Football: Denizli named Galatasaray's new manager

ANKARA

Turkish football club Galatasaray have announced Monday the return of Mustafa Denizli as team manager.

Denizli started his coaching career with Galatasaray between 1987 and 1992, becoming league champions along the way in 1988.

Denizli, who claimed the Turkish Super Lig title with three different teams, said that he started his coaching career with Galatasaray and that he will end it with the same team.

Galatasaray's chairman, Dursun Ozbek, told reporters that he had asked Denizli to come back as the team's manager and the latter had accepted it in principle.

"We will sign the agreement in a few days," Ozbek said.

Mustafa Denizli managed to win Super League titles with the three major Istanbul teams: Galatasaray, Fenerbahce (2001) and Besiktas (2009).

Denizli also managed the Turkish national team during the Euro 2000 in the Netherlands and Belgium. Turkey reached the quarterfinals.

Galatasaray had announced the termination of manager Hamza Hamzaoglu’s contract on Wednesday.

“The executive board conveyed to me the decision not to continue with me and I respect it,” Hamzaoglu had told Anadolu Agency.

Galatasaray is currently third with 22 points.