Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first official game as Besiktas manager has got Manchester United fans talking.
It was a night that creates good memories for the Norwegian when he took charge of his first Besiktas game.
The opening goal of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era goes viral after the former Manchester United manager marked his first game for Besiktas with an emphatic 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Since being sacked by Manchester United in November 2021, the 51-year-old has turned down several job offers, including the opportunity to manage Denmark’s national team. He was also linked with Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC and newly-promoted Leicester City, who were eager to bring him to the King Power ahead of their Premier League return.
On Friday afternoon, Solskjaer was announced as Besiktas boss – and he soon reiterated his desire to play offensive, direct football. I never play slow football,” said the Norwegian. “We want to play fast football.”
That press conference promise was soon fulfilled, when Milot Rashica opened the scoring in the Europa League clash against Athletic Bilbao with a superb team goal.
Here’s how fans on social media reacted:
One said: “That film, flow and pace pretty much illustrates the kind of football we played under him. Besiktas fans will love to see their team under him.”
A second wrote, “I could tell it’s Ole-ball immediately. Besiktas are going to score a lot of goals under him, that’s for sure,” and a third commented: “Give me this direct attacking football any day of the week over the boring nonsense we’re trying to do under Amorim.”
A fourth said: “Dominant possession too, patient build-up, but then a quick change of pace in the final attacking third. But no tactics and apparently only counter-attacking.”
A fifth added: “Oh my God. No superfluous possession, no sideways passes, no passes back to the goalkeeper – just fast, fun attacking football. I miss Ole so much.”
Ahead of the game, Solskjaer explained why the Besiktas job reminds him of his managerial job at Old Trafford.
“This project seems a bit like Manchester United to me. We were sixth, then we were third and then second. And this is step by step,” he said. “And of course we’re here to win, so hopefully we can do it faster. But we have to be realistic.
“And yes, I had a lot of offers, but like I said before, it had to be the right offer that was worth me moving away from my perfect life.”
Besiktas, who have lifted the Super Lig title on 16 occasions, are currently in sixth place in the league.
Solskjaer added: “You need to feel your heartbeat going again, because you’re asking ‘do you have the energy?’ and the project that the president and the board have talked to me about was the right thing I needed now,” he added.
“I’ve been following United (since I left) and it’s hard when it’s going down. You just need to turn the boat around and hopefully we can turn the boat around quickly here.”
