Fenerbahce agree deal with Advocaat as new coach

Istanbul (AFP) – Istanbul football giants Fenerbahce said on Tuesday they had agreed a deal with the experienced Dutch coach Dick Advocaat to be the new manager of the Turkish Super Lig side.

“Our team as reached an agreement in principle with Dick Advocaat,” Fenerbahce said in a statement, adding his signing ceremony would take place on Wednesday at 1130 GMT at the club’s stadium.

Advocaat had arrived in Istanbul on Monday as the surprise choice to replace Vitor Pereira, whose one-year stint ended in an acrimonious parting with the club unilaterally terminating the contract of the Portuguese.

In a colourful managerial career spanning over three decades that has seen spells with some two dozen clubs and countries, Advocaat had most recently managed clubs including Zenit St Petersburg and Sunderland.

He also enjoyed a successful stint of over three years with Rangers of Glasgow from 1998-2001.   

Fenerbahce decided to part company with Pereira after the team’s defeat at the hands of Monaco in the third qualifying round of the Champions League earlier this month.

The board are keen to have a new manager in place for when Fenerbahce take on Grashopper Zurich in the first leg of play-offs for the Europa League in Istanbul on Thursday.

The club lost out to local rivals Besiktas in the race for the league title last season despite boasting talent like former Manchester United stars Robin van Persie and Nani.

Nani has now left the club but some Turkish media have seen Pereira’s departure as a major boost for Dutchman Van Persie who has stayed on and had notoriously poor relations with the Fenerbahce ex-manager.