Sağlam takes charge at Beşiktaş

Ertuğrul Sağlam has taken over from Jean Tigana as the new coach at Beşiktaş JK while Ersun Yanal has returned to the helm at Turkish rivals Gençlerbirliği SK.

Glorious comeback
The 37-year-old Sağlam has signed a two-year contract following successful spells with Samsunspor and Kayserispor. He spent six years with Beşiktaş as a player between 1994 and 2000. "It's an honour to return to my former club," he said. "We will make a team which will excite supporters." Under the departed Tigana, the Istanbul side won this season's Turkish Cup and earned a place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League as Süper Lig runners-up.

Yanal returns
Elsewhere, the 45-year-old Yanal has agreed a two-year contract at Gençlerbirliği following Mesut Bakkal's resignation two weeks ago. Yanal led the club in the 2002/03 season before being named as national-team coach. He will be assisted by Kemal Özdeş, Volkan Kazak and goalkeeping coach Murat Aydın. "This is our home club," he said. "We will do our best to give Gençlerbirliği success in the future."