Önder Özen steps down as Beşiktaş football director

ISTANBUL

Önder Özen resigned as Beşiktaş director of football a year after taking the job. AA Photo

Önder Özen, Beşiktaş director of football, has stepped down from his post with immediate effect, he said in a statement.

“It is not easy to say goodbye, it was not easy to leave,” Özen said following a meeting with chairman Fikret Orman.

Özen’s resignation came a day after news that Yalçın Ayhan, a veteran defender who has advised the team and took the club’s training camp to England, was left out of the squad. It was reported that the former Kasımpaşa defender’s situation remained in limbo, causing a power struggle in the club.

However, Özen rejected that these claims had anything to do with the reasons why he stepped down from his post.

Chairman Orman has said the club will find a new director of football, a position created following the appointment of Özen.

Coached by Croatian Slaven Bilic, Beşiktaş starts its pre-season friendly games against Wigan tonight.