Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened up about his admiration for one former Manchester United figure and can “see” what they meant by one important claim they made.
The 52-year-old Manchester United legend made his long-awaited return to management in 2025 after he became manager of Besiktas last month.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had previously been out of management since 2021 after he was sacked from his role as Manchester United manager.
The Norwegian ex-forward had been linked with several teams after his Old Trafford spell came to an end and Solskjaer had flirted with a return to management.
Solskjaer returned to the Red Devils in 2018 as United caretaker manager after Jose Mourinho was sacked during the 2018-19 Premier League campaign.
The former United player’s scintillating success during his caretaker spell led to him permanently succeeding Jose Mourinho as United manager in 2019.
Solskjaer oversaw both the highs and lows during his time in the Old Trafford dugout, including leading United to second place in the Premier League table.
The Red Devils also reached the Europa League final under Solskjaer in 2021, but United fell short on the night and lost on penalties to Spanish side Villarreal.
Solskjaer’s managerial run at the Red Devils came to an end in the 2021-22 campaign after a poor start to the Premier League season led to his club exit.
Solskjaer’s admiration for Man Utd man
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival in Turkey as Besiktas head coach has put the former Manchester United manager in the same league and country as Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho was sacked as Roma manager in 2024 before the ‘Special One’ made his return to management with Super Lig outfit Fenerbahce.
Solskjaer was asked if he had spoken with his fellow ex-United manager since his arrival and the Besiktas boss has admitted that he has “huge respect” for Mourinho.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said: No [about speaking to Mourinho], but we’ll play them soon.
“I have huge respect for Jose and what he’s done in football.
“We’ve never really sat down and spoken for a long time because it was Covid time when I was at United and he was at Spurs. But I’ll see him soon when we meet.”
Solskjaer now understands Mourinho’s claim
Mourinho famously claimed in 2019 that finishing second with United in the 2018-19 Premier League campaign was “one of his best achievements” in his career.
Solskjaer reflected on his own spell as United manager and the former Cardiff City and Molde boss admitted that he can now see what Mourinho meant by his claim.
“Those last six weeks were hard, I can’t deny that, but we were also top of our Champions League group,” he said.
“It was the two games against City and Watford that did it, but I maintain that finishing second and third in my two full seasons wasn’t bad given the level in the Premier League.
“We also reached a European final, but I see what Jose [Mourinho] means when he says that his best achievement was getting his United side to second in the league.”
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