Fenerbahçe of Istanbul has appointed former Turkish international and ex‑midfielder of clubs such as Atlético de Madrid, Emre Belozoglu, replacing Ismail Kartal who quit last week after poor league and Champions results. Ready for a fresh start?
“Emre Belozoglu, who has been part of this great community both on the pitch and from the bench, now assumes the role of head coach at Fenerbahçe, working for the success of the yellow‑and‑navy shirt. Welcome home, Emre Belozoglu!” the Turkish side announced.
The 46‑year‑old began his career at Galatasaray, later featuring for Inter Milan and Newcastle United before returning to Turkey in 2008 to play for Fenerbahçe. In my view, his deep ties to the club give him a unique advantage.
After a brief spell at Atlético Madrid, he came back to the Turkish side for two seasons, then moved to Başakşehir and later rejoined Fenerbahçe, where he hung up his boots in 2020.
He also launched his coaching journey at the same club, leading several Turkish teams, most recently Kasimpasa, before departing to return to Fenerbahçe. He earned 101 caps for Turkey, netting nine goals.
His first test as Fenerbahçe’s manager is Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Liverpool. The Istanbul outfit sits sixth in the Turkish league, nine points behind Galatasaray, and holds two draws and a loss in Europe. I expect the club to push for a top‑four finish next season.