Fatih Terim returns as Galatasaray coach for fourth time

ISTANBUL

Turkish Super League club Galatasaray is set to battle Göztepe under the leadership of new coach Fatih Terim, who returned to the club for the fourth time on Dec. 2, replacing Croatian Igor Tudor who was sacked on Dec. 18.

Galatasaray, which won 20 domestic league titles and the UEFA Cup in 2000, is currently third in the Turkish championship after suffering its fourth defeat of the season last weekend.

Terim has also headed the national team but was sacked last summer after fighting in a brawl at a kebab restaurant in Kuşadası, a resort town in the Aegean province of Aydın.

Galatasaray signed a contract with Terim on Dec. 22.

The 64-year-old Terim, formerly coach for Fiorentina and AC Milan, ruled Galatasaray from 1996 to 2000, 2002 to 2004 and 2011 to 2013. In his second stint with Turkey he brought the country to the Euro 2008 semifinals.

Previous coach Tudor, who moved to Galatasaray from Karabükspor halfway through last season, has received fierce criticism after he let the team lose an eight-point lead in the standings.

Meanwhile, league leader Başakşehir will visit rival Kasımpaşa on Dec. 24, hoping to scoop the winter champion crown before a four-week break.

Trabzonspor will head to Karabükspor and Kayserispor will host Malatyaspor in Dec. 24’s other games.

Fenerbahçe, which is currently in the second spot thanks to an unbeaten nine-game run, hopes to extend its five-game winning streak when it travels to Konyaspor on Dec 23.

Defending champion Beşiktaş will play at Sivasspor in the day’s afternoon game, while Bursaspor is set to host struggling Gençlerbirliği for an early match.

The final game of the season’s first half will be played on Dec. 25, with Osmanlıspor taking on Akhisarspor at home.

The second half of the league competition commences on Jan 21.