During a candid conversation with Stick to Football, former Beşiktaş head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described his time in Turkey as nothing short of a wild adventure. He recalled that his days at the Istanbul club were filled with extremes — moments of triumph and joy followed by sudden turns of disappointment. Living in Turkey, he admitted, was a wonderful cultural journey as the passion of the fans defined every aspect of the experience.
The Norwegian coach vividly highlighted the emotional depth of Turkish supporters, saying that victories quickly turned into nationwide celebrations, while defeats felt like collective heartbreaks. He confessed with a slight smile, “I’m a calm person. But here, when you win, people live in euphoria, and when you lose, the entire mood of the city collapses.”
Recalling his time on the training ground, Solskjaer shared interesting anecdotes about how players responded to extra drills. “When I suggested additional finishing exercises, the younger players were eager to join,” he noted. However, convincing senior players proved far more difficult. He connected this to modern football’s demanding schedule, emphasizing how elite athletes like Erling Haaland stand out by maintaining consistent extra practice sessions even amid a packed season. He added that while managing Haaland at a young age, the striker’s dedication to daily shooting and penalty routines was truly extraordinary.
Reflecting on his time at Beşiktaş, Solskjaer expressed lasting admiration for the club and its supporters. He praised the electrifying atmosphere inside the stadium, especially during home victories against fierce rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. “You can’t imagine the noise and energy,” he said. “Those moments make you feel invincible.”
Despite his deep connection with the fans, challenges quickly emerged. The turning point came after a heavy defeat in Europe during the Conference League qualifiers. The team had just secured a domestic win, but elimination from Europe changed everything overnight.
Describing the end of his stint, Solskjaer recalled one unforgettable evening. Hours after a pre-match dinner with the club president, he found himself in an unexpected meeting. “When they said the president wanted to see me,” he explained, “I thought it was either to discuss a short trip since the national break was near or something far more serious. Sadly, it turned out to be the latter.”
He remembered parting ways respectfully, ending with a hug and a promise to see each other again someday. Though his departure came sooner than expected, the experience, he said, left him with profound respect for Turkish football and its incredible supporters.
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