OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has revealed why he snubbed former club Molde.
The Norwegian, 52, was out of work for three years following his Manchester United exit.
He returned to the dugout last month, replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst after he was let go Besiktas.
Speaking to The Athletic, Solskjaer revealed that he turned down “at least 40” jobs as he waited for the right opportunity.
Among them were Molde, where he worked between 2011 and 2014, and 2015 to 2018.
Solskjaer could have replaced Erling Moe, who worked as his No2 at Molde, as boss.
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But that did not sit right with him.
“It’s a big thing for me,” he admitted. “I’d never take a job which someone had been released from without their agreement.”
Moe, 54, has since reunited with Solskjaer as his assistant in Turkey.
When it was raised that he was in the fortunate financial position to be able to say no, Solskjaer added: “I get that, but that’s me. I’ve just had three years out of management.
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“I didn’t waste that time: I studied, worked for Uefa where I studied tactical trends, went to games, coached my son’s under-16s team.
“I really enjoyed it and being with family. I’ve spent nights with Man Utd supporters and I’ve loved that connection.
“I had so much positive feedback that I started to think ‘Yeah, I did alright actually as a manager’.”
Solskjaer has had a promising start to life at Besiktas.
The Turkish giants won their country’s domestic cup last season, but had been languishing in seventh when Solskjaer arrived.
He has since taken charge of eight games in all competitions; winning six, drawing one and losing just once.
Quizzed if he has spoken to Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho since moving to Turkey, Solskjaer said: “No, 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.”
Besiktas are scheduled to face Fenerbahce away from home on May 4.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
