Solskjaer to retire because of knee injury

OSLO, Aug 28 (Reuters) Norway and Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has decided to retire because of lingering knee problems, his father told a Norwegian daily today.

''It is sad both for us and for him that he has decided to quit,'' Oyvind Solskjaer was quoted as saying by Aftenposten.no.

''He would have liked to stay on and was hoping for a 100 per cent recovery. But something has happened with his knee which made it impossible for him to continue,'' he added.

Solskjaer, who joined United in 1996 but has been plagued by the injury since 2003, was expected to make a formal announcement later today in Manchester.

REUTERS BJR PM1545