Hearts get top Turkish coach

Accra Hearts of Oak will have a new face on their technical bench when they play Liberty Professionals at the Carl Reindorf Park at Dansoman this afternoon in a must-win game for the Phobians who are threatened with relegation for the first time in their 104-year history.

In their desperate battle against relegation, the country’s oldest existing club have added top Turkish coach, Bahtiyar Can Vanli, to their technical bench to assist caretaker coach Edward Ansah for their five remaining Premier League ties against Liberty, Bechem United, Medeama, Berekum Chelsea and WAFA.

Hearts sources told the Graphic Sports that the 62-year-old German-Turk had already begun work as he was brought in to complement coach Ansah to help the club in their relegation battle.

Vanli, who was once shortlisted for the vacant Black Stars job following the departure in 2010 of Serbian Milovan Rajevac, is a UEFA Pro-Licence coach who brings a wealth of experience to the job, having served as assistant to Senol Günes  when Turkey placed third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea / Japan and at the Confederations Cup in France in 2003.

He has also handled Lebanese side Safa Club, and coached CB Sports Club to win the Maldives Championship in 2010 and 2011.

At the end of the season, Vanli is expected to take full charge of Hearts.