Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Work In Besiktas Reminds Term Of Office At Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is Besiktas' new manager (Instagram/@besiktas).

JAKARTA - Besiktas' new manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, said on Sunday, January 19, 2025, local time that he received a job offer from the Turkish Super League (Super Lig) club for reminding him of his last managerial term at Manchester United.

The 51-year-old has agreed to an agreement until the end of next season, with the option of an extension for another year.

This is his first managerial role since being sacked by Manchester United in 2021.

Solskjaer took over as interim manager of Manchester United in December 2018, with the team in sixth place in the standings, replacing Jose Mourinho (now Fenerbahce Manager) for the remainder of the season.

The Norwegian coach got a deal three years after 10 wins from 13 league games. He guided Manchester United to third and second place in the Premier League and Europa League finals.

However, poor performance led to his departure in November 2021 with Manchesterr United in seventh place in the league standings.

"I haven't played football for a long time, as a manager. However, I've worked at UEFA and I've been following football and this club."

"This project seems a little like Manchester United to me. We were in sixth place, then we were third and then second. This is step by step."

"Of course we are here to win. So, hopefully we can do it faster."

"However, we have to be realistic. Yes, I got a lot of offers, but as I said before, it should be the right and commensurate offer for me," Solskjaer told reporters.

Besiktas, who has won the Turkish Super League title 16 times, is currently sixth in the standings.

They don't have a permanent head coach since Giovanni van Bronckhorst left in November 2024.

"You need to feel that heart rate is racing again because (you ask) do you have energy?"

"The project the president and the council have talked to me is the right thing and I need it right now."

"I've been following Manchester United (since I left) and it's hard when things get worse."

"You just have to turn things around and hopefully we can turn things around quickly here," he said again.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer has found Beskitkas' young talent which he thinks will be very helpful going forward.

The two names who received praise from the Norwegian coach were Semih Kilicsoy (19 years) and Mustafa Hekimoglu (17).

"It's a bit unfair to compare it with Erling Haaland. You see, Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world. However, we will help them become the best possible," he said.

Solskjaer's team will travel to Mourinho's Fenerbahce in May 2025 in Super Lig.

Besiktas is 28th in the Europa League standings, one point from the playoffs, with two games remaining in the group stage.