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Murat Yakin installed as Basel coach

Having captained the club in the early 2000s, former Switzerland defender Murat Yakin has returned to FC Basel 1893 as coach following the dismissal of German boss Heiko Vogel.

Murat Yakin has replaced Heiko Vogel as Basel coach
Murat Yakin has replaced Heiko Vogel as Basel coach ©Getty Images

Heiko Vogel has been dismissed as coach of Swiss UEFA Europa League contenders FC Basel 1893, with former Bebbi and Switzerland defender Murat Yakin being named as his replacement.

The departure of German coach Vogel, 36, who took charge in 2011 following a spell as the club's assistant, has come as something as a surprise. However, Basel have made a less than sparkling start in the Swiss league, lying fourth in the ten-team table with 21 points from their first 12 games. They missed out on a place in this season's UEFA Champions League group stage, and took two points from their opening two UEFA Europa League Group G games.

Murat Yakin, the 38-year-old older brother of AC Bellinzona attacking midfielder Hakan Yakin, will take charge of Basel for the first time on Sunday when they meet FC Luzern, who he had coached until August. Having started his career with Grasshopper-Club, Murat Yakin captained Basel to three Swiss titles and three Swiss Cup successes from 2001-06, and also played for VfB Stuttgart, Fenerbahçe SK and 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

Capped 49 times, he first found coaching success with FC Thun, winning promotion to the Swiss top tier. He then earned a second-placed finish and Swiss Cup runners-up medal in his second campaign. He took over at Luzern in 2011, but left the club after six games of the current campaign netted only three points.

Basel visit Hungary to take on Videoton FC in their next UEFA Europa League game, on 25 October.