Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals brilliant message from Manchester United icon before taking Besiktas job

Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has returned to management this week after deciding to take charge of Turkish giants Besiktas.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spent three years as manager of Manchester United between 2018 and 2021 after having an illustrious playing career at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer led the team to back-to-back top three finishes in the Premier League in his first two full campaigns as manager.

The Norwegian was eventually dismissed after a disappointing start to the 2021/22 season following the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane in the prior summer.

Since then, Solskjaer has been rumoured to take over at several different teams but decided against returning as he wanted a project that really excited him after leaving his dream club.

That has finally happened. On Friday afternoon, Turkish club Besiktas confirmed the appointment of Solskjaer as manager after they sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst in December.

Solskjaer receives message from ex-United teammate

One of the main reasons Solskjaer decided to finally return to management was due to the fans of the Turkish giants, who he believes deserve a better team.

Besiktas are a club with great history but have been underwhelming in the last few seasons, with two sixth-placed finishes in the Super Lig in the last three seasons.

That is where they currently are in the table right now, already 21 points off table-topping Galatasaray, and Solskjaer’s task is to improve that.

The 51-year-old has explained that he’s heard positive things about the Turkish club’s fans from several people, including his former United teammate Ronny Johnsen.

Johnsen won the 1999 Treble alongside Solskjaer and spent a year at Besiktas before United signed him in 1996.

“The fans are so important for the club and they are so passionate,” Solskjaer told the Turkish club’s media team.

“In Norway, there’s a restaurant where my kids live with Turkish friend of mine, they tell me about the fans all the time.

“I have a childhood friend, Arild Stavrum, he used to play here and Ronny Johnsen, they all tell me about the fans who deserve to have a team worthy of Besiktas.”

Solskjaer could have multiple United reunions

It is great to see Solskjaer back in the dugout and it is no surprise to hear that the fans of Besiktas are one of his main focuses.

He had no trouble building a relationship with United fans as manager after making history for the club as a player, but he will need to prove his worth in Turkey.

Solskjaer is also set to face another former United boss Jose Mourinho next season, who is currently in charge at Fenerbahçe and also has ex-Reds midfielder Fred, who was a pivotal player under Solskjaer, playing an important role in his team.

The Baby Faced Assassin will also be eyeing the Europa League, with his side currently 28th in the league standings and a point away from potential qualification with two remaining games.

Should he be able to guide Besiktas to the knockout rounds, a potential reunion with United may end up being on the cards, with the Reds sitting seventh in the UEFA competition’s standings.

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