Galatasaray set to welcome Rijkaard
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Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 06, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Turkcell Super League giant Galatasaray makes a quick start in the post-season and appoints former Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard. While Beşiktaş extends Mustafa Denizli’s contract, Trabzonspor chairman resigns after his choice of coach is not welcomed.
Turkish media had been linking names like Bernd Schuster and Fatih Terim with Galatasaray, but the Istanbul club opted for a Dutch coach, announcing Friday that Frank Rijkaard will take over from Bülent Korkmaz.
Former Galatasaray captain Korkmaz had been appointed coach in February with a contract until the end of the 2009-2010 season, but the UEFA Cup champion in 2000 and 17-time domestic champ had a disappointing season, finishing fifth in the league, ten points below champion Beşiktaş.
Rijkaard was expected to arrive in Istanbul and sign a contract Friday night as the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to press.
Rijkaard had previously been mentioned as a possible candidate to take over at various clubs, including AC Milan and CSKA Moscow. The 46-year-old, who won two Spanish crowns (in 2005 and 2006) and the European Champions’ League in 2006 with Barcelona, has been without a team since leaving the Catalan club at the end of the 2008 season after five years at the helm.
Rijkaard enjoyed a sparkling career as a player, representing Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and winning 73 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 10 goals. He coached the Dutch national side from 1998 to 2000 and Sparta Rotterdam before joining Barca.
Coach selection stirs Trabzon
The process of appointing a new coach to league third-placer Trabzonspor has not been so smooth and resulted in the resignation of the club chairman.
The Black Sea side announced Thursday that the club had agreed on terms with coach Samet Aybaba, who left Gençlerbirliği after barely avoiding relegation this season. Chairman Sadri Şener told the press they only had minor disagreements and expected to sign a contract Saturday.
But after the board meeting held late Thursday, the club sang a different tune. Vice Chairman Hayrettin Hacısalihoğlu told reporters that Trabzonspor had "no binding clauses" with Aybaba. "The Trabzonnspor community expects us to appoint a foreign coach, and that is the way we will go," he said, adding that a Turkish coach was definitely not an option.
The board’s decision caused a fierce reaction from Şener, resulting in his decision to resign. "We agreed only on principles with Aybaba," he said. "There was no official contract. But even then, a board member sends me an SMS, stating that he did not want to work with ’second class coaches.’"
Şener, who was elected to the post in March 2008, said he is not going to seek another term. "No one asked me where I had found the money to pay nearly 2 million Turkish Liras to the players mid-week, but they all want to have a say in coach selection. I’m tired of this situation, I hope for the best for Trabzonspor," he said.
One more year wih Denizli
Meanwhile, Beşiktaş announced Friday that coach Mustafa Denizli will stay at the helm for another year. The club also agreed to sign Turkish national midfielder Mehmet Topuz, who had been short-listed by many clubs.
The Turkish media reported that Beşiktaş was to pay 5 million euros to Kayserispor, in addition to 1.5 million euros a year to be paid to the player. While Topuz said the reason behind his choice was not the money but "my love for Beşiktaş and the black-and-white jersey," Kayserispor General Manager Süleyman Hurma argued that the deal is not yet done. "If Mehmet wants to leave, we will keep our options open," he said.
Former Galatasaray captain Korkmaz had been appointed coach in February with a contract until the end of the 2009-2010 season, but the UEFA Cup champion in 2000 and 17-time domestic champ had a disappointing season, finishing fifth in the league, ten points below champion Beşiktaş.
Rijkaard was expected to arrive in Istanbul and sign a contract Friday night as the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to press.
Rijkaard had previously been mentioned as a possible candidate to take over at various clubs, including AC Milan and CSKA Moscow. The 46-year-old, who won two Spanish crowns (in 2005 and 2006) and the European Champions’ League in 2006 with Barcelona, has been without a team since leaving the Catalan club at the end of the 2008 season after five years at the helm.
Rijkaard enjoyed a sparkling career as a player, representing Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and winning 73 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 10 goals. He coached the Dutch national side from 1998 to 2000 and Sparta Rotterdam before joining Barca.
Coach selection stirs Trabzon
The process of appointing a new coach to league third-placer Trabzonspor has not been so smooth and resulted in the resignation of the club chairman.
The Black Sea side announced Thursday that the club had agreed on terms with coach Samet Aybaba, who left Gençlerbirliği after barely avoiding relegation this season. Chairman Sadri Şener told the press they only had minor disagreements and expected to sign a contract Saturday.
But after the board meeting held late Thursday, the club sang a different tune. Vice Chairman Hayrettin Hacısalihoğlu told reporters that Trabzonspor had "no binding clauses" with Aybaba. "The Trabzonnspor community expects us to appoint a foreign coach, and that is the way we will go," he said, adding that a Turkish coach was definitely not an option.
The board’s decision caused a fierce reaction from Şener, resulting in his decision to resign. "We agreed only on principles with Aybaba," he said. "There was no official contract. But even then, a board member sends me an SMS, stating that he did not want to work with ’second class coaches.’"
Şener, who was elected to the post in March 2008, said he is not going to seek another term. "No one asked me where I had found the money to pay nearly 2 million Turkish Liras to the players mid-week, but they all want to have a say in coach selection. I’m tired of this situation, I hope for the best for Trabzonspor," he said.
One more year wih Denizli
Meanwhile, Beşiktaş announced Friday that coach Mustafa Denizli will stay at the helm for another year. The club also agreed to sign Turkish national midfielder Mehmet Topuz, who had been short-listed by many clubs.
The Turkish media reported that Beşiktaş was to pay 5 million euros to Kayserispor, in addition to 1.5 million euros a year to be paid to the player. While Topuz said the reason behind his choice was not the money but "my love for Beşiktaş and the black-and-white jersey," Kayserispor General Manager Süleyman Hurma argued that the deal is not yet done. "If Mehmet wants to leave, we will keep our options open," he said.