Ole Gunnar Solskjaer considers transfer reunion with unemployed former Man Utd star, 24, at Besiktas
The former first-team regular has not played for over a year after being released in June 2024 following an unsuccessful loan spell at
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to bring a familiar face to Besiktas
Credit: Getty
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Brandon Williams was handed his Man Utd debut by the Norwegian, but has been without a club for a year
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
But as the man who handed the player his debut back in 2019, Solskjaer believes he is well placed to relaunch his career at Turkish side Besiktas.
After coming through the academy, Brandon Williams made his debut against
But the return of Shaw to form in 2021 saw Williams loaned out to
Beskitas' deficiencies at the back were brutally exposed in the Europa League yesterday as a brutal counter-attacking display saw visitors Shakhtar Donetsk run out 4-2 winners in Istanbul.
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In 2023, Williams crashed his Audi in a 99mph horror smash.
Then this year, the ex-
Sentencing, Judge Eric Lamb said: "There was no reason for driving in the way you did."
Chester Crown Court heard the defender was with a female passenger at the time of the crash and was "showing off".
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She was seen filming him at one point as Williams reached speeds of 99mph with a balloon in his mouth, it was said.
He lost control of the Audi A3 before it collided with a blue Ford Fiesta and then smashed into the central reservation.
'You ain't well man' - Rio Ferdinand screams at Wayne Rooney's driving as Man Utd stars reunite for US road trip
Three of the occupants of the Fiesta, which was written off, were injured with one saying she "felt she was going to be killed".
Should Williams move to Besiktas, he will be reunited with a former team-mate, though not a particularly memorable one.
Milot Rashica and Williams played together in the Norwich team that finished bottom of the Premier League in 2022 after
Unlike Williams, however, Rashica has managed to rebuild his career, becoming a key man in the Turkish Super Lig with, first, Galatasaray, and, then, Besiktas.
Former Chelsea star Tammy Abraham is also in Solskjaer's squad at Besiktas, on loan from Roma.
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The 42
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And then when he spoke about football, dressing rooms or culture, he made a lot of sense. 'Other people on the course, particularly the Irish lads, would know each other through the League of Ireland circles. Jim's not in that circle. But he mixed really well and was very popular with us.' Despite McGuinness being a relative outsider, Ryan says there was no sense of suspicion or resentment within the group of a man known primarily for his GAA feats. 'It wasn't mentioned at all, really. If anything, we would probe him and ask about the differences with the dressing room or driving training. 'There's similarity, as in, Jim would be big on setting the culture, setting the tone early, and making demands of people, and everybody is clearly defining the boundaries that it's black and white — what's acceptable, and what's not acceptable. He would apply that to the GAA dressing room as well as his work coaching in football. 'And there was never really a falling out with anyone, because either you played to those demands, or if you didn't, you fell outside that.' Higgins would travel to Dublin and back with McGuinness, and found him compelling company on those trips. 'His presentation skills are very good,' he says. 'He's his own man. It's obvious that he's got a high work ethic, and he spent hours and hours cutting videos, and he's always upskilling and developing himself, no matter what it is that he goes into and puts his heart and soul into. 'And no matter who you were on that course — there were a few big names — but whenever Jim spoke, I think everyone listened. He's just an articulate man and captures the room.' Ian Ryan currently manages Athlone Town. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Ryan was similarly impressed with McGuinness's ability to engage those around him. 'He gave a talk one day to our group, presenting on the topic of psychology — it was superb. You'd feel like running through a brick wall for him there in the hotel room, you can see how he captures people and has a hold of them. 'Even listening to him in the [recent] interviews, it brings back memories of hearing him talk. But his motivation to galvanise a group, I would say, is a massive skill. 'And then, he would know his football inside out. He'd be big on the numbers game, as in, if we press with four, then we've six behind. And the overloads that you can gain. And he would break the game down into numbers.' Former Bray Wanderers boss Ryan cites McGuinness' focus on repetition and simplicity as another reason for his success. 'The one thing that stands out to me is he used to say that: 'There's a need for the sexy drills.' But the bit for him was to do the simple things quicker and faster for a longer time. 'I saw a clip there recently. It might have been the [All-Ireland] semi-final of them warming up when it looked like they were there on a basic hand pass drill. But the speed and intensity of that was off the charts. 'And I remember him saying that at the start, in his first night with Donegal, they did the drills for whatever, 30 seconds flat out, and they're on their hands and knees, and he's like: 'Now we're going to do that for 70 odd minutes.' 'And just the fact that I saw that video recently just reminded me that that's the only thing that increases: 'Can you do it quicker? Can you do it faster, more and more and more intentionally and then execute the skill at the same time?' And that's exactly what they were doing in that warm-up.' McGuinness even helped Higgins during some of the more difficult periods when he was managing Derry. In 2023, when the Candystripes were on a bad run domestically, Higgins invited McGuinness into camp to present a psychology workshop for the players. 'He had the room in the palm of his hand,' Higgins recalls. 'And I'm not saying it was that alone, but there was an upturn in our form very soon after it. And people would [regularly] reference that meeting. But not only is he brilliant from a psychology point of view, as a coach, he is phenomenal as well, because he can see [the strengths and weakneesses] with every opposition, he comes up with a plan, very methodical, and you would have to say, in Gaelic terms, he is a bit of a genius.' Higgins continues: 'He's so into the collective. If anybody steps outside of the group, then it's all about the group and the team. 'No matter how talented you are as an individual, if you're not going in the direction of everyone else, then forget about it. The team will be successful. 'So, just the togetherness that he tries to create, and the culture and the work ethic are phenomenal.' Celtic coaches Tommy McIntyre (left) and Jim McGuinness pictured in 2016. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo It also says a lot that in one of his most difficult moments as Derry manager, it was McGuinness that Higgins turned to. 'I'll be honest with you. We were bottom of the league [at Derry] when I took over, and we ended up in Europe. But there was a pivotal game that year at home to St Pat's. I'll never forget it. 'I couldn't settle all day. Obviously, I was new to the job and a new manager. It was all new to me, and I was very anxious and worrying about everything. 'And I actually rang Jim, and I said: 'Jim, I'm on edge here. I'm really worried.' And then he started asking me questions: 'Have you covered this? Have you covered this? Have you covered this?' And basically, simplified it for me, just to reassure me that: 'No, you'll be alright. You've covered all the bases, all the angles.' 'And I felt a lot more settled after that conversation. He gave me 15-20 minutes of his time, and I was really settled. And after that, we ended up getting a great 1-0 win at home. He definitely had a part to play.' Despite all his coaching talents, the overriding perception from the outside, at least, is that McGuinness failed in the world of soccer. Was Ryan surprised that he did not make a greater impact? 'Yeah, and no. I'm surprised that he hasn't got a job, but there are so few jobs here in this country. And you know, he has a large family, a few kids, they're growing up. So that would be a factor in him travelling again, I suppose. 'I would think at some point he will go back to it, or he'll have a go. But obviously, he's having a successful time there with the GAA at the moment.' Higgins also wouldn't be surprised to see McGuinness return to the world of soccer eventually. 'I wouldn't rule it out. I know he's very passionate about it. I definitely wouldn't say that he's failed. I don't think he's had the opportunity that he would have liked. 'And there's no doubt, a lot of the stuff, so much of the stuff is transferable. 'I spoke to him one time about potentially helping me out at Derry as well. At one point, I met him, but he had a lot of other stuff going on. But I've absolutely no doubt that he could be a success, that he would make a really good manager. He's just a huge figure in Irish sport. And any sport would love to have him.' Ryan agrees: 'He has everything in the game from doing the [pro licence] course, and you can apply some of the principles to the GAA pitch. I would say he does. And there are certain aspects there — people going into a low block defensively or breaking. That probably originated from football, and it developed into the GAA, and the rules changed, because people went more tactical. So I'd say there are definitely [soccer] aspects he brings into it.'
