In a surprising move, Turkish football club Besiktas have announced the appointment of former Manchester United player and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær as their new head coach. The Norwegian returns to management after being sacked by United in November 2022 following a disappointing run of results.
Solskjær’s Illustrious United Career
Solskjær is best known for his hugely successful spell as a player at Manchester United between 1996 and 2007. The baby-faced assassin scored 126 goals in 366 appearances for the Red Devils, including the infamous injury-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
“I have vivid memories of that night, it was the pinnacle of my playing career. To score the winning goal in such dramatic fashion, it’s what every player dreams of.”
– Ole Gunnar Solskjær on his Champions League winning goal
After retiring in 2007, Solskjær remained at United as a coach, managing the club’s reserve team for two years before a brief spell in charge of Norwegian side Molde. In December 2018, he got the call to return to Old Trafford, initially as interim manager following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
Steady Progress Leads to Permanent Job
Solskjær’s impact was immediate, overseeing a record-breaking run of victories that saw United surge up the Premier League table. The highlight was a stirring comeback victory over PSG in the Champions League, with Marcus Rashford scoring a decisive last-minute penalty.
- 14 wins from first 19 games in charge
- Reached Champions League quarter-finals in 2018/19
- Club record of 9 consecutive away wins
The turnaround in form was enough to convince the United hierarchy to appoint Solskjær on a permanent basis in March 2019. “From the first day I arrived, I felt at home at this special club,” he said at the time. “It was an honor to be a Manchester United player, and then to start my coaching career here.”
Inconsistent Results Lead to Downfall
Despite some promising signs, including a third place Premier League finish in 2019/20 and a Europa League final appearance in 2021, Solskjær was ultimately unable to restore United to the top of English and European football. A poor start to the 2022/23 season, including heavy defeats to rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, led to his dismissal.
“I wanted us to take the next step to challenge for the title, but unfortunately I couldn’t get the results we needed and it’s time for me to step aside.”
– Solskjær’s final statement as Manchester United manager
Chance for Redemption with Besiktas?
Now, just over a year after his United exit, Solskjær has a chance to rebuild his managerial reputation with Besiktas. The 21-time Turkish champions are currently languishing in sixth place in the Super Lig table, but the club’s hierarchy are banking on Solskjær’s experience and leadership to turn their fortunes around.
“We believe Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s history of developing young talent and getting the best out of his players make him the right man to take Besiktas forward,” read a club statement. “We warmly welcome him to the Besiktas family and wish him great success.”
“I’ve been impressed by Besiktas’s vision and the passion of their fans. I’m excited to prove myself in Turkey and show that I can still compete at the highest level.”
– Solskjær on being appointed Besiktas manager
Following in Mourinho’s Footsteps
Interestingly, Solskjær is not the first former Manchester United manager to take charge of one of the Istanbul giants. His former boss Jose Mourinho had a brief but successful spell with Besiktas’ fierce rivals Fenerbahce in 2022/23, winning the Turkish Cup.
| Manager | Turkish Club | Period |
| Jose Mourinho | Fenerbahce | 2022-2023 |
| Ole Gunnar Solskjær | Besiktas | 2025- |
Solskjær will be hoping to emulate Mourinho’s success and use it as a springboard to one of Europe’s top jobs, just as the Special One did when he left Fenerbahce for Spanish giants Real Madrid. For Besiktas fans, the appointment of a man who is already a living legend at one of the world’s biggest clubs is a major coup.
All eyes will now be on the Norwegian as he looks to revitalize a sleeping giant of Turkish football and re-establish his own credentials as an elite level manager. If he can recapture the magic of his early days at United, Solskjær and Besiktas could be a match made in heaven.
