ISTANBUL (AP) — Former Netherlands striker Dirk Kuyt has been appointed as interim coach of Fenerbahce — and his first Champions League match in charge will be against his old club, Liverpool.
On a chaotic week at the Turkish team, Fenerbahce lost 2-1 to great rival Galatasaray in an ill-tempered league match on Monday and then accepted the resignation of coach Ismail Kartal late Tuesday.
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On Wednesday, Kuyt was chosen as the replacement “until a new head coach is appointed.” He arrived in preseason as Kartal’s assistant, having played for Fenerbahce from 2012-15 after moving from Liverpool.
Kuyt was a fans’ favorite at Anfield, where he spent six years and scored in Liverpool’s loss to AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final, so it will be a poignant meeting with the English club at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on Nov. 4.
Fenerbahce, whose squad includes Romelu Lukaku, N’Golo Kante and Mason Greenwood, has yet to win in three games in the Champions League, drawing twice — to Roma and Slavia Prague — and losing 6-0 to Aston Villa.
The team is fifth in the 18-club Turkish league.
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