Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made a return to football over three years on from his brutal sacking at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer, 51, has taken charge of Turkish giants Besiktas and his appointment was confirmed after he posed with the club’s scarf on Friday morning.
The photo was posted on Besiktas’ official X account and Solskjaer, who has been out of work since leaving United in 2021, is thought to have signed his contract.
Earlier on Friday, the club confirmed in a brief statement that talks had begun with the Norwegian, who touched down in Istanbul and was greeted by several officials.
‘I am very happy to be here,’ Solskjaer told reporters at the airport. ‘It is great to have so many people here for this great club. We have had our first meetings.
‘I am looking forward to starting my job. It is great to be in this great city.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has returned to football over three years on from his Man United axing
Solskjaer, 51, has been out of work since being sacked at Old Trafford in November 2021
He has taken charge of a struggling Besiktas side who are sixth in the Turkish Super Lig
Solskjaer enjoys legendary status at United following his playing career and won 91 of his 168 games as manager of the club, guiding them to a second place finish in the Premier League and the Europa League final in 2020-21.
Solskjaer, who previously managed Molde in his homeland across two spells and Cardiff City, has been linked with several jobs over recent months, with the former striker tipped to take over at both Leicester and West Ham.
He was even spotted at Molineux for Gary O’Neil’s final Wolves game in charge against Ipswich in December, although it was later revealed that he was there to support his former United assistant Kieran McKenna, the Tractor Boys’ manager.
There has been no official confirmation on the length of his Besiktas deal but he is expected to pen a one-and-a-half year contract running until 2026.
The Turkish heavyweights have been without a manager since they sacked former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst last month.
With the move now rubberstamped, Solskjaer will come up against Jose Mourinho in the Turkish Super Lig, which is rated as Europe’s 10th best division.
Mourinho is currently in charge of Besiktas’ Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, adding intrigue given Solskjaer was the coach who succeeded Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Mourinho’s time in Turkey has been as dramatic as ever, with the former Chelsea, Tottenham and United boss regularly rallying against officiating standards, while he recently labelled the league as ‘toxic’.
Solskjaer has been linked to several jobs since his United departure but declined offers
The 51-year-old (second from right) won 91 of his 168 games in charge of the Red Devils
Solskjaer could watch Besiktas’ upcoming league clash against Samsunspor on Saturday from the stands, before taking charge of his first game against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Wednesday.
But he has taken over a side who are enduring a difficult season, with Besiktas 28th in the Europa League group stage and languishing in sixth place in the league.
Their squad includes former Premier League stars Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joao Mario and Arthur Masuaku.
The move to Turkey also comes after Solskjaer was briefly touted for a shock return to Old Trafford before Ruben Amorim took over in November.
His spell in charge of United, which initially started as an interim role, came after Solskjaer enjoyed 11 successful seasons as a player between 1996 and 2007.
He scored 126 goals for the Red Devils and won 12 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League during the famous 1998-99 Treble season.
Following retirement in 2007 due to injury, Solskjaer took charge of United’s reserve team, before he impressed as manager of Molde in his homeland between 2010 and 2014, winning two domestic titles.
Solskjaer’s success ensured he got the Cardiff City job, but the 51-year-old endured a difficult nine-month spell in south Wales where he was unable to prevent the Bluebirds from being relegated from the Premier League.
He returned to Molde in 2015 and spent more than three years in the role before United came calling in December 2018.
