This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

Galatasaray today appointed Gheorghe Hagi today as their new coach for a second spell at the Super Lig club based in Istanbul.

The former Romania international, who played for the Turkish club for five years and coached them club between 2004 and 2005, replaces Frank Rijkaard, who left the club yesterday. The former Blackburn midfielder Tugay Kerimoglu has been appointed as the Romanian's assistant.

Hagi, 45, is yet to reach the heights as a coach he attained as a player. Since leaving Galatasaray, he has had short stints in charge of Timisoara and Steaua Bucharest.

The former Uefa Cup winners are ninth in the Turkish championship after eight games, eight points adrift of the leaders Bursaspor.