Turkish club Beşiktaş has officially announced the signing of Norwegian coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, former Manchester United boss, on an 18-month deal with an option to extend it until 2027. Solskjaer is set to make his debut next Wednesday in Istanbul, as the team faces Athletic Club in a crucial Europa League showdown.

A new chapter for Solskjaer

The Norwegian manager arrived in Istanbul this Friday after advanced negotiations with the club were confirmed. With his arrival, Beşiktaş hopes to bring stability to a coaching position that has seen six permanent managers and three interim ones since 2020, including notable names like Valérien Ismaël, Fernando Santos, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, as well as Turkish coaches Riza Çalimbay and Şenol Güneş.

The team, currently under interim manager Serdar Topraktepe, is sitting sixth in the Turkish Super League, a hefty 20 points behind league leaders Galatasaray.

Solskjaer’s first steps in Turkey

Born on February 26, 1973, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had an impressive playing career with Molde FK and Manchester United (1996–2007). As a coach, he led the Red Devils from 2019 to 2021 and recently worked as a match analyst for UEFA.

On Saturday, Solskjaer will watch Beşiktaş take on Samsunspor, currently third in the league, before officially taking charge on Tuesday. The Europa League clash against Athletic Club will mark the beginning of an exciting new challenge for the Norwegian, as he aims to bring Beşiktaş back to the top in both domestic and international competitions.