UEFA Cup - Rijkaard named Galatasaray coach

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Jun 15:15:00 2009

Frank Rijkaard will replace Bulent Korkmaz as coach at Galatasaray, the Turkish club said.

FOOTBALL frank rijkaard publication not in FRA ITA - 0

Galatasaray did not provide further details but broadcaster CNN Turk said Rijkaard, 46, would arrive in Istanbul at 15:00 UK time.

"Galatasaray professional football team has appointed Frank Rijkaard technical director. We wish him success in his new role," said a brief statement on the club's website.

Former Barcelona coach Rijkaard was set to sign a two-year deal with Galatasaray in a ceremony at 18:00 the website of the Milliyet daily newspaper reported.

It said the deal was reached after Galatasaray chairman Adnan Polat travelled to Spain two days ago and followed the club's failure to reach agreement with Juande Ramos and Bernd Schuster.

Johan Neeskens would join Dutchman Rijkaard at the club in a deal worth around 4 million euros (£3.5m) the report said.

Galatasaray, UEFA Cup champions in 2000 and 17 times domestic champions, had a disappointing season and finished fifth in the league, 10 points adrift of champions Besiktas.

Former Galatasaray captain Korkmaz had been appointed in February in place of Michael Skibbe, who was sacked after a poor run of results. Korkmaz had a contract until the end of the 2009-2010 season.

Rijkaard took charge of Barcelona in 2003 after four years of underachievement and led them to back-to-back league titles and victory in the Champions League in 2006. He left the club in May last year.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. he made a good decision by joining a good team , better­ then their rivals fenerbahce, i assume

    From muzeyyenogut, on Wed 1 Jul 12:23AM

  2. The galatasaray is big football team. Harry Kewell,­ milan baros, Arda Turan, Lincoln, Servet Çetin, Mehmet­ Topal in galatasaray. Galatasaray UEFA Cup and Super­ Cup owner

    From kursaty92, on Mon 29 Jun 2:10PM

  3. i think he will be a gold member of Galatasaray

    From deniz, on Mon 29 Jun 1:18PM

  4. HAHA good old Rijkaard Haven't seen him for a long­ time :)

    From SasaS, on Sat 13 Jun 8:55PM

  5. What wrong, much right decision, best made, GALATASARAY­ a big club ...

    From ferit6211, on Mon 8 Jun 7:52PM

  6. surely this is wrong

    From davey b, on Mon 8 Jun 7:24PM

  7. Technical director i thought a man like Rijkaard would­ want to get into the managing side of things again

    From garethtait1, on Fri 5 Jun 7:14PM
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