Galatasaray appoints Mustafa Denizli as new coach

ISTANBUL

HÜRRİYET photo / Adem Kabayel

Spor Toto Super League club Galatasaray announced Nov. 23 that it has agreed on a contract with Mustafa Denizli to become the Istanbul side’s next coach. The deal will reportedly expire at the end of next season.
 
Denizli, an experienced name who has coached Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and the Turkish international team, as well as other top-flight clubs, will replace Hamza Hamzaoğlu, who was sacked by the club last week.

Denizli is the only coach to have won Turkish league titles with the “Three Big” Istanbul clubs.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek, Denizli said on Nov. 23 that he was excited to take charge. 

“Galatasaray is the only club for which I will risk everything,” an emotional Denizli said, speaking about the club he began his coaching career with.  

Denizli took over as Galatasaray coach from Germany’s Jupp Derwall in the 1987-1988 season after working as his assistant for three years and led the club to the semifinals in the European Champions’ Cup.  

“I’m excited,” said Denizli. “I started a different career here, and hopefully I will end it successfully here.”

Galatasaray bowed to a late goal by Antalyaspor in a 3-3 draw in Istanbul over the weekend in the Spor Toto Super League, thus falling seven points behind Beşiktaş, which leads the league standings on 29 points.

Meanwhile, Beşiktaş extended its stay atop standings, maintaining its two-point cushion ahead of nearest challenger, Fenerbahçe, after beating a strong Sivasspor in Istanbul late on Nov. 22. 

The Black Eagles wasted two clear-cut chances early before breaking the deadlock two minutes before half-time, when Beşiktaş’s top-scorer Mario Gomez converted a penalty.

Playmaker Oğuzhan Özyakup, who salvaged the Istanbul side with a last-minute goal against Bursaspor a week before, again had the final word with a brilliant injury time goal, sealing a 2-0 win for Beşiktaş.