▁E ik - T ø ns berg ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 , ▁but ▁was ▁retra ined ▁as ▁a ▁centre ▁back ▁by ▁head ▁coach ▁N ils ▁Johan ▁S emb . ▁Joh ns en ▁wanted ▁to ▁play ▁as ▁a ▁stri ker ▁and ▁after ▁he ▁transferred ▁to ▁Lyn ▁ahead ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁season ▁he ▁played ▁as ▁a ▁stri ker ▁for ▁the ▁club ▁in ▁T ipp el iga en . ▁Half - way ▁through ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁season , ▁Joh ns en ▁transferred ▁to ▁L ill estr ø m , ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁used ▁more ▁as ▁a ▁centre ▁back ▁than ▁a ▁stri ker , ▁before ▁he ▁moved ▁to ▁Be ş ik ta ş ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 . ▁After ▁a ▁half ▁season ▁in ▁Turkey , ▁Joh ns en ▁was ▁approached ▁by ▁Manchester ▁United ▁manager , ▁Alex ▁Fer g us on ▁who ▁wanted ▁to ▁sign ▁him . ▁Joh ns en ▁turned ▁down ▁the ▁first ▁offer , ▁but ▁transferred ▁to ▁Manchester ▁United ▁during ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁and ▁signed ▁a ▁five - year ▁contract ▁with ▁the ▁club . ▁With ▁a ▁fee ▁of ▁£ 1 . 2 mill ion , ▁Joh ns en ▁became ▁the ▁then ▁most ▁expensive ▁Norwegian ▁def ender . ▁ ▁While ▁at ▁Manchester ▁United , ▁he ▁won ▁ 4 ▁league ▁titles ▁( 1 9 9 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 1 ), ▁and ▁one ▁FA ▁Cup ▁in