Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked by Besiktas after UEFA Conference League elimination

React to this story

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been sacked by Besiktas after the club were knocked out of the UEFA Conference League by Swiss side Lausanne on Thursday. The Norwegian was appointed by the Turkish club earlier this year in his first job since leaving United in 2021. Besiktas finished fourth in the league last season and sit in eighth place in the Super Lig this campaign.

'The good guy and bad guy!' - Kaka and Zlatan share joke before UCL draw

Video credit: TNT Sports

Besiktas have sacked former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 52-year-old was appointed to the role in January this year in his first role after leaving Man Utd in 2021.

He guided the Turkish team to fourth place in the Super Lig last season, sending them into the qualifying stages for this season’s UEFA Europa League.

Turkish 1.Lig

Mourinho sacked by Fenerbahce after missing out on Champions League qualification

29/08/2025 at 10:01

Besiktas were then eliminated from that competition by Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk, and they then dropped into the UEFA Conference League.

They defeated St Patrick’s Athletic over two legs before progressing to the next round.

They were then knocked out by Swiss side Lausanne in their play-off match on Thursday, with Lausanne’s 1-0 win in Turkey securing a 2-1 victory on aggregate.

Besiktas confirmed the decision, saying in a statement: "Our contract with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been terminated following a decision made at a board meeting.

"Following the meeting, our chairman, Serdal Adali, thanked Solskjaer for his services to date."

Besiktas have won their only league game of the season so far, beating Eyupsor 2-1 with the home side scoring through former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham and Rafa Silva.

Highlights: Benfica edge past Fenerbahce as Mourinho's men crash out of UCL

Video credit: TNT Sports

They are eighth in the table, though every team above them has played at least one more match than Besiktas in the league at this stage of the season.

Former Borussia Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin has been linked with the job as Solskjaer's replacement.

He left the Bundesliga outfit earlier in the year, and had previously spent two years managing in Turkey with Antalyaspor.

Stream the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

Transfers

Arsenal push to secure Guimaraes and Vinicius deals - Paper Round

4 hours ago

Transfers

Salah set for Trabzonspor as club confirm negotiations and arrival in Turkey

13 hours ago