UPDATES WITH RIEKERINK PERFORMANCE, KARABUKSPOR CHAIRMAN QUOTES ON NEW MANAGER
By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA (AA) – Turkish football club Galatasaray parted ways with Dutch Manager Jan Olde Riekerink on Tuesday, club President Dursun Ozbek announced.
Speaking to journalists after a board meeting at Galatasaray’s home turf in Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul, Ozbek said the club “parted ways with Riekerink for Galatasaray’s success.”
Riekerink had come under fire lately because of the team’s poor league performance and current third standing with only 39 points in 20 matches.
The team was also eliminated from the Ziraat Turkish Cup; Medipol Basaksehir eliminated Galatasaray with a score of 2-1 in the tournament’s round 16.
The Dutch manager was appointed Galatasaray’s manager in March 2016 after the team parted ways with prominent Turkish manager Mustafa Denizli in February 2016.
Before taking the managing role, Riekerink had been appointed Galatasaray’s Football Academy director.
Despite having a short tenure, Riekerink managed to win two cups with the team — Ziraat Turkish Cup and Turkish Super Cup — in the 2015-2016 season.
Riekerink’s performance record as Galatasaray manager:
Organization Games Played W D L GF GA
League 29 15 6 8 58 33
Turkish Cup 11 6 3 2 26 13
Turkish Super Cup 1 1 0 0 1 1
TOTAL 41 21 10 10 85 47
– New manager
Galatasaray is reportedly planning to sign Super League team Kardemir Karabukspor’s Croatian Manager Igor Tudor.
Kardemir Karabukspor’s Chairman Ferudun Tankut told Anadolu Agency Tudor had agreed to terms with Galatasaray.
“Tudor will leave the club tomorrow for Galatasaray,” Tankut said, adding: “This is not ethical at all. Galatasaray never contacted me on the issue.”
– League Standings as of Wednesday 00.00 (GMT 2100 Tuesday)
