Former Manchester United manager sacked after European failure

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s latest managerial chapter has ended in disappointment, as Turkish giants Besiktas have officially parted ways with the former Manchester United boss.

The Norwegian was appointed in January and managed to guide the Istanbul side to a respectable fourth-placed finish in the Turkish Super Lig last season.

Hopes were high that he could build on that progress by steering the club back into Europe, but those ambitions came crashing down on Thursday night after a shock Conference League exit at the hands of Swiss outfit Lausanne.

The playoff tie ended in disaster, with Besiktas drawing 1-1 away in the first leg before a dramatic second-leg collapse at home sealed their fate.

Reduced to 10 men early in the second half after Felix Uduokhai’s red card, Besiktas never recovered. Lausanne pounced on their opportunities and eventually snatched a decisive 1-0 win in Istanbul, eliminating Solskjaer’s side before the European campaign had even begun.

The club wasted little time in making a change, announcing after a board meeting that Solskjaer’s contract had been terminated. Chairman Serdal Adalı expressed gratitude for the Norwegian’s efforts but insisted the club had to move forward.

Solskjaer’s departure leaves Besiktas searching for a new direction once again, and reports in Turkey suggest Nuri Sahin is the frontrunner to take over.

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who has been carving out a reputation as an emerging coach, is seen as a strong candidate to steady the ship and restore confidence after a disappointing summer.

The decision to dismiss Solskjaer underlines the pressure on Besiktas to perform in European competitions, with fans growing restless after consecutive failed qualification campaigns.

The loss to Lausanne, coming on the back of elimination by Shakhtar Donetsk in Europa League qualifiers earlier this summer, was deemed unacceptable for a club of Besiktas’ stature.

Now, all eyes turn to the boardroom as supporters wait to see if Sahin or another name will be trusted with the challenge of reviving the team’s fortunes both domestically and abroad.