Ole Gunnar Solskjær WINS first game after returning to football with Besiktas – over three years after Man United sacked

Ole Gunnar Solskjær 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 appointed Besiktas boss on Friday just over three years after his brutal sacking at Old Trafford and has made the perfect start.

Solskjær’s first order of business was to get his squad ready for the visit of LaLiga outfit Bilbao, with Besiktas desperately needing a win to have any hope of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.

Besiktas had previously won just two of their first six European games this season and lost four before Solskjær’s arrival in Turkey.

However, new life appears to have been breathed into the Turkish giants by Solskjær when Milot Rashica put them ahead in the 17th minute.

Unai Gomez threatened to spoil the party at Tupras Stadyumu when the Bilbao midfielder equalized moments from the break, only for the hosts to hit back with two more goals.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær celebrated a 4-1 Europa League win in his first Besiktas game.

Besiktas dominated the Europa League meeting as Solskjær got off to a winning start to his reign

Solskjær celebrates with Milot Rashica (left) after the Besiktas star scored twice in the win

Rashica restored Besiktas’ lead with his second goal just 30 minutes from full-time before adding a third late on to dampen any hopes the Spanish side could produce a comeback.

Portuguese midfielder Joao Mario scored a fourth in stoppage time after coolly converting from the penalty spot.

Solskjaer was animated in the dugout throughout the encounter, but was ultimately left beaming as his side showed their attacking prowess against Bilbao.

Solskjær, who previously managed Molde in his homeland across two spells and Cardiff City, had been linked with several jobs in recent months, with the former striker mulling moves at both Leicester and West Ham before he came to Besiktas.

He was even spotted at Molineux for Gary O’Neil’s last Wolves game against Ipswich in December, although it was later revealed he was there to support his former United assistant Kieran McKenna, the Tractor Boys’ manager.

The move to Turkey also comes after Solskjær was briefly touted for a shock return to Old Trafford before Ruben Amorim took over in November.

His spell in charge of United, which initially started as a temporary role, came after Solskjær enjoyed 11 successful seasons as a player between 1996 and 2007.

Solskjær’s first order of business was to get his team ready for the visit of LaLiga outfit Bilbao

Solskjær was animated in the dugout throughout the encounter, but was ultimately left beaming

He scored 126 goals for the Red Devils and won 12 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in the famous Treble season 1998-99.

After retiring in 2007 due to injury, Solskjær took charge of United’s reserve team before impressing as manager of Molde in his homeland between 2010 and 2014, winning two domestic titles.

Solskjaer’s success secured him the Cardiff City job, but the 51-year-old endured a difficult nine-month spell in south Wales, unable to prevent the Bluebirds from being relegated from the Premier League.

He returned to Molde in 2015 and spent more than three years in the role before United came calling in December 2018.