Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is one of Manchester United’s iconic players, scoring the goal to win the 1999 UEFA Champions League final. After such a legendary career, he took on the managerial reins and showed much promise. But, alas, his United team did not live up to expectations and he was soon sacked.
Since then, the Norwegian soccer icon has not taken any other jobs, though he has been involved in some interviews. And now he has been linked with a new club, one where a familiar face is waiting for him.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expected to join Besiktas
It is Turkish club Besiktas that is close to getting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to take on the managerial role at the club. According to Turkish media outlet NTV Spor, Solskjaer is expected to join them soon. A contract of one and a half years has been reportedly offered. He will be their third manager of the season so far if he does accept.
He has been out of soccer for a long time, last managing United in 2021. Since then, he has not managed any clubs in Europe, with a shortage of calls due to his ill-fated spell at United. Besiktas are now in advanced talks after they sacked manager Riza Calimbay after just seven games.
Besiktas are one of Turkey’s historical clubs, but have suffered heavily this season. The team are just fifth in the table after many poor results which has seen the departure of two managers and the banishment of some players, including Vincent Aboubakar. The team is also already out of the Europa Conference League as well.
Being such a big club, many fans are unhappy with the state of the club and want some quick changes. With the appointment of Solskjaer, the club hopes to cut some deficit in the next games to come in order to get into a more favorable league position.
Eric Bailly might get chance to reignite his career under former boss
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will also find a friendly face at Besiktas, though in an unfortunate manner. Former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly who often started for the Norwegian is also at the club. He had left on a free transfer this summer and signed a one year deal there.
But like some other players, he has been banished from the squad. The club had said that Bailly and the other players were exiled due to “poor performances” and “incompatibility with the team”.
Indeed, Bailly has not showed much promise since joining them. The Ivorian center back has not played his best soccer, often being left out of the starting lineup, and he has also been injured for quite some time. So far, he has 5 appearances for them, and not impressed them at all.
However, if Solskjaer does come, he could get a new lifeline under a manager he knows. He could be reinstated back into the team, with the manager already having used his abilities a lot at United. Besiktas are going to take on Hatayspor on Monday, after which the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is finally expected to be announced.
