Mustafa Denizli back with second-tier job

RİZE

Prominent Turkish coach Mustafa Denizli returns to the job as he was unveiled as the new Çaykur Rizespor manager.

The PTT League One team announced on Dec. 21 that it had signed a one-and-a-half year deal with the 63-year-old boss.

Rizespor, which is trying to return to top-flight after being relegated in 2008, is currently fifth in the League One standings, four points behind leader Erciyesspor. The top two teams directly promote to the Super League, and the next four teams enter the playoffs.

Denizli is one of the most decorated coaches in the history of Turkish football, holding the record of being the only coach to lead Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, country’s ‘big three,’ to the league title. He has not been coaching in his country since the summer of 2010, when his Beşiktaş contract was not renewed.