Terim cuts ties with Turkey
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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Fatih Terim will step down as Turkey coach for a second time after their final 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Armenia following his side's unsuccessful bid to reach the finals in South Africa.
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Fatih Terim will step down as Turkey coach after Wednesday's final 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Armenia following his side's unsuccessful bid to reach the finals in South Africa.
'Significant achievements'
After accepting Terim's resignation, Turkish Football Federation president Mahmut Özgener said: "Our national team has enjoyed significant achievements in world football, but failed to find consistency. We aim to overcome this problem in the next period. We respect Terim's decision and thank him for his services."
Great success
Now 56, Terim guided Turkey to their first appearance at a UEFA European Championship in his first spell in charge between 1992 and June 1996, but resigned after his side suffered three successive defeats in the group stage at EURO '96™. Terim returned to the helm in 2005 and masterminded Turkey's successful qualifying campaign for UEFA EURO 2008™, where they impressed with a thrilling run to the semi-finals.
Final straw
The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, however, has not lived up to expectations and a return of 12 points from nine games so far has left Turkey well behind group winners Spain and runners-up Bosnia Herzegovina. With nothing now riding on Wednesday's final qualifier in Bursa, Saturday's 2-0 defeat away to Belgium proved the final straw.
