Former Netherlands international Dirk Kuyt has been appointed Fenerbahce’s interim head coach following Ismail Kartal’s resignation after Monday’s 2-1 defeat against rivals Galatasaray.
The 46-year-old, who previously served as Kartal’s assistant, will remain in charge until the Turkish club appoints a permanent manager. Fenerbahce confirmed that Kuyt would take responsibility for the team during the transition.
Kuyt’s first match will be Saturday’s Turkish league fixture against Goztepe before Fenerbahce host his former club Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday, 4 November.
The Dutchman spent six years at Liverpool, scoring 71 goals in 285 appearances and helping the club win the League Cup in 2012. He later joined Fenerbahce, where he played for three seasons and won the Turkish league title in 2013-14.
After retiring in 2017, Kuyt moved into coaching, managing ADO Den Haag, Beerschot and FC Dordrecht before returning to Fenerbahce as an assistant in June 2026.
Kartal had previously offered to resign in September, but the club rejected his departure at the time. His latest decision to step down comes as Fenerbahce sit fifth in the Turkish top flight, six points behind leaders Galatasaray.
Kuyt now faces an immediate challenge to steady the team, with the upcoming Liverpool fixture offering a high-profile test of his leadership as Fenerbahce seek to improve their domestic position and make progress in Europe.
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