Dirk Kuyt Becomes Interim Coach of Fenerbahce After Previous Coach Resigns

Dirk Kuyt, a former forward for Liverpool, has been named the interim head coach of Turkish football club Fenerbahce. His appointment follows the resignation of Ismail Kartal, who stepped down after the team lost 2-1 to their rivals, Galatasaray.

Kuyt, who is 46 years old, was previously an assistant to Kartal. Fenerbahce announced that he will lead the team until a new head coach is found. The club currently sits fifth in the Turkish league, six points behind the leaders.

Kuyt’s first match in charge will be against Goztepe on Saturday. He will also prepare the team for a UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool, scheduled for November 4.

During his time at Liverpool, Kuyt scored 71 goals in 285 games and helped the team win the League Cup in 2012. He later played for Fenerbahce, winning the Turkish league title in the 2013-14 season, before retiring in 2017.

After retiring, Kuyt took on coaching roles at several clubs before joining Fenerbahce as an assistant coach in June 2026. He now faces the challenge of improving Fenerbahce’s performance in the league while preparing for the upcoming match against his former team.