Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly finally closing in on a return to management.
Solskjaer, 51, has been out of work since leaving Old Trafford in 2021 after just under three years in charge.
The Norwegian, who enjoys legendary status at United following his playing career, won 91 of his 168 games as manager of the club, guiding them to a second place finish in the Premier League and the Europa League final in 2020-21.
Solskjaer, who previously managed Molde in his homeland across two spells, along with Cardiff City, has been linked to several jobs over recent times, with the former striker tipped to take over at both Leicester and West Ham.
He was even spotted at Molineux for Gary O’Neil’s final Wolves game in charge against Ipswich in December, although it was later revealed that he was there to support his former United assistant Kieran McKenna, who is manager of the Tractor Boys.
But now, according to Fabrizio Romano, after more than three years out of the game, Solskjaer is set to return to coaching with Turkish side Besiktas.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is closing in on a return to management after more than three years
Solskjaer, 51, has been out of work since leaving Manchester United in November 2021
The Norwegian is set to take over a Besiktas side who are sixth in the Turkish Super Lig
The report claimed that the 51-year-old, along with his agent Jim Solbakken, is set to fly to Istanbul on Friday to put the finishing touches on the deal, with Solskjaer expected to pen a one-and-a-half year deal until the summer of 2026.
The Turkish giants have been without a manager since they sacked former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst last month.
If the move is to be completed, it will see Solskjaer come up against Jose Mourinho in the Turkish Super Lig, which is rated as Europe’s 10th best league, as per UEFA’s country coefficient rankings.
The iconic Portuguese coach is currently in charge of Besiktas’ Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, which adds intrigue given Solskjaer was the coach who succeeded Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Mourinho’s time in Turkey has been as dramatic as ever, with the former Chelsea, Tottenham and United boss regularly rallying against officiating standards, while he recently labelled the league as ‘toxic’.
Reports in Turkey added that Solskjaer is expected to watch Besiktas’ clash against Samsunspor on Saturday from the stands, before taking charge of his first game against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Wednesday.
Solskjaer will take over a side who are enduring a difficult campaign, with Besiktas 28th in the Europa League League Stage, while they languish in sixth place in Turkey’s top flight.
Their squad includes former Premier League stars Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joao Mario and Arthur Masuaku.
Solskjaer has been linked to several jobs since his exit from United more than three years ago
The 51-year-old former striker won 91 of his 168 games in charge of the Red Devils
The move to Turkey also comes after Solskjaer was briefly touted for a shock return to Old Trafford before Ruben Amorim took over in November.
His spell in charge of United, which initially started as an interim role, came after Solskjaer enjoyed 11 successful seasons as a player at the club between 1996 and 2007.
He scored 126 goals for the Red Devils and won 12 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League during the famous 1998-99 Treble season.
Following retirement in 2007 due to injury, Solskjaer took charge of United’s reserve team, before he impressed as manager of Molde in his homeland between 2010 and 2014, winning two domestic titles.
Solskjaer’s success ensured he got the Cardiff City job, but the 51-year-old endured a difficult nine-month spell in south Wales where he was unable to prevent the Bluebirds from being relegated from the Premier League.
He returned to Molde in 2015 and spent more than three years in the role before United came calling in December 2018.