Yanal crosses town to Gençlerbirligi
Monday, May 20, 2002
Article summary
MKE Ankaragücü technical director Ersun Yanal is to take charge of city rivals Gençlerbirligi SK.
Article body
MKE Ankaragücü technical director Ersun Yanal is to take charge of city rivals Gençlerbirligi SK, after leading his current side to fourth in this season's Turkish first division.
Three-year deal
Yanal's contract expires on 31 May and he has signed a three-year deal with his club's Ankara neighbours, who finished four places below Ankaragücü in 2001/02.
'Like brother teams'
Gençlerbirligi president Ilhan Cavcav denied he had poached Yanal from their fellow 19 Mayis stadium-based team, saying: "We are not stealing a technical director away from Ankaragücü. Nowadays technical directors can move like the players, freely from one club to another. Ourselves and Ankaragücü are two friends, and like brother teams. Our hearts are with the city of Ankara. We do not have any problem with Ankaragücü."
All problems 'solved'
Yanal concurred, saying: "I have agreed on everything in principle with the club, which has solved all their problems. Gençlerbirligi 's status compelled me to talk to them, and to agree to a contract."
