Former Liverpool Star Dirk Kuyt Takes Interim Manager Job at Fenerbahc

Former Liverpool Star Dirk Kuyt Takes Interim Manager Job at Fenerbahce Before Reds Clash

Dirk Kuyt has stepped up as Fenerbahce's interim manager following Ismail Kartal's resignation, setting up a clash against his former club Liverpool.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 28, 2026 · 1:10 PM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Dirk Kuyt is 46 years old and played 285 times for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012.

Fenerbahce appointed Kuyt as interim manager after Ismail Kartal resigned on Tuesday.

Kartal stepped down following a 2-1 derby loss to Galatasaray after taking over in June.

Kuyt's second match in charge will be a Champions League clash against Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Fenerbahce are currently fifth in the league and trail Galatasaray by six points.

Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt is preparing to face his old club after stepping in as the new interim manager of Fenerbahce. The 46-year-old made 285 appearances for the Reds between 2006 and 2012, cementing his status as a cult figure at Anfield.

According to De Telegraaf, the former striker will lead the Turkish side for at least their next three fixtures following the resignation of Ismail Kartal. Kartal concluded his fourth stint in charge on Tuesday after a 2-1 derby loss against rivals Galatasaray, despite only taking the job in June.

Assistant manager Kuyt will now oversee the team for their upcoming league fixture against Goztepe on Saturday. His second match in charge will be an emotional encounter against Liverpool when they host Andoni Iraola's squad in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Kuyt is expected to manage Fenerbahce at least until the international break. Fenerbahce currently sit fifth in the league and aim to improve their standing in the Champions League table after recording one win and three losses so far. Meanwhile, Liverpool have triumphed in all three of their league phase matches under Iraola.

Traveling Liverpool fans are expected to give Kuyt a warm welcome due to his successful spell at Anfield, where he netted 71 goals and won the 2006-07 League Cup. He also helped the Reds reach the 2006-07 Champions League final before they were defeated by AC Milan, with Kuyt scoring a consolation goal after Filippo Inzaghi netted a brace.

Before his time at Liverpool, Kuyt began his playing career in Holland with Utrecht and Feyenoord. He subsequently played for Fenerbahce for three seasons following his departure from Liverpool, making 130 appearances and scoring 37 goals before finishing his playing career at his boyhood Dutch club Quick Boys.

Since retiring in 2018, Kuyt has taken on several coaching positions, starting with Feyenoord's Under-19s before a short tenure in charge of ADO Den Haag. He then managed Beerschot and FC Dordrecht prior to joining Kartal's coaching staff as assistant this summer.

Kuyt's appointment follows a turbulent spell for Fenerbahce that dropped them to fifth place in the standings. Their heavy defeat to league leaders Galatasaray marked their third league defeat of the campaign, leaving them six points behind their bitter rivals.

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