Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrated a stunning start as Besiktas’ new head coach on Wednesday, leading his team to a 4-1 Europa League victory against Athletic Bilbao.
This marks Solskjaer’s first managerial position since his departure from Manchester United in November 2021. Besiktas, previously outside the top 24 in the standings, climbed into the knockout round spots with a commanding second-half performance.
“Since we started working with the players, we’ve focused on building confidence,” the Norwegian manager said. “Football is about feeling good. Tonight, we got everything we wanted. We worked as a team, and winning becomes easier when you work hard and smart.”
The game opened with Milot Rashica’s stunning strike into the top corner in the 17th minute, putting Besiktas ahead. Although Bilbao equalized on the brink of halftime through Unai Gomez, Rashica restored the lead on the hour mark.
Rafa Silva extended the margin with a goal in the 77th minute, and Joao Mario sealed the match with a penalty in injury time, adding the finishing touches to an emphatic victory.
Previously unbeaten Bilbao remains in second place in the group standings, tied on points with leaders Lazio. Solskjaer, who officially replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst last weekend, expressed delight at his team’s teamwork and effort.
