Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has signed an 18-month contract with an option to extend through the 2026-2027 season. This appointment follows his departure from management after his tenure at Manchester United ended in 2021.
Besiktas, a club with a rich history as 16-time champions of the Turkish Super Lig, is currently positioned sixth in the league table. The team has been seeking a permanent head coach since Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s departure in November.
Club officials expressed their confidence in Solskjaer’s ability to contribute positively to the organization, stating, “We believe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will make significant contributions to our club, and we warmly welcome him to the Besiktas family, wishing him great success.”
During his time at Manchester United, the 51-year-old Norwegian tactician initially took over from Jose Mourinho on an interim basis in December 2018 and later secured a three-year contract in March 2019.
He led the Red Devils to a commendable second-place finish in the Premier League and guided them to the Europa League final, although his tenure ended without a trophy due to a challenging run of form.
Before his successful stint at United, Solskjaer managed Molde twice and held a position at Cardiff City. As a player, he made a remarkable impact at Manchester United, scoring 126 goals over 11 seasons from 1996 to 2007, including the memorable winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final.
Currently, Besiktas sit 28th in the Europa League standings, just one point away from the play-off spots as they approach the final two games in the group stage alongside United.
Solskjaer will have a significant challenge ahead, starting with an away match against Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on May 4 in the Super Lig.
