Our all-time top five Scandinavian Reds
Manchester United have had many famous Scandinavian players over the years, but who is the club's greatest?
To mark 40 years of Manchester United Supporters Club Scandinavia we asked their CEO, Bernt Hjornevik, to pick out his all-time top five Reds from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark.
When influential players like Henrik Larsson, Victor Lindelof and Henning Berg don't even make the list, you know you are spoilt for choice.
Here is how his selection shapes up…
Our Scandinavian players
GalleryRemind yourself of some of the notable Reds past and present who hail from Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
Probably not the most famous Scandinavian Red but the Dane will forever be in United’s history books. He played in one season, the 1986/87 campaign, and scored the first goal under Sir Alex Ferguson in November 1986. The strike was also his only goal for the club.
"He gets on the list for that goal," says Hjornevik.
The Norwegian centre-back was a crucial part of the defence that secured the famous Treble in 1999. In combination with Jaap Stam, United were a strong defensive unit. During his time at the club from 1996 to 2002, Ronny won the league four times and the FA Cup and Champions League once.
"His versatility made him almost undroppable. He was unstoppable along with Jaap Stam," says the CEO.
3. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
The Swedish striker joined United in 2016, at the age of 34 and played a pivotal role as we secured our first UEFA Europa League crown. The striker also scored winners in both the Community Shield and the Carabao Cup finals in the 2016/17 campaign. He ended up scoring 29 times in 53 United appearances.
"It’s just a shame he did not join 10 years earlier. He had such a presence and aura around him," Hjornevik emphasises.
2. PETER SCHMEICHEL
One of the best goalkeepers to ever play the game, Peter Schmeichel was instrumental in our success in the 1990s and topped it off with the 1999 Champions League final which was his last appearance for the club. As a brick wall between the sticks, he won 15 trophies including five Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and the Champions League.
"I remember welcoming him to the club after a pre-season game in Norway. I shook his hand and it was like a big bear held my hand. He was a player of huge importance for us," Hjørnevik believes.
1. OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER
To no-one’s surprise, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comes in at top spot for Bernt. The Norwegian scored 126 times for the Reds between 1996 and 2007, including the winner in the 1999 Champions League final. He won 12 trophies as a player for the club, including six Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and the Champions League. After his retirement he went on to coach in the Academy before taking the role as first-team manager in 2018. Our current boss has a special place in Scandinavian Reds’ hearts, Hjørnevik explains.
"There was no doubt, Ole’s number one. The winner in the 1999 final, how he was as a player and behaves like person as well as his results as manager… He’s got everything."