Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has transformed Besiktas player's career since becoming manager and it'll drive Man Utd fans wild

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is enjoying an excellent start to life at Besiktas and has already taken one player to new heights.

Following a lengthy spell out of management, Solskjaer took the Besiktas job in January following the sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

He signed a one-and-a-half year contract with the Turkish giants and is already having a transformative effect on the club.

Solskjaer showed incredible honesty early on by dismantling the club's current set-up with some home truths and the changes he was looking to make across the board.

But on the pitch he has also delivered results, winning five out of seven games in charge - drawing one and losing one.

Their only defeat was against FC Twente in the Europa League and a 3-1 away win over Eyupspor on Friday night moved them up to fourth in the Turkish Super Lig on 41 points.

Solskjaer's impact has been instant and one player in particular is thriving under his management.

Since the Norwegian took the reins, attacking midfielder Rafa Silva has four goals and as many assists.

He netted in Friday's victory, as well as registering two assists in an 86-minute outing which saw him given a 7.2 rating on Sofascore.

Besiktas actually went 1-0 down in the opening minute at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium but Silva equalised after a flowing team move which served as a perfect example of Solskjaer's way of playing.

Solskjaer has a knack of getting the best out of Portuguese players who play as a No.10, with Bruno Fernandes arguably producing his best work in a United shirt when he was at the helm.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ball at Besiktas. The passing before the Rafa Silva goal.

They won 3-1 at 4th place Eyupspor, managed by Arda Turan last night. Besiktas had 18 shots vs 7.

The win moves them to 4th. Ole has W5, D1 and L1 in his first 7 matches.pic.twitter.com/kMHWmUv6w8

— Kyama (@ElijahKyama_) February 22, 2025

Solskjaer signed Fernandes from Sporting for an initial £47 million in March 2020 and he immediately improved United with goals and assists.

Media in Turkey have been extremely complimentary about the work Solskjaer is doing, with one outlet stating that the team has "regained team spirit" under his tutelage.

Besiktas are back in action on Tuesday when they take on Antalyaspor in the Turkish Cup, before they host Kayserispor in the league on Saturday 1 March.