Soccer-Senol Gunes to replace Lucescu as Turkey boss - report

Senol Gunes will return as Turkey coach, 15 years after his last spell in charge, broadcaster NTV said on Saturday, replacing current boss Mircea Lucescu. Gunes, who was Turkey coach between 2002 and 2004 when the team finished third at the 2002 World Cup, will stay as Besiktas coach until at least the end of the season, the broadcaster said.

The NTV report said Gunes is expected to work with the national team for matches against Albania and Moldova in late March. The 66-year-old has won the Turkish league twice with Besiktas. He has also coached Trabzonspor and Bursaspor.

Turkey have struggled under Romanian Lucescu and were relegated to League C in the UEFA Nations League after finishing bottom of their group. (Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun Editing by Toby Davis)