New Delhi: Ole Gunnar Solskjær officially makes his return to management after a four year spell away from the sidelines following his departure from Manchester United. The former United boss has been unveiled as the manager of Turkish Super Lig club Besiktas JK, signing for them on a one and a half year deal. The Norwegian has signed a contract lasting till June 2026 and takes over the club following a poor first half of the campaign for the 16-time Super Lig champions.
Besiktas, a club steeped in history and success, have struggled for consistency this term, sitting sixth in the table but just one point off the European qualification spots. Solskjaer was warmly welcomed at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, where he met with senior Besiktas officials, including Vice Presidents Hakan Daltaban and Kaan Kasaci, and Board Member Merve Oztopaloglu. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival, Solskjaer expressed his enthusiasm.
Ole, Ole, Ole. 🦅#EagleOfTheNorth pic.twitter.com/MtGkzqwPno
— Beşiktaş EN (@BesiktasEnglish) January 17, 2025
“It is great to be here. This is a fantastic club with passionate supporters and a rich history. I am looking forward to getting started and contributing to the success of this great team.” Since parting ways with Manchester United in November 2021, he has kept a low profile, taking up a role as a match analyst for UEFA and making sporadic public appearances. However, his time away from coaching appears to have reignited his hunger for the game. He was linked with a move to Premier League side Wolves earlier in the season, sparking speculations that he’d be open to a return to management.
Solskjær’s arrival comes during a chaotic season for Besiktas. The Istanbul giants have already had three different club presidents, with Serdal Adali currently at the helm since December. The team started the season strongly under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, thrashing Galatasaray 5-0 to lift the Turkish Supercup in August and were sitting second in the Super Lig table by October. However, a poor run of form in November led to van Bronckhorst’s dismissal, with interim manager and former Besiktas forward Serdar Topraktep taking charge.
Not the only former Manchester United Manager in Turkey
Mourinho v Solskjaer 🍿
Fenerbahce v Besiktas 👀Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to become the new head coach of Turkish club Besiktas 🤝 pic.twitter.com/EWKzkEZDnO
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 17, 2025
Interestingly, Solskjær’s move to Besiktas reunites him with an old adversary: José Mourinho. The Portuguese manager, now in charge of Fenerbahce, has a long history with Solskjær. Mourinho was Manchester United’s manager before being replaced by Solskjaer in March 2019, initially on an interim basis. Their rivalry extended into their head-to-head clashes when Mourinho managed Tottenham Hotspur, including a memorable 6-1 victory for Spurs at Old Trafford in October 2020.
Mourinho’s Fenerbahce currently sit second in the Super Lig but are firmly behind the remaining ‘Big 3’ club of the country, Galatasaray. The two former Manchester United managers will now battle it out for supremacy in Turkey following their exploits in England. Solskjær and Mourinho have been the two best managers Manchester United have appointed since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure at the club and will go head to head once again to become the best manager in the Super Lig.
Manchester United legend and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær returns to management after a four year break as he is announced as the new manager of Turkish giants Besiktas JK. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
