Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals plan to meet with Istanbul rival Jose Mourinho after Covid prevented ex-Man Utd managers from face-off

Solskjaer, a 1999 Treble-winning hero at Old Trafford, was handed the Red Devils’ reins in the wake of Mourinho’s departure in 2018. He would take in 168 games at the helm, but agreed to walk away in November 2021.

Having taken a lengthy break from management, Solskjaer is back in the dugout with Super Lig outfit Besiktas. He has made an impressive start to life there, picking up six wins from eight games, and will be locking horns with Mourinho in another derby date before the season is out.

Their paths briefly crossed in England, as Mourinho returned to the Premier League at Tottenham, but Covid restrictions prevented them from having a proper meeting and discussing their respective spells with United.

That may be a subject up for discussion when they are reunited in Turkey, with Solskjaer telling The Athletic when asked if he has spoken to Mourinho since joining ‘The Special One’ in Istanbul: "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 pencilled in to face Fenerbahce on May 4. Mourinho’s side are just about still in the title hunt, as unbeaten Galatasaray top the table, while Besiktas’ focus has been narrowed on merely securing European qualification for 2025-26.