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Turkey: Genclerbirligi bring Bakkal [Wed Aug 31st, 2005]
Genclerbirligi have named Mesut Bakkal as their new head coach after failing in a bid to entice former Turkey coach Ersun Yanal back to Ankara.
Bakkal, who has worked for both Genclerbirligi and the national team as assistant coach to Yanal, has signed a two-year contract and takes over from Ziya Dogan.
Dogan resigned after seeing Genclerbirligi pick up just two points from their opening four Super League games.
Club president Ilhan Cavcav admitted Yanal was their first choice, but the ex-Turkey chief, who left his post with the national team earlier this year to be replaced by Fatih Terim, has decided to take a break from coaching.
"We talked to Ersun Yanal and asked him to work for us again with his old staff," Cavcav said.
"Ersun told us that he is in Holland right now, that he is not back to a normal life after the national team and that he doesn't want to work again for some time. Then we decided to talk to his assistant coach Mesut Bakkal. He accepted our offer."
Bakkal will be aided by former Galatasaray captain and Turkey international Bulent Korkmaz.
Cavcav added: "We called up Bulent Korkmaz and offered him a job as an assistant coach to Mesut Bakkal. He happily accepted the offer. We have decided to leave Genclerbirligi in the successful hands of this coaching team."
PA Sport
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