Kuijt to be interim Fenerbahçe manager after Kartal's departure

Kuijt, Fenerbahçe's assistant coach and former player, will take interim charge after Ismail Kartal's departure, starting with Saturday's match against Göztepe.

Fenerbahçe has parted ways with manager Ismail Kartal following a turbulent period at the Turkish club. Kartal submitted his resignation last month after a supporter threw a bottle at him during a match, but the club initially rejected it. However, after Fenerbahçe's 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray on Tuesday—which was marred by late-game disorder—the board accepted his departure.

Dirk Kuijt, who joined Fenerbahçe as Kartal's assistant coach over the summer, is set to take over as interim manager. According to Turkish media, Kuijt will be on the bench for Saturday's league match against Göztepe. His next fixture will be a Champions League encounter against his former club Liverpool on Wednesday, 4 November.

Kuijt played for Fenerbahçe between 2012 and 2015, making 130 appearances and winning the Turkish league title (2014), cup (2013), and Super Cup (2013) with the club. He has previously managed ADO Den Haag, FC Dordrecht in the Dutch first division, and Belgian side Beerschot.