Kewell signs two-year contract with Galatasaray

ISTANBUL (AFP) - Former Liverpool star Harry Kewell on Saturday signed a two-year contract with Turkish champions Galatasaray, describing his move as a "new chapter" after five injury-stricken years at Anfield.

The Australian international said he chose Galatasaray after speaking to club officials about their plans for the team and having seen Turkey’s improving performance in international football competitions.

"For me it was a decision not to think about anything except my football. I want to enjoy my football and I think this is the place where I can come and enjoy my football," the 29-year-old winger told a televised news conference.

Kewell, who has battled a series of injuries over the past few years, has been available on a free transfer since he was released by Liverpool at the end of his contract.

"You could say it is a new chapter," Kewell said when queried over his move from Anfield to Istanbul.

"I wanted to move on and I think this is the best way to move on," he added.

Kewell, who was welcomed by throngs of supporters on arrival in Istanbul, said he was excited to have joined a club with a passionate fan base.

"I know that that fans are passionate about sport and I love that," he said. "I can’t wait to get more of it."

During his time with Leeds, Kewell played against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000, when he was sent off.

The move to Galatasaray has ended any possibility of Kewell playing for Australia at the Beijing Olympics.

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Aragones signs two-year contract with Fenerbahce

ISTANBUL (AFP) - Spanish coach Luis Aragones on Saturday signed a two-year contract with Turkish club Fenerbahce.

"I am here both with my brain and heart to work for Fenerbahce," the 69-year-old, who led champions Spain in Euro 2008, told a news conference through an interpreter.

"I know I have come to a good and strong team. I can tell you that I am very happy," he added.

Fenerbahce had first announced a two-year pre-contract with Aragones on June 25, but the coach — then still at the helm of Spain on the eve of their Euro 2008 semi-final against Russia — had denied the deal.

Approaching his 70th birthday, Aragones became the oldest coach to win the European title when Spain beat Germany 1-0, clinching their second title after the first in 1964.

Back in the dark days of Spain’s early qualifying campaign for Euro 2008 Aragones had tendered his resignation after back-to-back defeats to Northern Ireland and Sweden.

A former Spanish international, he coached several major Spanish clubs before becoming the national boss in 2004.

At Fenerbahce he will replace Brazilian Zico, who joined the club on a two-year contract in July 2006, leading them to the league and Turkish Supercup titles during their centenary year in 2007.

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Kewell misses Olympics to sign with Galatasaray

SYDNEY (AFP) - Former Liverpool star Harry Kewell has passed up the opportunity to play for Australia at the Beijing Olympics to pursue a club career with Turkey’s Galatasaray.

The Australian international has signed a three-year deal with the Turkish giants after five injury-plagued seasons at Anfield.

Galatasaray official Haldun Ustunel said they had reached agreement on all contract issues and Kewell was expected to arrive in Istanbul late on Friday.

"As a result of long-standing efforts, we have come to the point of recruiting a very important player to Galatasaray," Ustunel told the club’s website.

"We have agreed on all issues. He shares our excitement," said Ustunel, describing Kewell as "a great power".

The move to Galatasaray has ended any possibility of Kewell being one of Australia’s three over-age players at the Beijing Olympics.

Socceroos Archie Thompson, David Carney and Jade North are the three over-age players in the 18-man Australian under-23 squad for next month’s Games.

"It’s not easy for him as soon as he signs for a new club to ask for four weeks to go to the Olympics," said Olympics coach Graham Arnold, who played and was an assistant coach at two previous Games.

During his time with Leeds, Kewell played against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000, when he was sent off.

Home-based defender North and Sheffield United wing-back Carney played in Australia’s World Cup qualifiers last month, while Melbourne Victory striker Thompson is recovering from a knee injury.

Arnold overlooked the claims of promising former Adelaide United strike pair, Bruce Djite and Nathan Burns, who have signed for overseas clubs.

"They are only 20 and were pretty much in between Olympic age groups and that made it pretty difficult for them," Arnold said.

North, an Athens Olympian, said: "It is a real honour to be picked to go to Beijing.

"I can’t wait to start training with them and get over there. I really hope to go in and lead by example for the younger players."

After finishing seventh in Athens, North wants to see Australia achieve more this time round, although they are grouped with defending Olympic champions Argentina, Ivory Coast and Serbia.

"I feel like I have been given another chance and I want to go all the way this time," North said.

Arnold said the three over-age players would bring international experience to the under-23 team in Beijing.

"The three over-age players will bring both attacking flair and strong defence to the team," he said.

The Australian squad contains seven overseas-based players, while defender Mark Milligan and striker James Troisi are currently uncontracted to overseas clubs.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Terim stays in charge of Turkey until 2012

ISTANBUL (AFP) - The Turkish Football Federation said Tuesday they have struck a deal with Fatih Terim to stay on as coach of Euro 2008 semi-finalists Turkey until 2012.

"Fatih Terim had a contract until 2010. In the meeting we had with him today we agreed to extend the contract until 2012," federation president Hasan Dogan said in a statement.

Terim had said he was planning to step down and take over a European club after he led Turkey to the semi-finals of a European championship for the first time.

But the 54-year-old-coach, dubbed the "Emperor" for his leadership skills, came under strong pressure to stay on and lead Turkey’s campaign for the 2010 World Cup.

Turkey’s Euro 2008 performance elevated Terim to a hero’s status after he was severely criticised for his tactics and choice of players after losing 2-0 to Portugal in the opening match.

Pundits had given Turkey little chance ahead of the tournament, but the team reached the semi-finals, winning three of their first four games in a dramatic fashion that earned them the reputation of comeback kings.

After losing to Portugal, they beat Switzerland 2-1 and the Czech Republic 3-2 with last-minute goals in the group stage and knocked Croatia out at the quarter-finals on penalties after equalising with the last kick of the game in extra time.

They lost 3-2 in the semi-final as Germany scored their third goal in the 90th minute.

Terim had also guided Galatasaray to become the first Turkish side to win a European trophy when they beat Arsenal in the 2000 UEFA Cup, after which he coached AC Milan and Fiorentina.

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Germany v Turkey (Semi Final 1)

UEFA EURO 2008 SEMI-FINAL

Date: Wed 25 June Kick-off: 1945 BST Venue: St Jakob-Park, Basel

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Turkey coach Fatih Terim has been hit by injuries and suspension

Germany coach Joachim Low said Torsten Frings could play against Turkey despite suffering from a fractured rib.

The midfielder was back in training on Monday having missed the quarter-final win over Portugal.

Turkey face the prospect of having just 13 outfield players available for their Euro 2008 semi-clash.

Keeper Volkan Demirel will miss out after his two-match ban was upheld for a red card against Czech Republic and Emre (hamstring) was also ruled out.

Coach Terim said Tumer Metin might be able to play the last 30 minutes of the match despite suffering from a groin strain and he may also have to field third-choice keeper Tolgan Zengin because of the injury crisis.

"He could come on towards the end as a sub as last man in defence or a centre forward," he said.

The Turks were without six players when they beat Croatia 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals Friday, and lost a further three - Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik - to suspension after picking up yellow cards during the match at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna.

Striker Nihat Kahveci was ruled out of the tournament on Sunday with a thigh injury, but Uefa insists it will not be making a special dispensation for Turkey to call up more players to their squad.

Defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurelio returns from a one-match ban, but keeper Volkan still has one game left on his suspension.

Uefa spokesman William Gaillard said: "You can’t replace any players after the first game of the tournament has been played.

"We know some teams are facing difficulties, but this is a hard rule of the tournament. We have no intention of changing the tournament rules.

"If a team only had eight players to choose from before a match, then we might call an emergency meeting. But we have had no requests and we would find it a bit difficult changing now."

BIG MATCH STATS

Head-to-heads

Germany and Turkey have played each other on 17 occasions with Germany winning 11 and losing three.

Turkey are unbeaten in three successive meetings with Germany, recording two wins and one draw.

Germany’s last win over the Turks dates back to May 1992, when they won 1-0 in a friendly encounter.

Their only previous meetings at a major tournament came at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, when West Germany won 4-1 and 7-2.

Their last meeting in all competitions was a friendly in October 2005, in which Turkey prevailed 2-1 in Istanbul, through goals by Halil Altintop and Nuri Sahin. Oliver Neuville scored the German goal in injury time.

Played five previous European Championship semi-final matches, progressing on four occasions.

Their sole semi-final defeat came in 1988, when West Germany were knocked out by eventual winners the Netherlands (2-1).

Both Germany and Turkey finished second in their group at Euro 2008. The last two European champions (Greece in 2004 and France in 2000) also finished second in their group.

Team facts - Turkey

This is Turkey’s first European Championship semi-final. Their only previous appearance in the last four of a major tournament came at the 2002 World Cup when they were defeated 1-0 by Brazil.

Been in the lead for only nine minutes in their four matches played at Euro 2008. Including injury time, Turkey were in the lead for 2.5 minutes against Switzerland and 6.5 minutes against the Czech Republic.

Player facts - Germany

Bastian Schweinsteiger has a goal, an assist, a yellow card and a red card to his name at Euro 2008. The only other player to have achieved this feat is Denmark’s Klaus Berggreen in 1984.

If he plays, Kevin Kuranyi will win his 50th cap for Germany. He made his international debut in March 2003 in a 1-1 draw against Lithuania.

Michael Ballack has scored in two successive European Championship matches (against Portugal and Austria).

Ballack and Lukas Podolski both need two goals to equal Jurgen Klinsmann’s German record of five in the European Championship.

Ballack has now scored 38 international goals. Only six German players (Muller, Klinsmann, Voller, Rummenigge, Seeler and Klose) have scored more goals.

Player facts - Turkey

By scoring twice at Euro 2008, Arda Turan, Nihat Kahveci and Semih Senturk have all equalled Hakan Sukur as Turkey’s joint top scorers in European Championship history.

If they take to the field, Hamit Altintop will come up against his Bayern Munich team mates Marcell Jansen, Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.

If he plays, Gokdeniz Karadeniz will win his 50th cap for Turkey. He made his international debut in a 4-0 defeat against the Czech Republic in April 2003.

35-year-old Rustu Recber is the oldest ever Turkish player in a major tournament (European Championship and World Cup combined). Rustu is Turkey’s most capped player with 117 internationals and also the most experienced Turkish player in the European Championship with eight matches to his name.

Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik are suspended for this semi-final. Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel is also suspended pending his appeal.

So far, Turkey have received 15 cards at Euro 2008, only four shy of the competition record set by the Czech Republic in 1996.

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