Fatih Terim has agreed a two year contract extension, taking him up to 2012, despite suggestions that he would step down as coach of Turkey after UEFA EURO 2008™.
The 54-year-old coach struck a deal with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) after a meeting on Tuesday, with president Hasan Doğan revealing: "He accepted our proposal, thanking us for the trust in him and saying he was happy to be coach of the national team and that work with the management was harmonious." Terim was already under contract until the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, but his new deal takes him through to UEFA EURO 2012™, with both parties insisting financial matters had not been a consideration in the negotiations. Indeed, former Galatasaray AS defender Terim said he regarded the post he has held since 2005 as a "national calling".
Italian rumours
Turkey reached the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2008™, only to lose out to a late goal in a 3-2 defeat against Germany, and reports after the game suggested that he might return to Serie A, where he had coached ACF Fiorentina and AC Milan. Terim, who previously coached the national team between 1993 and the EURO '96™ finals, had said: "Most probably after speaking to the [TFF] president and the players I will choose to say: 'This is what I have done and I hope whoever comes later on will work to make this team champions.' I have already said I would not work in Turkey and I keep my promises so I will most probably go and work abroad." Turkey meet Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia, Estonia and European champions Spain in 2010 World Cup qualifying Group 5.
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