Schuster takes up vacant post at Beşiktaş

Bernd Schuster has been named as the new coach of deposed Turkish champions Beşiktaş JK, with the 50-year-old former midfielder agreeing a two-year contract with the Istanbul club.

Beşiktaş have been without a coach since the weekend, when Mustafa Denizli stepped down for health reasons, saying: "In order for me to return to good health, I need a period without big challenges, stress and major excitement." Denizli, 60, led the Black Eagles to a domestic double in 2008/09, but they finished fourth last season to earn a UEFA Europa League second qualifying round place.

Schuster has not coached since leaving Real Madrid CF on 9 December 2008, having led Los Merengues to the title the previous season. A 1980 UEFA European Championship winner with West Germany, the one-time 1. FC Köln player spent the bulk of his playing career in Spain, representing FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Club Atlético de Madrid, retiring in 1997 following spells with Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Mexico's Club Universidad Nacional.

Having moved into coaching with SC Fortuna Köln and then Köln, he returned to Spain to take charge of Xerez CD in 2001 before spending the 2003/04 season at FC Shakhtar Donetsk. 'The Blond Angel' once again moved back to Spain to assume the helm at UD Levante, but having been dismissed late in the 2004/05 campaign, he joined Getafe CF, leading the club into the two best seasons in their history before rejoining Real Madrid.