Four years after their last contentious encounter, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are set to face each other once more tomorrow.
Two prominent figures from the Premier League era are now managing clubs in Istanbul.
Both the charismatic Mourinho and the quieter Norwegian will undoubtedly appreciate the intensity and drama of the Istanbul derby, particularly as Fenerbahce, managed by Mourinho, requires a victory against Solskjaer`s Besiktas to keep their faint title hopes alive.
One might speculate that both former Manchester United bosses would eagerly seize another opportunity in English football.
Mourinho`s impressive record of three Premier League titles across his two stints at Chelsea certainly surpasses Solskjaer`s tenures at Cardiff and United.
The Portuguese coach secured both the Carabao Cup and the Europa League during his time at Old Trafford, while Solskjaer`s most significant achievement was narrowly losing the Europa League final on penalties to Villarreal in May 2021.
That final defeat came less than two months after the pair engaged in a childish spat following United`s 3-1 victory at Mourinho`s Tottenham, just a week before Spurs chairman Daniel Levy dismissed him.
The exchange was playground-like, with Solskjaer accusing Son Heung-min of “conning” the referee to prompt a VAR review that disallowed a United goal.
Solskjaer commented at the time: “If my son stays down like that and gets ten of his mates around him, he won’t get any food.”
Mourinho responded that Solskjaer’s remarks had left him “very sad,” adding: “Sonny is very lucky that his father is a better person than Ole.
“As a father, you have to always feed your kids. If you have to steal to feed your kids, you steal.
“I am very, very disappointed. Like we say in Portugal, bread is bread and cheese is cheese. I told Ole already what I think about his comments.”
Four years later, with Solskjaer having taken charge of Besiktas in January, they meet again.
Since replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the 52-year-old Solskjaer has guided his side from seventh to fourth in the Turkish Super Lig, with a chance of securing a Europa League play-off spot if they can overtake third-placed Samsunspor.
For Mourinho, however, whose team trails arch-rivals Galatasaray by five points with five matches remaining, this game is a must-win.
However, at least before the match, the two managers have cooled their public animosity.
When questioned about their personal rivalry, the man whose outstretched right foot famously broke Bayern Munich`s hearts to complete United’s 1999 Treble deflected the focus.
The Besiktas boss insisted: “This is not a match between Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“This is a match between Besiktas and Fenerbahce. The players will decide the score. I have great respect for Mourinho.
“There are not many managers as successful as him, so I’m looking forward to a derby like this.”
Yet, given their histories in English football, their current location in Turkey feels somewhat unexpected – and likely not their final stop.
It might be challenging to identify an obvious Premier League club where Solskjaer would fit, although his efforts at Cardiff suggest he could be a viable option for an ambitious Championship side.
But Joe Cole, a former Chelsea and England star who experienced both the challenging and supportive sides of Mourinho, is convinced that the 62-year-old `Special One` is not yet finished with his Premier League story.
Cole stated: “Jose is still a genius as a manager. He still has potential.
“I’d love to see him back in the Premier League. He breaks box-office records. If you want to win something, Mourinho is the guy you go to.”
Mourinho departed Spurs with a point to prove, which he did by winning the UEFA Conference League with Roma in 2022.
Like Solskjaer, he has unfinished business in England and would relish one last big opportunity.
This weekend, however, the focus is entirely on the vibrant and intense atmosphere of Istanbul.
A draw would suit Solskjaer, who has hinted at employing a tactic without a recognised striker, while Mourinho is under pressure to win.
The only certainty is that sparks will fly both on the pitch and perhaps from the dugouts.
They wouldn`t have it any other way.
Marcus Bellamy