Solskjaer Returns to Coaching With Turkish Side Besiktas

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's last club coaching job was over three years ago at Manchester United - AFP
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's last club coaching job was over three years ago at Manchester United - AFP
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Solskjaer Returns to Coaching With Turkish Side Besiktas

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's last club coaching job was over three years ago at Manchester United - AFP
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's last club coaching job was over three years ago at Manchester United - AFP

Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has been out of a club coaching job for more than three years, has been appointed coach of Besiktas, the Turkish side announced on Saturday.

The 51-year-old Norwegian, who was axed by United in November 2021, takes over from Dutch coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst who was sacked by Besiktas at the end of November, AFP reported.

"A contract has been signed with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer... until the end of the 2025-2026 season, with the 2026-2027 season as an option," said the Istanbul-based side in a press release.

Solskjaer made over 200 appearances as a striker for United and was a member of their treble-winning side in 1998-99, scoring the winner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

After his playing career he went into coaching, spending a long period with Norwegian side Molde before rejoining United in 2018.

He became a technical observer for UEFA after losing his job at Old Trafford.

Besiktas are currently sixth in the Turkish Super Lig, 21 points behind leaders Galatasaray and 12 behind second-placed Fenerbahce, coached by Jose Mourinho, whom Solskjaer succeeded in Manchester.



Monaco Loses at Rock-bottom Montpellier and Concedes 3rd Place to Lille in Ligue 1

Mousa Tamari of Montpellier HSC celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Ligue 1 soccer match between Montpellier HSC and AS Monaco, in Montpellier, Southern France, 17 January 2025. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO
Mousa Tamari of Montpellier HSC celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Ligue 1 soccer match between Montpellier HSC and AS Monaco, in Montpellier, Southern France, 17 January 2025. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO
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Monaco Loses at Rock-bottom Montpellier and Concedes 3rd Place to Lille in Ligue 1

Mousa Tamari of Montpellier HSC celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Ligue 1 soccer match between Montpellier HSC and AS Monaco, in Montpellier, Southern France, 17 January 2025. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO
Mousa Tamari of Montpellier HSC celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Ligue 1 soccer match between Montpellier HSC and AS Monaco, in Montpellier, Southern France, 17 January 2025. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO

Monaco's floundering season took another turn for the worse as it lost at rock-bottom Montpellier 2-1 in Ligue 1 and conceded third place to Lille on Friday.
Bruno Genesio's Lille extended its unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 games with a 2-1 home win against Nice to move one point above Monaco, which played earlier.
Despite taking the lead through Germany defender Thilo Kehrer in the first half against the league's worst defense, third-placed Monaco collapsed after the break when Jordan forward Mousa Al Tamari scored twice, The Associated Press reported.
New signing Mika Biereth started in attack for coach Adi Hütter's Monaco, which has won only twice in the past 11 games overall.
It was only Montpellier's third win in 18 league games.
Defeat left Monaco 12 points behind leader Paris Saint-Germain and increased the pressure on Hütter.
Next up for Lille is a tough trip to Premier League leader Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday, but Genesio's side is proving very resilient this season.
Lille fell behind in the 29th when midfielder Sofiane Diop turned the ball in after goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier spilled a right-wing cross from Jonathan Clauss.
Clauss was fooled by striker Jonathan David's dummy shortly after the break, however, and David astutely set up Hakon Haraldsson's equalizer. Then Clauss botched a clearance in the 63rd and defender Bafodé Diakité finished.
Nice dropped to fifth place and one point behind Monaco.
PSG is at Lens on Saturday.