Kuyt named Fenerbahce interim boss before Liverpool tie
Dirk Kuyt has been appointed Fenerbahce’s interim coach after Ismail Kartal resigned following a 2-1 defeat by rivals Galatasaray. The change comes a week before Fenerbahce host Liverpool in the Champions League, giving Kuyt an immediate return to face his former club.
Kuyt will remain in charge until a new head coach is appointed, and his first match is against Goztepe on Saturday. Fenerbahce are fifth in the Turkish top flight, six points behind leaders Galatasaray; Kuyt won the Turkish league with the club in 2013-14 and spent six years at Liverpool, scoring 71 goals in 285 appearances.
In short
- Kuyt takes interim charge after Kartal’s resignation.
- Fenerbahce face Liverpool on 4 November.
- The club are fifth, six points off top spot.
Explained simply
Fenerbahce are a major Turkish football club based in Istanbul, competing in the country’s top division. Their long-running rivalry with Galatasaray is one of the best known in Turkish football, and the clubs are currently competing near the top of the league.
Dirk Kuyt is a former Netherlands international who played for both Fenerbahce and Liverpool. He won the Turkish league with Fenerbahce in 2013–14 and scored 71 goals in 285 appearances for Liverpool, giving him ties to both clubs.