Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first coaching job in British football ended Thursday after a disappointing nine months, with the former Manchester United striker quitting as Cardiff manager over a "difference in philosophy" with the club's owners.

Solskjaer took charge of Cardiff in January but could not prevent the team from getting relegated from the English Premier League. After seven games in the 24-team second-tier League Championship, Cardiff is 17th with three losses.

"After the club was relegated, many people advised me to let him go, but I decided to keep Ole on for the Championship season," Cardiff owner Vincent Tan said. "Regrettably our recent results do not justify Ole's continued role as manager at Cardiff."

Solskjaer decided to step down after holding talks with Tan and chairman Mehmet Dalman.

"Our difference in philosophy on how to manage the club made me decide to step aside and allow the club to move forward in the direction Vincent wants," Solskjaer said.

Solskjaer swapped job security at Molde and a settled family life in his native Norway for a first shot at management in Britain, replacing Malky Mackay at Cardiff.

But he failed to have the same impact he managed in his playing career at United, which reached its peak when he diverted home an injury-time winner in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 1999.

He spent 11 years at United and was known for his lethal finishing as a "super-sub."