Liverpool cult hero Dirk Kuyt will be trying to mastermind a victory over the Reds – having been named Fenerbahce manager.
The 46-year-old has taken the helm on an interim basis at the Turkish side following the resignation of Ismail Kartal.
Fenerbahce host Liverpool in the Champions League next Wednesday and Kuyt – who has been promoted from assistant manager – will be in the dugout.
Liverpool fans fondly remember the Dutchman, who was renowned for his extraordinary work rate over his six years at Anfield.
He played 285 times for the club between 2006 and 2012 and scored 71 goals, winning a League Cup and suffering defeat in the 2006-07 Champions League final during his spell.
Kuyt then played three seasons with Fenerbahce before retiring at Feyenoord in his homeland.
Dirk Kuyt is Fenerbahce interim manager (left) and will lead the team against his old club Liverpool, where he played 285 games (right)
He switched to management and took charge of ADO Den Haag, Beerschot and FC Dordrecht before returning to his old side in Turkey as an assistant.
Kartal, who he replaces, has been in charge of Fenerbahce an astonishing four times and tried to resign earlier in the season, only for his request to be rejected.
Now he has officially stepped down and Kuyt will lead the team against Goztepe on Saturday before the big game against Liverpool next week while the club search for a new permanent manager.
If Kuyt manages to orchestrate a win over Andoni Iraola’s team, he could put his name in the frame to take the role on a permanent basis.
He’s an admired figure at Fenerbahce for his contribution during his playing career, scoring 37 goals in 130 games.
But morale is currently low at the club having suffered a defeat by fierce rivals Galatasaray at the weekend – a result that triggered Kartal’s departure.
They are six points behind the leaders in the Turkish top flight and currently sit in fifth place. In the Champions League, the club are down in 31st after two draws and one defeat from their first three games.
