Dirk Kuyt Takes Over as Fenerbahce Interim Coach

Dirk Kuyt has been appointed as the interim head coach of Turkish football club Fenerbahce following the resignation of Ismail Kartal. Kuyt, aged 46, previously served as Kartal's assistant coach and will remain in this role until a new head coach is appointed.

Kartal resigned after Fenerbahce's 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Galatasaray, which left the club fifth in the Turkish league, six points behind the leaders. Kuyt's first match in charge will be against Goztepe on Saturday, with a subsequent UEFA Champions League fixture against Liverpool scheduled for November 4 at 17:45 GMT.

Kuyt had a notable playing career at Liverpool, scoring 71 goals in 285 appearances and winning the League Cup in 2012. He also played for Fenerbahce, winning the Turkish league title in the 2013-14 season.

After retiring in 2017, Kuyt transitioned into management, taking roles at ADO Den Haag, Beerschot, and FC Dordrecht before joining Fenerbahce in June 2026.