Gençlerbirliği sacks coach Yılmaz Vural after just five days in charge

ANKARA

AA Photo

Gençlerbirliği parted ways with coach Yılmaz Vural on Dec. 29, just five days after he signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with the Ankara club.

A debate between Vural and Gençlerbirliği’s powerful chairman, İlhan Cavcav, about winter break transfers led to the decision, according to reports.

Gençlerbirliği played just one game with Vural in charge, losing 2-0 at cellar-dweller Eskişehirspor on Dec. 28. The club is currently in the relegation zone with 13 points in 17 games.

Vural was the 60th coach to work at Gençlerbirliği during Cavcav’s 38-year reign – and the fifth this season – but he was not the quickest to be sacked. 

Before signing Vural last week, Cavcav brought in Fuat Çapa as the team’s new coach, only to fire him five hours later.

Vural has so far worked for 25 Turkish clubs, 13 of which have dropped to a lower division with him in charge.

Fenerbahçe beat Sivasspor 2-1 at home on Dec. 28 to finish the first half of the Super League season in second spot, one point behind winter champion Beşiktaş.

Prolific striker Robin van Persie put the home side ahead in the 24th minute, but former Fenerbahçe player Beykan Şimşek leveled the game two minutes from half-time.

The Istanbul club dominated the match in the second half, but it was not until the 77th minute, when Simon Kjaer scored the winner, that the domination was reflected on the score sheet.

Fenerbahçe goes into the two-week winter break with 40 points, 10 ahead of third-placed city rival Galatasaray.

Beşiktaş was crowned the winter champion in the Super League as the first half of the title race concluded, with city rival Galatasaray struggling to stay in the race.

The Black Eagles beat Torku Konyaspor 4-0 at home with all goals coming in the second half on Dec. 27, while a dismal Galatasaray was held to a 1-1 draw at Kayserispor.

Also in the last week of the first half of the Super League, Bursaspor won 2-1 against Mersin İdmanyurdu on Dec. 27 in what was set to be its last game at Atatürk Stadium.

The club’s new home was officially opened last week by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Elsewhere, Çaykur Rizespor beat 10-man Başakşehir 2-1, Trabzonspor was held to a 1-1 draw at Kasımpaşa, while there were no goals between Antalyaspor and Gaziantepspor as well as between Akhisar Belediye and Osmanlıspor.

The second half of the league will kick off on Jan. 16, 2016.