Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is facing increasing pressure at Besiktas and could be sacked this summer. To make matters worse, the club might replace him with a former Liverpool player.
Back in May 2025, there was a more optimistic mood around Solskjaer in Turkey. He even managed a notable 1-0 away win over fellow ex-Man Utd coach Jose Mourinho’s team, Fenerbahce. After arriving in January, the Norwegian won seven of his first 12 Turkish Super Lig matches and guided Besiktas from sixth place to finish fourth by the end of the season. Despite these positives, his position now looks uncertain.
Solskjaer Under Pressure in Turkey — Possible Replacement: Nuri Sahin
The recent troubles have come to the fore as Besiktas’ Europa League run was cut short early, exiting in the second qualifying round after losing to Shakhtar Donetsk—4-2 away and 2-0 at home. The defeat sparked jeers from the fans, adding to the mounting pressure on Solskjaer. Less than a year after taking over on an 18-month contract, the former Man United striker could soon be dismissed, according to The Express.
Adding to the drama, journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that former Liverpool midfielder Nuri Sahin tops the list to replace Solskjaer if Besiktas decide to make a change.
Sahin, who earned 52 caps for Turkey as a player, has coaching experience in Turkey, starting his managerial career at Antalyaspor in 2021. He led them to a respectable seventh-place finish before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2023, initially as an assistant and then as head coach in summer 2024. However, he was sacked in January 2025 following a poor run of results.
Nuri Sahin Career Overview:
Borussia Dortmund: 274 games, 26 goals, 50 assists
Antalyaspor: 50 games, 0 goals, 4 assists
Werder Bremen: 40 games, 1 goal, 5 assists
Feyenoord Rotterdam: 34 games, 6 goals, 5 assists
Liverpool: 12 games, 3 goals, 3 assists
Real Madrid: 10 games, 1 goal, 1 assist
Sahin spent the prime of his playing career at Dortmund with multiple spells, playing 274 games. His loan move to Liverpool in 2012 was unsuccessful, featuring just 12 times before leaving. He finished his playing career at Antalyaspor in 2021 and immediately transitioned into management. Since leaving Dortmund earlier this year, he has been out of work.
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