Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that he has still been following the club, despite his exit from Old Trafford in 2021.

The former striker has not had a managerial position since leaving United, but has now made his return, signing an 18-month contract with Turkish side Besiktas. The new role will see him go up against another former United boss in Jose Mourinho who is in charge of Fernerbache.

Following the confirmation of his appointment, Solskjaer spoke of why he took the job, and compared the club to United. "I've been outside football for a little while, as a boss," he told reporters.

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"But I've been working in UEFA and I've been following football as well as this club ... This project seems a little bit like Manchester United for me.

"We were sixth, then we become third and then second. And this is step by step.

"And of course we're here to win, so hopefully we can make it faster. But we have to be realistic. And yes, I had many offers, but as I said before, it had to be the right offer worth me moving away from my perfect life."

He went on to explain why he felt now was the right time to return to management after over three years without a job. The 51-year-old also revealed how he's been following his former club, and sent advice to current boss Ruben Amorim following the loss against Brighton about needing to 'turn the boat' quickly.

"You need to feel that heartbeat racing again, because [you ask] 'do you have the energy?' and the project that the president and the board have been talking to me about it was the right thing I needed now," he said.

"I've been following United [since I left] and it's difficult when it goes down. You need to just turn the boat and hopefully we can turn the boat quickly here."

Solskjaer’s first game in charge of the Istanbul side comes on Wednesday when the club host Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League group stage (3.30pm kick-off). They then return to league action on Sunday (1pm) with a trip to take on Antalyaspor.