Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is back trending because of rumours linking him to the Besiktas manager role. The Norwegian legend has been out of work since being sacked as the Red Devils gaffer in 2021, but has kept a low profile outside management ever since.
It looks like he might be ready to make a return to management in Turkey, potentially facing off against Jose Mourinho. Many fans have wondered why Solskjaer has stayed outside football for so long since his departure from Old Trafford, and a major reason is because he’s become quite well-to-do for himself.
Solskjaer began his professional football career way back in 1990 and has always been an astute person off the pitch who is well aware of how to maximize his assets. He really broke through the football scene after joining Manchester United 1996, spending 11 years as a player, with his crowning moment coming in scoring the winner against Bayern Munich in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final.
To his credit, the ‘baby-faced assassin’ ensured that he was paid relatively well across his playing career. Solskjaer is estimated to have been paid over £20 million in wages throughout his tenure at the Theatre of Dreams as a player before forced to retire in 2007 because of injury problems.
During his time as a Manchester United player, Solskjaer also used his earnings to build himself a mansion in Cheshire. He spoke about his desire to have his own house in England to live with his family, stating: “We have really enjoyed the last eight years living in Norway. Now we move in together and we built a house – or I started it – in 2007 and finally in 2019 we can move into it. That’s long planning!”
Interestingly, Solskjaer could not initially move into his Cheshire mansion in 2019 because Virgil van Dijk was renting the place as a tenant. The mansion, which was estimated to be worth £4 million in 2019, has now reportedly been sold by the Norwegian.
The 51-year-old had an eventful three-year stint as the Red Devils boss, helping them finish second in the 2020-21 season and having a perfect away record in the Premier League too. He was sacked in 2021, and the Red Devils reportedly paid him a £7.5 million severance package upon firing him.
In total, Solskjaer is estimated to have earned £26 million during his tenure as the Manchester United manager. No wonder he’s been comfortable sitting at home doing little work in recent years! A reason for that is beause apart from his footballing work, Solskjaer is also an astute businessman who is keen on investments.
In 2003, the Norwegian ace opened his own investment management company named ‘Grip Management’ – using which he invests in businesses. In 2021, Solskjaer reportedly bought a 20% stake in the futuristic ‘egg shaped’ Salmon farm company Hauge Aqua for around £2 million.
Towards the end of 2024, Solskjaer also managed to move into a new state-of-the-art sea-facing mansion he built in his hometown of Kristiansund in Norway.
Last year, in the Bakrommet podcast, Solskjaer claimed that he’s more than happy living a ‘retired’ life and stated: “Now I do exactly what I want and enjoy myself. I have reached a position where I can pick and choose, and I am lucky there. Financially, I don’t need anything.”
It’s clear from Solskjaer’s last words in the podcast that he’s in a very good position financially. In terms of career earnings, the ex-Manchester United gaffer earned over £45 million from his club itself. He’s also a Nike brand ambassador, helping him earn some extra with that deal too.
Solskjaer was reported to have a net worth of just around £2.2 million towards the end of 2024. That doesn’t reflect his actual worth at all. He might not have millions and millions in his bank, because Ole opts to invest most of his investments into assets. His investments, including his new Norwegian house, means he should definitely be worth well over £10 million.
The 51-year-old now appears to be ready for a new challenge in his career with Besiktas, but he’s definitely not taking that job because of some dire financial needs.
