Istanbul (AFP) – Turkish side Fenerbahce have turned to former coach Ersun Yanal to fill the hole left by the sacking six weeks ago of Dutch coach Phillip Cocu, the club announced on Friday.
Yanal, who led Fenerbahce to the league title in 2014, has signed a contract for a year and half.
“Welcome home,” read a post on the official club Twitter page showing Yanal on the field and walking through the players’ tunnel and changing room.
The 57-year-old arrives with his old club in some trouble.
Fenerbahce, 19 times champions of Turkey, have won just three matches in the league this season and lie one place off the bottom of the table in the relegation zone.
The one consolation lies in the Europa League where they qualified on Thursday for the knockout stage.
Cocu was sacked six weeks ago since when another Dutchman Erwin Koeman has been holding the fort as caretaker coach.
Yanal was in charge of the Turkey national team in 2004-2005 although his last management job with Trabzonspor ended 14 months ago.
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