Turkish coach breaks Moscow embargo on Ankara with Premier League contract

MERSİN

Yüksel Yeşilova, a Turkish football coach, has broken the Russian embargo on Turkey with special permission from the Kremlin for him to head Russian Premier League side Mordovia Saransk.Turkish daily Milliyet reported that three deputies from Mordovia were engaged in providing a work permit for Yeşilova, who has coached teams in Russia, Romania and Germany along with Mersin İdmanyurdu, Tarsus İdmanyurdu and Giresun in Turkey.Saransk, at the bottom of the Russian Premier League, hopes to stick in the race with Yeşilova.The 48-year-old Turkish coach had been part of the coaching team of the Russian side in 2013.CSKA Moscow took back the lead of the Russian Premier League in style on April 9 with a 7-1 win against last place Mordovia Saransk.Yeşilova, the author of three football books, also holds a prestigious “doctorate” title submitted by UEFA for his contributions to football.Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal, Arsene Wenger and Vicente Del Bosque also hold the degree.Moscow and Ankara have been at odds since Turkey downed a Russian jet in November last year for violating its border with Syria during operations in the neighboring country.Meanwhile, sources have told Hürriyet Daily News that Yeşilova is preparing to marry Diana Dinu, Miss Romania 2014, this summer.