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Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a diehard Liverpool fan growing up

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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER was a massive Liverpool fan growing up.

The Manchester United manager, who has won 15 of 20 matches since taking over at Old Trafford, supported his club's bitter rivals throughout his youth in Kristiansund, Norway.

 Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a Liverpool fan growing up
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Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a Liverpool fan growing upCredit: Reuters

And although Solskjaer has previously said he will "never confirm" who he supported one way or the other, it is an open secret for locals.

Stig Flemmen, a Manchester United fan and coach at Clausenengen where Solskjaer first made his name, grew up with Solskjaer and played against him as a teenager for "big rivals" Kristiansund.

He told SunSport: "I lived in the same area as him and we were always arguing about the teams.

"Where we grew up it was all English football. We all used to argue about it.

"But I had the better choice - he has to admit it now. I was right!"

Clausenengen's current leader, Jan Trygve Pedersen, who played with Solskjaer as a teenager and a young adult, quipped: "Maybe he had a Liverpool poster over his bed when he was 10..."

A local Manchester United fan told SunSport in a cafe: "We don't like to talk about that, he's living and learning!"

Kristiansund has a population of just 25,000, a third the size of Old Trafford, and everyone knows Ole Gunnar and his family.

His parents, sister, wife and three children all still live in the city and all play an active part in the local community.

And if there's one person who can bridge the divide between the two clubs anywhere in the world, it's Solskjaer in his home city.

Even a Liverpool fan admitted to us he begrudgingly wanted Solskjaer to do well in his new permanent job.

Although a trophy would still be a step too far.

 Stig Flemmen, a United fan who played against Solskjaer as a youth, remembers friendly arguments with Solskjaer and their mutual friends
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Stig Flemmen, a United fan who played against Solskjaer as a youth, remembers friendly arguments with Solskjaer and their mutual friendsCredit: Ian Whittaker - The Sun
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