Aston Villa wanted Manchester United hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their next manager. It’s not to be…
Just as Villa fans were getting their heads around Solskjaer potentially being appointed manager, news broke last night that he had decided to remain at Molde.
Nevertheless, he still has more wins at Villa Park than former manager Alex McLeish, from his various trips there as a player.
When I first heard this, I wonderered if it were fact or fiction, so decided to check it out;
First thing’s first- in a record season of all the wrong kinds for Aston Villa, manager Alex McLeish presided over just eight wins .
Four of these came at home at Villa Park, and a fifth came against Hereford in the Carling Cup.
So just five wins at home in total for the now sacked Scotsman.
Take Part In Our Euro 2012 Predictor Competition – Free Entry, £4,000 Prize Fund
What about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, during his time at United?
Amazingly, he has seven wins at Villa Park, two more than McLeish managed.
Here are the results to prove it.
(1) May 2000 – Villa 0-1 United
(2) December 2000 – Villa 0-1 United
(3) January 2001 – Villa 0-2 United
(4) January 2002 – Villa 2-3 United
(5) March 2003 – Villa 0-1 United
And then two FA Cup semi-finals, where Aston Villa did not feature
(6) April 1999 – United 2-1 Arsenal
(7) April 2007 – United 4-1 Watford
It is likely that Solskjaer would have even more happier memories of the ground, but on other occasions, Villa were able to hold the Manchester United side he played in to a draw, or in other matches his side won he did not feature.
Even so, his number of seven is enough to lift him above McLeish.
Not only is Solskjaer’s record at Villa Park one to give him happy memories, he is in fact unbeaten at the ground.
He only ever played two other matches at Villa Park;
August 2001 – Villa 1-1 United; April 2000 Arsenal 0-0 United.
His record at Villa Park therefore stands at seven wins, two draws, and nine unbeaten.
It means little now, with Solskjaer turning down the job, but it reveals just how awful McLeish was, and why Villa need to get their search for their next manager right.
Who should Villa now go for as their next manager?
image: © CC-BY-SA
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
