Yanal to head up TFF football development
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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The 48-year-old Ersun Yanal has been chosen as the Turkish Football Association's new director of football, with new coaches also being appointed to lead the national Under-21 and U19 selections.
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Former national team coach Ersun Yanal has been appointed director of football at the Turkish Football Association (TFF) amid a major shake-up.
The 48-year-old Yanal – who coached Turkey from April 2004 to June 2005 – will oversee all national selections except for the senior side, to be coached by Guus Hiddink from August 2010, as well as the country's football development centre. The former Denizlispor, MKE Ankaragücü, Gençlerbirliği SK, Manisaspor and Trabzonspor boss will also run the TFF grassroots, education and elite development programmes.
The TFF revamp has also brought a change of coach at U21 level, with 53-year-old Raşit Çetiner – who guided Turkey to their first UEFA European U21 Championship finals in 2000 – replacing Hami Mandirali at the helm. Kemal Özdeş will work as Çetiner's assistant while also succeeding Ogün Temizkanoğlu as U19 coach. Abdullah Ercan will continue in charge of the U17 team, with Tahir Karapınar assisting at both U19 and U17 levels.