Galatasaray sacks coach Igor Tudor after losing top spot in standings

ISTANBUL

Galatasaray sacked coach Igor Tudor on Dec. 18, one day after the Istanbul cub surrendered top spot in Turkey’s Super League with a 2-1 loss at league newcomer Malatyaspor.

The Croatian had been under fire for the team’s recent lackluster performances against title contenders, with a 3-0 demolition at Beşiktaş on Dec. 2 that followed a home draw against Fenerbahçe, a 2-1 away loss at Trabzonspor and a humiliating 5-1 defeat at Başakşehir.

Last season’s runner-up Başakşehir, which won 4-1 at home against Antalyaspor on Dec. 17, took top spot in the Spor Toto Super League standings over the weekend.

Title rivals Beşiktaş beat Osmanlıspor 5-1 on Dec. 17 to cut the gap with Galatasaray to two points. The Black Eagles now sit in the third spot on equal points with Kayserispor and one point ahead of Fenerbahçe, which was due to play Karabükspor at home late on Dec. 18.

According to reports in the Turkish media, Galatasaray is considering four names to replace to replace Tudor, including former Galatasaray and Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim, former Paris Saint-Germain and France national team coach Laurent Blanc, and former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.

Tudor, whose inexperience at top flight clubs has been a source of criticism ever since he took the helm at Galatasaray in the middle of last season, seemed tense in the post-game press conference in Malatya.

“All bad results come from the performances of both the players and the coach, but you love to separate these things,” Tudor told reporters.

“There is a point of view I cannot understand. When a game is won, it is because of the players, but when lost the coach is specifically targeted. This is a situation I’m not used to,” he said.

When asked if he was concerned about the situation, Tudor said he was “concerned because we lost.”

“And I’m concerned about such unnecessary questions,” a visibly angry Tudor added.

“Our target is to be the champion and we are still on that track. Everybody is calling for my resignation, but Galatasaray is still the biggest title contender. There are two things in Turkey that are always on the agenda: One is ‘Tudor, resign.’ The other is ‘why did you play the team with this system?’” he said.

Tudor will reportedly be entitled to 400,000 euros in compensation for Galatasaray’s unilateral termination of his contract.