New Cardiff City manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer sought advice from former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of succeeding Malky Mackay as manager of the south Wales club.

After three years as Molde boss during which he won two Norwegian league titles, Solskjaer returns to the Premier League where he achieved legendary status during an 11-year career at United.

Ferguson signed Solskjaer in the summer of 1996 and the former Norway international went on to score 126 goals in 366 appearances for United, including netting the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

The 40 year old's managerial career has begun in similarly successful fashion and he joins Cardiff charged with preventing relegation to the Championship with just one point currently separating the Bluebirds from the bottom three.

Solskjaer has agreed a rolling one-year contract at the Cardiff City Stadium and says prior to making the decision to move to south Wales the ex-united striker took advice from Ferguson.

"He wish me all the best," said Solskjaer of the former United boss. "He's given me good advice as he always does when you ask him for advice. I had a good conversation

"That will be between us [what was said]. I trust him with the advice he's given me. I've learnt from him and had best tutor in man management.

"I've learnt tricks, taken advice. You think back to what did the gaffer do when this or that happened? I've been looking in diaries. I'm a reflective man and always used to write notes when I was a coach as well."

"I trusted SAF with my football career and I trust him now with his advice."

Solskjaer, who becomes the fourth Norwegian manager in the Premier League's history, is expected to be given significant funds in the January transfer window to help improve Cardiff's current league position which saw them slip further towards the relegation zone after defeat to Arsenal.

An agreement was reached on Monday for Solskjaer to take over following talks between club chairman Mehmet Dalman and owner Vincent Tan, who has come under intense criticism from supporters for a series of unpopular decisions including changing the club's colours from blue to red and sacking manager Mackay in December.

Cardiff's plight at the bottom is accentuated by tough run of games, with trips to Manchester City and Solskjaer's former club United before the end of January.

"It will be fantastic," Solskjaer said of his return to Old Trafford. "We have three of the toughest games in world football this month but I will tell the players to go out and enjoy it.

"My message to the fans is come and support their heroes."

Solskjaer's first game in charge will be against Newcastle United in the FA Cup, a competition he won twice as a player.