Avcı to be named new coach

Istanbul BB coach Abdullah Avcı is likely to be unveiled as the new Turkish national football team manager tomorrow, according to reports in the Turkish media.

Avcı is the frontrunner to replace Guus Hiddink, who was fired from the post yesterday following the national team’s failure to make it to the Euro 2012 tournament.

The 48-year-old is the longest-serving top-flight coach in Turkey, having led Istanbul BB for the past five years.

He led the lowly Istanbul side to the Super League in 2007 and helped the side reach the Turkish Cup final for the first time in its history.

Avcı was a coach at youth level and enjoyed a European Championship victory, as well as a fourth-place finish in the U-17 World Cup in 2005.