16.03.2016 13:35 h

Galatasaray name Riekering as new coach

Istanbul giants Galatasaray on Wednesday named Jan Olde Riekering as coach until the end of the season, replacing Mustafa Denizli, whose doomed three month spell saw the team crash out of title contention.

The Dutchman, 53, who joined the club's coaching staff last month, takes the reins with the team languishing fifth in the Super Lig after winning the title last season.

His first game in charge will be Sunday's home derby clash with Fenerbahce, who lie second in the table behind Besiktas, a full 20 points above Galatasaray.

The side is packed with international stars like German international Lukas Podolski, Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder and Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

But to the despair of fans, Galatasaray have crashed out of the Champions League and Europa Cup and are well off the pace in what is shaping up to be a titanic title battle between its fierce Istanbul rivals Besiktas and Fenerbahce.

Denizli -- who took charge of the club for the third time in his career -- quit two weeks ago in the wake of a 2-0 defeat to Gaziantepspor

The 66-year-old was only appointed in November following the sacking of Hamza Hamzaoglu, marking a return to his former club for the veteran after a 23-year break.

Adding to Galatasaray's woes, the day after Denizli stepped down UEFA banned the club from European competition for one year for breaching spending rules.

pa-pdw/nr