A sudden fall from grace: How Solskjaer’s Beşiktaş chapter ended abruptly
In a stunning turn of events, Besiktas wasted no time ending their association with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a crushing 2‑1 aggregate defeat to Swiss side Lausanne-Sport in the UEFA Conference League play-off. In a move that shook Turkish football, the club terminated Solskjaer’s 18‑month contract less than an hour after the final whistle.
The Swift Downfall
Solskjaer took charge in January 2025, returning to coaching after four years spent outside the touchline since his Manchester United departure. His arrival rekindled excitement—his early reign saw solid form and a historic derby win over Galatasaray. Yet fate turned harsh and sudden.
The Champions League dream had already slipped through their fingers with a disheartening elimination by Shakhtar Donetsk, forcing Besiktas into the Conference League pathway.
Just as hopes were rekindled after a resilient win over Shamrock Rovers, Lausanne struck a decisive blow—Nathan Butler-Oyedeji’s stoppage-time goal sealed Besiktas’ fate. A red card to Felix Uduokhai soon after compounded the damage.
From Promise to Termination in Under Eight Months
Solskjaer leaves Istanbul after managing 29 games, winning 15—a respectable but insufficient return in Beşiktaş’s eyes.
His tenure began with a flourish—Owning the Super Lig with spirited displays, including a derby victory—but those sparks of success couldn’t sustain momentum when it mattered most.
The abrupt termination revealed the club’s zero-tolerance stance for underperformance on Europe’s stage: not qualifying for European football sparked emergency board action and Solskjaer’s immediate downfall.
A Legacy of Highs, a Departure of Disappointments
Solskjaer’s stint at Besiktas showed glimpses of what made him beloved at Manchester United—a leader capable of inspiring a side back to life. Yet, the unforgiving demands of modern football management left no room for error.
A dramatic seven-month arc from hero to outcast, the chapter serves as a stark reminder: in elite football, even legends must deliver results, especially in European competition.
Next for Both Parties
- Beşiktaş now urgently faces a reckoning, finding a new manager who can steady the ship and deliver European qualification.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, for his part, finds himself without a club again. His tenure ended with nearly a year still left on his contract. Whether he returns to management soon, or waits for the right moment, remains to be seen.
