Beşiktaş have reappointed Sergen Yalçın as head coach following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Turkish coach, who previously led the club to a league and cup double, returns to stabilise a squad that has missed out on European football after early exits to Shakhtar Donetsk and Lausanne.
After parting ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following elimination in the play-off for the Conference League, Beşiktaş has already moved quickly to secure a replacement.
The choice is a familiar face to the club and its supporters: Sergen Yalçın, a coach who previously guided the team to domestic glory and who now returns to the Şükrü Saracoğlu sidelines with the hope of restoring stability and belief among the “Black Eagles.”
According to the Turkish press, Yalçın has agreed to take over immediately and is set to lead his first training session this Friday. The 51-year-old has been out of work since his spell at Antalyaspor in the 2023/24 season but remains a highly respected figure within Turkish football. For Beşiktaş fans, his return evokes memories of his successful tenure between 2020 and 2022, a period that brought the Super Lig title and a Turkish Cup, marking one of the most celebrated seasons in recent club history. His ability to connect with both players and fans, as well as his deep understanding of the club’s culture as a former player, made him the obvious candidate once Solskjaer’s departure was confirmed.
Solskjaer’s time in Istanbul was brief and ultimately disappointing. Brought in to provide experience and international pedigree, the Norwegian struggled to get results in Europe, where the team’s shortcomings were brutally exposed. First came elimination from Europa League qualification at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk, followed by a painful exit to Lausanne in the Conference League play-off. For a club that prides itself on competing regularly on the continental stage, missing out entirely on European football this season is a huge blow, both financially and in terms of prestige. The board concluded that a change was unavoidable, and Yalçın’s availability presented the ideal solution.
Beşiktaş’s squad contains several well-known names with European experience. Portuguese internationals Rafa Silva, João Mário, and Tiago Djaló all feature prominently, alongside Orkun Kökçü and David Jurásek, two former Benfica men, the latter currently on loan from the Lisbon club. Despite this talent, the team has struggled to find consistency, particularly in defence and in converting chances in front of goal. Yalçın’s first task will be to stabilise performances in the domestic league and ensure the team remains competitive in the title race, even without the distraction or revenue of European competitions.
The return of Yalçın also carries symbolic weight. As a former Beşiktaş star on the pitch and one of the few coaches to deliver a league and cup double for the club, his appointment resonates strongly with the fans. Many see him not just as a tactical leader but as a figure capable of rebuilding the connection between the team and the supporters, something that had been eroding under Solskjaer’s tenure. His familiarity with Turkish football, understanding of local rivalries, and proven ability to manage pressure in high-stakes matches make him a natural fit at this critical juncture.
Challenges, however, remain significant. Without European football, Beşiktaş faces reduced revenue streams, which may limit transfer opportunities in the January market. Yalçın will need to maximise the potential of the current squad, developing younger players while also getting the best out of experienced figures like Rafa Silva and João Mário. Additionally, the Super Lig title race looks set to be fiercely contested, with Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe both strengthening heavily in the summer. To keep pace, Yalçın will need to quickly reintroduce a winning mentality and instil confidence in a squad that has recently suffered repeated setbacks.
For Solskjaer, meanwhile, the dismissal represents another difficult chapter in his coaching career. Since leaving Manchester United, he has struggled to replicate success, and his short stay in Turkey did little to repair his reputation. Beşiktaş, however, are eager to look forward rather than back, placing their faith once again in a man who knows the club inside out.
Yalçın’s second spell at Beşiktaş will begin under intense scrutiny, but it also offers an opportunity for redemption both for the coach and the club. If he can replicate the success of 2021, when Beşiktaş were crowned champions of Turkey, he will not only restore pride but also set the foundation for a stronger future. For the fans, his return is a reminder that sometimes the best solutions lie in trusted figures who understand the soul of the club.
