Fenerbahçe have appointed former Liverpool striker DirkKuyt as interim first-team coach following the resignation of IsmailKartal. The decision was announced on Wednesday, shortly after the Turkish club lost 2-1 against its historic rival, Galatasaray, on the last day of the Super League.
IsmailKartal, who had coached Fenerbahçe since the start of the season, left his position on Tuesday after the defeat against Galatasaray. The elimination in that match sparked pressure from fans and management, leading to Kartal's resignation. The club, in its statement, confirmed that DirkKuyt, who had been Kartal's assistant since June, will take over as technical supervisor until a new permanent coach is appointed.
DirkKuyt, 46, has extensive experience both as a player and a coach. As a footballer, he made more than 200 appearances for Liverpool and joined Fenerbahçe in 2012, where he won the Turkish league title two years later. In his coaching career, he has managed Beerschot in Belgium, ADODenHaag and FCDordrecht in the Netherlands, before returning to Turkey as Kartal's assistant.
The club's announcement underlines the intention to maintain stability in the squad while searching for a new leader. Kuyt, who already knows the culture and dynamics of the team, will be responsible for directing the remaining games of the season and preparing the club for the search phase for a permanent coach. Fenerbahçe have indicated that the decision on the new coach will be made in the coming weeks, after evaluating the team's performance and situation in the league.
With the arrival of Kuyt at the helm, Fenerbahçe hopes to stabilize its performance and avoid a fall in the table. The club will continue to monitor the team's performance under its interim management and will keep fans informed of the next steps in the search for a permanent manager.