Ole Gunnar Solskjaer WINS first game after returning to football with Besiktas - over three years after Man United sacking
Share:
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got his Besiktas reign off to a dominant winning start as the former Manchester United manager guided his side to a 4-1 Europa League victory over Athletic Bilbao. The 51-year-old was named Besiktas boss last Friday just over three years on from his brutal sacking at Old Trafford and has got off to the perfect start.
![[Besiktas dominated the Europa League encounter as Solskjaer got his reign off to a winning start]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/17/94399925-14314099-image-a-17_1737567007535.jpg)
Solskjaer's first order of business was readying his team for the visit of LaLiga outfit Bilbao with Besiktas desperately needing a victory to have any hope of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition. Besiktas had previously only won two of their opening six European fixtures this season and lost four prior to Solskjaer's arrival in Turkey.
![[Solskjaer celebrates with Milot Rashica (left) after the Besiktas star scored twice in the win]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/17/94399915-14314099-image-a-18_1737567222556.jpg)
However, new life appears to have been breathed into the Turkish giants by Solskjaer as Milot Rashica put them ahead in the 17th minute. Unai Gomez threatened to spoil the party at the Tupras Stadyumu when the Bilbao midfielder equalised on the stroke of half-time only for the hosts to hit back with two more goals.
![[Solskjaer's first order of business was readying his team for the visit of LaLiga outfit Bilbao]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/17/94400375-14314099-image-a-19_1737567578558.jpg)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrated a 4-1 Europa League victory in his first Besiktas match in charge. Besiktas dominated the Europa League encounter as Solskjaer got his reign off to a winning start. Solskjaer celebrates with Milot Rashica (left) after the Besiktas star scored twice in the win.
![[Solskjaer was animated in the dugout throughout the encounter, but was ultimately left beaming]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/17/94400371-14314099-image-a-20_1737567582541.jpg)
Rashica restored Besiktas' lead with his second goal just 30 minutes from full-time before added a third late to diminish any hope of the Spanish side producing a comeback. Portuguese midfielder Joao Mario scored a fourth in stoppage time after converting coolly from the penalty spot.
