Yanal succeeds Kocaman at Fenerbahce

Ersun Yanal has been appointed as the new Fenerbahce manager, the Turkish club announced on Friday.

The 51-year-old has agreed a one-year deal at the end of a week in which he severed ties with Super Lig rivals Eskisehirspor following a one-and-a-half year spell in charge.

Yanal will be tasked with bringing stability to the Istanbul club, who on Tuesday were expelled from European competition by UEFA for two seasons over match-fixing charges.

Fenerbahce fans will also be hopeful that Yanal can help to spearhead a title challenge after finishing 10 points behind arch-rivals and champions Galatasaray last season under the stewardship of Aykut Kocaman.

Yanal has previously managed at no fewer than six Super Lig clubs and was installed as Turkey national team coach in April 2004, a position he held for a little over a year before a failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup sealed his fate.