Fenerbahçe ends cooperation with Dirk Kuijt after short interim period

Fenerbahçe has officially announced on Wednesday morning the departure of assistant‑coach Dirk Kuijt. The 46‑year‑old Katwijk native started this season as assistant‑coach and shortly thereafter became interim‑coach, but there is now no place for him on the technical staff. The announcement appeared under the headline ‘2 min See us more often on Google’.

Kuijt returned last summer to the Turkish top club, where from 2012 to 2015 he grew into a fan favourite. The 104‑cap international was appointed as one of the assistants to head coach Ismail Kartal. Kartal left Fenerbahçe at the end of October due to disappointing results, after which Kuijt was appointed interim‑coach during the search for a successor.

Results under Kuijt and Belözoglu

With Kuijt on the bench, Fenerbahçe lost at home to Göztepe (1‑2) in the Turkish league. In the Champions League the club surprisingly secured a 3‑2 victory over Liverpool. Even before that win it was known that Emre Belözoglu would become the new head coach. Emre, a former teammate of Kuijt, debuted last weekend with a 0‑5 win over Corum.

Turkish media had earlier suggested that Kuijt would receive a role in the youth academy. Now the club makes clear that he will leave, ending his second adventure at Fenerbahçe after half a year.

He was previously coach at ADO Den Haag, Beerschot and FC Dordrecht. In a statement, accompanied by a video, Fenerbahçe thanks Kuijt for his commitment and emphasizes that the bond will never change.