Galatasaray appoint Rijkaard coach
Friday, June 5, 2009
Article summary
Galatasaray AŞ have appointed Frank Rijkaard as head coach on a two-season contract, the 46-year-old Dutchman replacing Bülent Korkmaz after his resignation was accepted by the Turkish club's board on Tuesday.
Article top media content
Article body
Galatasaray AŞ have appointed Frank Rijkaard as coach on a two-year contract, the Dutchman replacing Bülent Korkmaz after his resignation was accepted by the Turkish club's board on Tuesday.
Honours
The 46-year-old has been out of coaching since leaving FC Barcelona on 30 June 2008 after two seasons without a trophy at the Camp Nou. Under Rijkaard, appointed ahead of the 2003/04 campaign having previously coached the Netherlands and Sparta Rotterdam, the Blaugrana won the UEFA Champions League and two Spanish titles.
Europa League
Korkmaz replaced Michael Skibbe as Galatasaray coach on 23 February and guided the club to a fifth-placed finish in the Süper Lig, enough to earn a berth in the inaugural UEFA Europa League. With the second qualifying round getting under way on 16 July, Rijkaard has little time to waste.
