Fenerbahçe coach Kocaman set to overturn resignation

ISTANBUL

Fenerbahçe coach Aykut Kocaman is expected to hold a press conference to announce that he has given up on his decision to resign from his job. AA photo

Fenerbahçe coach Aykut Kocaman was persuaded to remain at his post and is expected to announce his decision shortly, several news outlets reported yesterday.

Support and calls for Kocaman to overturn his decision to depart from the club came in the wake of the announcement that he was resigning from his post. Kocaman announced his decision during a press conference following the club’s shocking 3-1 defeat at the hands of Kardemir Karabükspor on Dec. 22.
Kocaman has yet to confirm that he has changed his mind regarding his decision to leave, but is expected to hold a press conference later this week.

Chairman support

Yesterday, Turkish media outlets quoted several Fenerbahçe officials who said Kocaman “was persuaded” to stay by the club board, including Chairman Aziz Yıldırım, who released a statement Dec. 23 that said he stood by the coach no matter what.

There were calls for Kocaman to resign during the 3-1 defeat, which left the club six points behind Spor Toto Super League leader Galatasaray.

“I have been in the esteemed post of Fenerbahçe coach for some two and a half seasons. For us, for the people who have benefited from the prestige of this jersey, this is the top, the summit,” said Kocaman, who is also an ex-Fenerbahçe player. “But frankly, I do not have the power in me to continue. With this game, I’m ending my job at Fenerbahçe. The supporters are right and there is not much to say.”

Despite the calls, Kocaman apparently has the backing of many supporters, in addition to his players, who reportedly went to his house late Dec. 22 and asked the former Fenerbahçe goal-scoring hero to keep his job.

Kocaman has been leading the club through turbulent times, especially since a match-fixing probe centered around the club and its chairman, Aziz Yıldırım was launched on July 3, 2011.

“We fought against many things,” Kocaman continued. “We did the correct thing at times on the pitch, and at times off the pitch, and we did wrong things. All of those were done in the name of Fenerbahçe.”