Semih Yuvakuran makes history in Turkmenistan

BALKABANAT, Turkmenistan

Yuvakuran became the first foreign coach to win the Yokary Liga title. AA photo

Former Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe defender Semih Yuvakuran has made history in Turkmenistan, leading the club Balkan to the league title.

Yuvakuran was the first foreign coach to win the title with Balkan, hailing from the western Turkmenistani city Balkanabat, in the Yokary Liga. The 49-year-old, who previously had two brief coaching stints at lower-league Turkish clubs Gebzespor and Denizlispor, was offered the job earlier this year, and said his team had a big surge in form after he was brought to helm.

“I was surprised when the offer came, but then I thought it would be a nice for my career,” Yuvakuran told Anatolia news agency. “When I took over, the team was 12 points behind the leader. Then we changed the playing mentality and the wins came.”

Yuvakuran said the club board had approached him for a contract extension, but he had yet to make up his mind.