Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is preparing for a return to the dugout more than three years on after productive talks with Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted he is looking forward to his next challenge as he prepares to officially take over at Besiktas.
Solskjaer has been out of work since leaving Old Trafford midway through the 2021-22 season. He was linked with a number of jobs in the interim, including a Premier League return with Wolves, but has decided his future lies in Istanbul.
He will get a chance to pit his wits against United predecessor Jose Mourinho, who is in the dugout at Fenerbahce. Fener sit second in the table, eight points adrift of league leaders Galatasaray, with Besiktas down in sixth, and an official announcement is expected imminently after he jetted in for talks.
"I am very happy to be here," Solskjaer said. "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."
Besiktas began the 2024-25 campaign with Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the dugout, but the former Rangers boss lasted less than six months in charge. Serdar Topraktepe has been in interim charge since the end of November, and is now poised to hand over to Solskjaer.
There's already a solid former Premier League presence at Besiktas Park. Former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista and ex-West Ham midfielder Joao Mario joined over the summer, and England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been part of the squad since arriving in 2023.
Van Bronckorst started strongly as manager but was dismissed after a run of one point from four games in the league in October and November. Besiktas have also struggled in the Europa League, taking just six points from six games to leave their qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
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