Dirk Kuyt is set to reunite with former club Liverpool in the Champions League next week after he was announced as Fenerbahce's interim coach on Wednesday. 

Kuyt, who spent six years with Liverpool as a player, will temporarily take charge of Fenerbahce after the club announced Ismail Kartal had resigned from his position. 

Fenerbahce were beaten 2-1 by rivals Galatasaray on Monday, leaving them six points behind the Turkish Super Lig leaders after nine games. 

The 46-year-old's first game at the helm will be this weekend's league fixture against Goztepe, with Liverpool coming to Turkiye next Wednesday in the Champions League.

During his time at Anfield, Kuyt made 285 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool, scoring 71 goals as well as providing 34 assists. 

Kuyt won the EFL Cup in 2011-12 and was a runner-up in the FA Cup the same season. He also scored in the 2006-07 Champions League final, but Liverpool lost 2-1 to AC Milan. 

Kamuoyuna Duyuru İsmail Kartal’ın istifasının ardından kulübümüz, yeni teknik direktörümüz belirlenene kadar Dirk Kuyt’ı Futbol A Takımımızın teknik sorumlusu olarak görevlendirmiştir. Kamuoyunun bilgisine sunarız. https://t.co/4aaDpGN5DB

— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) October 28, 2026

He then spent three years with Fenerbahce before returning to Feyenoord in 2015, where he helped them win their first Eredivisie title since 1999 in 2016-17. 

Kuyt has held managerial roles at ADO Den Haag, Beerschot and FC Dordrecht before joining Kartal at Fenerbahce as an assistant in June earlier this year. 

Kartal had previously resigned from his position after a 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League in September, saying he planned never to return to the club. 

But Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim later said in a statement on the Turkish club's website he had not accepted Kartal's resignation.