Turkey mourns as it bids farewell to its football federation chief

Hasan Dogan, the head of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), who died of a heart attack at the weekend, was laid to rest in Istanbul on Monday.

A ceremony was held to commemorate Dogan at the TFF facilities in Istanbul's Levent district. Hundreds, including many statesmen and sportsmen, attended the ceremony.

He was laid to rest after a funeral ceremony at Fatih Mosque.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan were among the attendees in the funeral ceremony.

Dogan, 52, died on Saturday after suffering a heart attack while holidaying in the southwest of Turkey. He was having a meal with national coach Fatih Terim in the popular resort of Bodrum when he was hospitalized after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Dogan, a prominent businessman, had been the head of the federation since February this year and last month saw the national team make it to the semi-finals of the Euro 2008 championships for the first time ever.

Dogan leaves behind a wife and two children.

WHO IS HASAN DOGAN?
Doğan, born in Kastamonu in 1956, was a graduate of mechanical engineering from Yıldız Technical University. He studied English in the United Kingdom, and worked in marketing before founding his own men's wear company in 1988. He was also a member of the Turkish Olympic Committee, or TMOK. Doğan served as president of the TFF for five months, having been elected to the post in February. Previously he had been vice president under Levent Bıçakcı between 2004 and 2006. His death comes little over a week after Turkey's superb run at EURO 2008 culminated in a thrilling semifinal against Germany.

WHO WILL TAKE HIS PLACE?..
Following Doğan's death, the TFF will now have to convene an emergency congress to elect a new chief. Article 7 of the TFF law stipulates that in case of death or resignation of the TFF president, a vice chairman or, if there are no vice chairmen, one of the board members becomes the acting president responsible for holding new elections in three months' time. Until the election, Lütfi Arıboğan or Mahmut Özgener will be the acting president.

Source:AA News

Lucas Neill to Galatsaray?

Lucas Neill may follow Harry Kewell to Turkish giants Galatasaray, with reports the club is set to launch a massive bid for the West Ham defender.

Neill, who has taken the captain’s armband since joining West Ham from Blackburn, is on a bumper contract at the club worth around $170,000 a week.

But England’s Daily Mail newspaper reports the Hammers need to cut their wage bill, and could sell Neill after recruiting 17-year-old Icelandic defender Homar Orn Eyjolfsson.

The Mail suggests Galatasaray will launch a bid for Neill, but the player’s Australian agent Paddy Dominguez says Neill is unlikely to leave West Ham.

“It doesn’t make sense that a manager who brought Lucas to the club and has installed him as captain would look to sell him,” Dominguez told The Australian.

“It would be very strange. Lucas’ relationship with Alan Curbishley is good and he is relishing the role of captain.”

Meanwhile, more light has been shed on the reasons behind Kewell’s move to Galatasaray, which raised eyebrows after the attacking midfielder rejected offers from English Premier League club Portsmouth and Italian club Roma.

Kewell’s manager Bernie Mandic indicated the other clubs – also reported to include Scotland’s Celtic and Spain’s Valencia – had only offered contracts with specific injury clauses.

Kewell’s career has been dogged by injury since his switch from Leeds United to Liverpool in 2003.

“Galatasaray is the best club for him,” Mandic told News Limited. “Other clubs who were chasing him put up ridiculous health conditions.”

Turkish football federation chief dies after heart attack

The head of the Turkish Football Federation died on Saturday after suffering a heart attack while vacationing in the southwest of Turkey, the federation said.

Hasan Dogan, 52, was having a meal with national coach Fatih Terim in the popular resort of Bodrum when he was hospitalized with a cardiac arrest, said a statement on the federation's Internet site.


Dogan,had been the head of the federation since February this year and last month saw the national team make it to the semi-finals of the Euro 2008 championships for the first time ever.


He was married with two children.

Source:Turkishpress

Aragones officially sign as Fenerbahce coach

ARAGONES TALKS TO FENERBAHCE TEAM CAPTAIN ALEX ...(Photos: Courtsy of Fenerbahce.org)




ARAGONES TALKS TO TEAM OFFICIAL MAHMUT USLU......



Former Spain coach Luis Aragones had a three-hour meeting with Fenerbahce officials on Friday.

Aragones is expected to finalize a two-year coaching contract with Fenerbahce ahead of an official signing ceremony on Saturday.

The 69-year-old Aragones also toured the Istanbul club's Sukru Saracoglu stadium.

"I will direct the matches in the best possible way with calm," the club's official Web site quoted Aragones as saying. "As Fenerbahce, we are aiming to win all of the titles in all competitions."

Vicente del Bosque is expected to take over Spain after Aragones' decision to leave despite leading the country to the European Championship title, its first major trophy in 44 years.

Kewell joins Galatasaray!....

KEWELL IS IN ISTANBUL......

Australia international Harry Kewell has signed a three-year contract with Turkish champions Galatasaray, the club have claimed.

However, there remains some confusion over the conclusion of the deal as Kewell's agent Bernie Mandic has said the announcement is premature.

The 29-year-old turned down a contract offer with Liverpool in May and entered the current transfer window as a free agent, with many clubs across Europe chasing his services.

Kewell was linked with Portsmouth, Fulham, Celtic and Roma but Galatasaray have announced his signing on their website.

Mandic, though, insists that nothing has been finalised.

'We have not finalised a deal for Harry and it's down to two possibilities,' he told Australian FourFourTwo.

'People will be notified if and when Harry decides on one of the options which may be around noon on Saturday European time.

'We will not make any other comments until then.'

Source:Wires

Aragones set to take over Fenerbahce

Spain coach Luis Aragones, who stepped down after the team's recent Euro 2008 triumph, is set to become manager in Turkey's top club level with Fenerbahce, the club announced Thursday.

Aragones, 69, became the oldest manager to win a Euro crown. He was with Spain since 2004. The former Spanish international coached a number of major teams in Spain, including Barcelona, before becoming coach of the national team.

He will replace Brazilian Zico, who coached Fenerbahce the last two seasons.

Fenerbahce, a regular in the Champions League, opens the tournament this season in the second qualifying round, which starts at the end of July.

A HUGE HONOR FOR NIHAT!...

MASTER SHOOTER NIHAT!...

Turkish International Player Nihat Kahveci and Villarreal CF striker reveals some of his secrets exclusively on the UEFA Training Ground as he offers a guide to first-time shooting.

In his step-by-step guide, Nihat, shows in Spanish, how too improve goalscoring ability, focusing on both technical and mental areas.

If I remember correctly, Nihat, will be the first ever, Turkish player or person to be featured on UEFA's Training Ground website. This is a huge Honor for Nihat and Turkish Football(soccer), in my opinion.

I am really proud of Nihat!....