Türkiye's Adana Demirspor hire former Netherlands star Patrick Kluivert as new head coach

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish football club Adana Demirspor appointed former Netherlands and Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert as their new head coach Saturday.

"Our club signed a 2-year contract with Patrick Kluivert for the head coach position. Welcome Patrick Kluivert," the club from southern Türkiye wrote on Twitter.

Kluivert was hired for the vacant position because Italy's Vincenzo Montella left the Turkish Super Lig club in June.

One of the famous players of his generation, Kluivert, 47, played for Dutch powerhouse Ajax before moving to AC Milan -- his first overseas experience.

He was signed by Barcelona in 1998 where he displayed a stellar performance.

Kluivert won the 1995 UEFA Champions League with Ajax, scoring the winning goal in the final against Milan which ended 1-0 in Vienna.

He won Dutch titles with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, and the Spanish La Liga with Barcelona.

Kluivert scored 40 goals in 79 international caps for the Netherlands.

Before starting his new duty at Adana Demirspor, Kluivert was Curacao national team's caretaker head coach. Located in the Caribbean, Curacao is an independent state tied to the Netherlands.