Match Rewind: Ole's best hat-tricks

We certainly remember, and that's why we're making the Norwegian the focus of our latest 'Match Rewind' instalment.

 

To recap, ever since the UK lockdown began, we've been inviting Reds all over the world to vote for their favourite classic United matches. Then we show the game with the most votes in full, for free, on our Official App and the home page of ManUtd.com.

 

This week we're asking you for your favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hat-trick.

 

The boss netted three of them during his time at the club, including one particularly incredible cameo. Read on for the full details...

 

Incredibly, this game was just 2-1 at half-time, but things really took a turn for the ridiculous when Ole was introduced with just 18 minutes left on the clock, and United already leading 4-1 thanks to doubles from Cole and Yorke. “Just keep it simple,” were the instructions, more or less, from United coach Jim Ryan, but the Norwegian never liked to pass up an opportunity to nab a few goals for himself – or to show the manager that he was worthy of a place in the starting line-up. 

 

He made the point emphatically here, with a brutal display of finishing that earned him four goals in a manic 12-minute spell. Just a few months later, his goal would seal the Treble for the club - vote for this match if you want to see that 1998/99 side at their destructive and free-flowing best, and Ole at his most merciless.

 

Everton made the mistake of rousing the champions here, by taking an early lead through Francis Jeffers. However, soon defender Richard Dunne handled inside the area, allowing Denis Irwin the opportunity to level from the penalty spot. Then? Enter Solskjaer.

 

A precise through ball from Paul Scholes sent the striker speeding away on 29 minutes, and his first-time finish had enough meat on it to squeeze under Toffees goalkeeper Paul Gerrard. An even better Scholes pass – clipped gorgeously over centre-back David Weir – played Ole in again just 14 minutes later, to completely turn the match in United's favour by half-time. After the break, it was more of the same. Solskjaer headed home Irwin's left-sided cross to complete his hat-trick and, just before the hour, our then no.20 slid home a simple finish from inside the penalty area to make it a remarkable four goals in less than 30 minutes of playing time. Ruthless!

 

Ole's final hat-trick at United came in January 2002, in a comprehensive 4-0 drubbing of Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. In blustery conditions, the Scandinavian was as calm and composed in front of goal as ever, linking with legendary wingers Ryan Giggs and David Beckham for all of his three goals.

 

The first arrived from a quick counter-attack, as Giggs raced away before feeding Solskjaer for a straightforward left-footed finish into the corner of the goal. The efforts that completed the hat-trick were almost identical. Beckham crosses – Solskjaer flicks in at the near post. That made it 3-0 to the Reds in the 64th minute, leaving plenty of time for Ruud van Nistelrooy to grab our fourth in the final 10 minutes. Solskjaer had departed the field with a quarter of an hour to go, to be replaced by debutant Diego Forlan. The new Uruguayan signing had a clear message: you've got to be pretty special to get in this team.

 

You can select which of the three matches you want to see by voting in our Match Rewind live blog.

 

The vote closes at 16:00 BST on Thursday (28 May) and we’ll show the winning game in full, and for free, on the Official App and ManUtd.com at 19:00 BST later that evening.