Turkish football giants, Fenerbahce have appointed former PSV Eindhoven manager Phillip Cocu as their new coach on a three-year deal after parting ways with Aykut Kocaman earlier this week, the Turkish club said on Friday.
In a statement on Fenerbahce’s website, Cocu said he was “very hopeful” about the club’s vision and its new chairman, businessman Ali Koc
He said: “I have to say I am very impressed with the club’s plans for the near future,” Cocu said.
Phillip Cocu is a 47-year-old Dutch professional football manager and former player. Cocu was born in Eindhoven but raised in Zevenaar, playing youth football for local clubs DCS and De Graafschap. After a year at AFC ’34, he started his professional career at AZ. In 1990, Cocu moved to Vitesse. In 1995, he joined PSV, where he won the KNVB Cup and the Eredivisie title in 1997.
Cocu played for Barcelona between 1998 and 2004. There, he would become club captain, win La Liga in 1999 and play two Champions League semi-finals. He left the club in 2004 as club record holder for the most league appearances by a foreign player. During Cocu’s second stint at PSV, he won another three Eredivisie titles and reached the Champions League semi-finals. After a year at Al Jazira, Cocu retired from professional football.
Cocu led PSV to their 24th Eredivisie title this past campaign, outlasting rivals Ajax to win their third championship in four years.
Photo Credit: Getty
