Volkan Demirel leaves Fenerbahce

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - Fenerbahce's assistant coach Volkan Demirel announced his departure on Wednesday from the Turkish club.

"This is no breakup, it's just a break. Hopefully, we'll meet again in the future," Demirel said, speaking at a press conference with the club president Ali Koc.

For his part, Koc said Demirel was leaving on his own accord and that he had tried to persuade the former long-time goalkeeper to stay with the club.

"He (Demirel) has his own plans, of course Fenerbahce is in one of those plans. I wish him all the best and I hope one day his path will cross with our club once again. The door of this club is always open to him," said Koc.

Demirel played as a goalkeeper for the Istanbul club 17 years and worked as an assistant coach for two years.

Now 39 years old, he guarded the Yellow Canaries' goal in 523 games throughout his playing career.

With Volkan Demirel's departure, Caner Erkin is the only member of Fenerbahce's last title-winning squad to remain with the club.

Also from that squad, right back Gokhan Gonul left Fenerbahce on July 13, while temporary manager Emre Belozoglu left on June 1.