Well, that escalated quickly! Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s journey with Besiktas has come to an abrupt end after a stunning Conference League exit. Eight months in, and the club has decided to part ways. What went wrong for the former Man Utd boss in Turkey? Find out the full story and all the dramatic details!
In a significant development shaking the football world, Turkish giants Besiktas have officially announced the termination of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s contract, just hours after a shock exit from the UEFA Europa Conference League. The decision, swiftly made following a board meeting, marks the end of the Norwegian’s eight-month tenure at the Istanbul club, sending ripples through the Besiktas faithful and beyond.
The catalyst for this managerial change was Besiktas’ disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Swiss side Lausanne-Sport in the second leg of their Conference League play-off tie on Thursday. This unexpected loss meant the club failed to secure a spot in European competition for the current season, a severe blow to their aspirations and financial projections.
Besiktas’ European campaign had already been fraught with challenges, as they previously missed out on Europa League qualification through the play-offs. Despite a promising start to their domestic season with a 2-1 victory over Eyupspor in the Turkish Super Lig, the inability to progress in continental tournaments proved to be a critical factor in the club’s assessment of Solskjaer’s leadership.
Solskjaer, 52, took the helm eight months ago, marking his return to coaching after his departure from Manchester United in November 2021. During his relatively short spell, he oversaw 29 games, securing more than half of them in victories, and guided Besiktas to a fourth-place finish in the previous season, a commendable achievement that initially garnered support.
Prior to his appointment at Besiktas, the former Manchester United forward had been out of the coaching scene for three years, making his return to the dugout a highly anticipated event. His arrival was met with optimism, as fans hoped his experience and tactical acumen would propel the club to domestic and international success.
The first leg of the crucial clash against Lausanne-Sport, a team partly owned by the same group as Manchester United, ended in a 1-1 draw, setting up a winner-takes-all scenario in Istanbul. Given Besiktas’ home advantage and perceived stronger squad, they were widely considered the favorites to advance and secure their place in the Conference League group stages.
However, the return leg unfolded disastrously for the Turkish side. Their night worsened considerably less than one minute into the second half when Felix Uduokhai was shown a straight red card, reducing Besiktas to ten men. Despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer making a series of substitutions in an attempt to shift momentum and salvage the game, the resilient Swiss opponents held firm, successfully seeing out the match and earning their place in the Conference League.
This latest setback for Besiktas, coupled with earlier struggles in Europa League qualification, had significantly pressured Solskjaer’s position. With the Norwegian’s departure confirmed, speculation is already mounting regarding his successor, with names like former player and current midfielder Nuri Sahin reportedly being linked with the coveted managerial role at the club.
The immediate task for Besiktas will be to stabilize the squad and refocus on their Turkish Super Lig campaign, aiming to overcome this European disappointment and regain their standing in domestic football. The search for a new head coach will undoubtedly be a meticulous process, as the club looks to find a leader capable of delivering both national trophies and consistent European qualification.
