Frank Rijkaard and Galatasaray part ways
The contract of Galatasaray head coach Frank Rijkaard has been terminated, as of Wednesday, October 20. They stated no specific reason for the decision, but the two parties appear to have split ways based on mutual consent.
"As a result of mutual talks with technical director Frank Rijkaard ... we have decided to part ways," read a statement released by the club.
Along with Rijkaard, Galatasaray has terminated the contracts of Rijkaard's staff, including Johan Neeskens, Alberto Roca Pujol and Carlos Cuadrat. The club added that they had "...a debt of gratitude to the esteemed Frank Rijkaard for his work and efforts
for Galatasaray."
After a sparkling playing career highlighted with spells at Ajax and AC Milan, including over 70 caps for the Dutch national team in the eighties and early nineties, Rijkaard began his coaching career in 1998 when he took over for Guus Hiddink as head of
the Dutch national team.
After a short spell at the helm in Sparta Rotterdam, Rijkaard took over at Barcelona where he was manager for five years and where he won the Champions League in 2006.
Riijkaard took over at Galatasaray in June of 2009 and led the club to a third place finish in the Turkish league, as well as an early group-stage exit from the Champions league.
The 2010-11 season did not start well for Rijkaard, and Galatasaray, who failed to qualify for the Europa League group stage and who currently sits at ninth place in the Turkish Super Lig has only earned a mere 12 points from their opening eight games.
With Rijkaard now available, rumours have begun to swirl over the prospect of his taking over for Roy Hodgson at Liverpool, a team that continues to struggle near the bottom of the English Premier League. The speculation continues, despite Liverpool's new
owners recent backing of Hodgson.
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