Young Boys let Hakan Yakin go
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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UEFA Cup contenders BSC Young Boys have released Switzerland attacking midfielder Hakan Yakin, who is likely to join Qatar's Al-Gharafa SC in the coming days.
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Qatar calling
The 31-year-old has left the club by mutual consent with an official statement from the Berne side reading: "Once Al-Gharafa have met the commitments set in the contract with Young Boys, then the transfer of Hakan Yakin to Qatar will be legal and above board." Hakan Yakin, who has scored 18 goals in 69 appearances for Switzerland, including three in three games at UEFA EURO 2008™, will sign a two-year contract with his new club once the formalities have been completed.
Hitzfeld unflustered
New Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has been monitoring Hakan Yakin's situation and sees no problems with his move to Doha. "The key to the national team is performances at club level, that goes for everyone," said the former FC Bayern München coach. "If Yakin continues to play at the top level then the door to the national team will not be closed just because he is no longer playing for a top European side." Hakan Yakin scored 40 goals in 83 league games in his three seasons in Berne. Young Boys start their UEFA Cup campaign in the second qualifying round after finishing as runners up in the 2007/08 Swiss Super League.