ISTANBUL: Galatasaray have sacked Fatih Terim, most successful coach in their history, a week after a the 6-1 home thrashing by Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Roberto Mancini and Jupp Heynckes top the club’s ‘wanted list’ as successor. Mancini was sacked by Manchester City last season after the loss of the English Premier title while Heynckes retired after winning, with Bayern Munich, the treble of Champions League, German league and German cup.

Terim, 60-year-old former Turkish national manager, was in his third spell with the club with whom he had won six league titles, two cups and the UEFA Cup in 2000.

Last month he agreed to coach the national team on a part-time basis for the conclusion of the World Cup qualifying competition.

Galatasaray, whose fans clashed with those of Besiktas in the Ataturk Stadium at the weekend, claimed that the decision to terminate Terim’s contract with immediate effect had been provoked by his refusal to accept a proposed two-year extension.

Statement

In an enigmatic statement on its website, Galatasaray said “recent developments” had started to damage the club’s “values.”

It added: “First and foremost, our board of directors are responsible for protecting these values and passing these on to future generations,” the club said in the statement.

“As part of this responsibility, in order to prevent further deterioration of our community, our board of directors decided unanimously to notify Mr Terim that his contract has been terminated.”

Galatasaray are 10th in the Turkish League after their 2-1 weekend win over Besiktas which was abandoned in stoppage game after the expulsion of their Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo.

Italian club Palermo have sacked ex-Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso – the 27th ‘victim’ in the club’s last nine years under the ownership of Maurizio Zamparini.

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus risks a ban of up to three years after clashing with security officers at the end of the weekend game against Vitoria Guimaraes.

Libya have appointed veteran ex-Spain boss Javier Clemente as national manager. Clemente has not worked since leaving Sporting Gijon in 2012.

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