Frank Rijkaard, Galatarasay Agree To End Dutchman’s Time In Istanbul

Frank Rijkaard has left his post as manager of Turkish titans Galatasaray, according to World Soccer. The 48-year-old Dutchman, whose former coaching stints include time with the Netherlands national team and Barcelona, was in the middle of his second season in Istanbul. He leaves Gala with the club sitting a disappointing ninth place in the Turkish Super Lïg.

Rijkaard joined Gala in the summer of 2009 after five seasons with Barcelona. While at the Nou Camp, Rijkaard won two La Liga titles, one UEFA Champions League, and two Spanish Supercopas. In the process, Rijkaard was twice being selected best coach in the Spanish league. Late in the 2008-09 season, Rijkaard was replaced by Pep Guardiola, with Barcelona having conceded the league to Real Madrid after being eliminated from Champions League by Manchester United.

Since moving to Turkey, Rijkaard’s results have been disappointing. After a strong start to Rijkaard’s first season, Gala finished a distant third, 11 points back in a league where the team’s always expected to finish in the top two. In Europa League, Gala was eliminated in the round of 32.

This season, Galatasaray was knocked out of Europa League in the qualifying stage. In league, the team’s split their eight matches, four wins and four losses, including defeats to Karabükspor and Ankaragücü in their last two contests. The four goals allowed to Ankaragücü on Sunday were the most conceded in Rijkaard’s tenure.

Today’s separation comes by mutual consent and fosters speculation that Rijkaard, despite his disappointing results in Turkey, is an option to replace Roy Hodgson at Liverpool.

For Galatasaray, they go into this weekend’s derby against Fenerbahçe in search of a new coach, with former Turkey boss Fatih Terim prominently linked.