Former Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o has been appointed interim player-manager at Turkish side Antalyaspor.
The 34-year-old striker, who joined the club on a three-year contract in June, has been given three matches to impress at the helm.
He takes over from Yusuf Simsek, whose contract was terminated by mutual consent on 7 December.
Antalyaspor will make a decision about whether to give Eto’o the role permanently after the winter break.
Eto’o will be guided and assisted by Mehmet Ugurlu, who is the club’s technical director, as the Cameroonian takes his first steps into management.
The move is an unexpected one the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea player, who has been involved in a number of controversial and damaging disputes with his country’s football federation as well as with team-mates.
One of his former international team-mates, Patrick M’boma, admitted he was “surprised Eto’o has gone into management so soon”.
But he revealed Eto’o, who he played alongside in two Africa Cup of Nations-winning sides, has long-held ambitions in that area.
“I know it was in his plans to be a manager – he told me many years ago,” M’boma told BBC Sport.
“But from what I know he has no experience. I hope he will be a good manager but I do not know.
“He has the personality and the knowledge, but I am not sure he will have the patience. If he can improve on the areas where he is weak he could be a success.”
BBC
