment.