Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Sacked by Besiktas After Conference League Exit

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s brief tenure as Besiktas manager has come to an abrupt end after the Turkish giants crashed out of the UEFA Conference League play-offs on Thursday. The 52-year-old was appointed Besiktas manager just eight months ago. However, the Norwegian was dismissed following a 1-0 home defeat to Swiss side Lausanne-Sport, which confirmed the club’s absence from European competition this season.

Solskjaer, who famously managed Manchester United between 2018 and 2021, had guided Besiktas to a fourth-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig last term, winning more than half of his 29 matches in charge. However, consecutive failures in Europe proved costly. Besiktas were eliminated by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League play-offs earlier this month before their Conference League hopes were ended by Lausanne, who advanced 2-1 on aggregate.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Sacked One Hour After Losing Match

Besiktas wasted no time in reacting to their shock elimination from Europe, with boos echoing around the stadium as the final whistle blew. The Istanbul club’s board announced the decision just one hour after the defeat, releasing a statement: “Our contract with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been terminated following a decision made at the board meeting. Our chairman, Serdal Adali, thanked Solskjaer for his services to date.”

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We have parted ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

We thank him for his contributions to our club and wish him success in his future career. https://t.co/kM5kkpQk4j
— The Black Eagles (@BesiktasEnglish) August 28, 2025

Despite opening their domestic campaign with a 2-1 victory over Eyupspor, Besiktas’ European failures piled pressure on the former United boss. Thursday’s result only increased frustrations, especially as Besiktas had fielded a strong lineup including Gabriel Paulista, Wilfred Ndidi, Joao Mario and new signing Tammy Abraham. But a first-half strike from Arsenal loanee Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and a second-half red card to Felix Uduokhai left Solskjaer’s side with no way back.

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Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder and coach Nuri Sahin has already been linked with the Besiktas job. Meanwhile, speculation continues over Solskjaer’s future, with the Norwegian national team a possible destination. Current Norway coach Stale Solbakken has confirmed he will step down after the 2026 World Cup, wjich could open a potential path for Solskjaer.

Besiktas

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Abhinav Goel

soccer

I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.