Kara calls time on Lankaran
Tuesday 2 December 2008
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Rasim Kara has quit as Lankaran coach (©Turan)
Former Turkey goalkeeper Rasim Kara resigned as coach of FK Khazar Lankaran with one game to go until the winter break, making a mockery of Lankaran president Mubariz Mansimov's claim that "running a club is as easy as running a shop".
'Very sorry'
Four months after Agasalim Mirjaradov stood down as coach of the Azerbaijani side following their UEFA Cup first qualifying round defeat by KKS Lech Poznań, Lankaran are advertising for a coach again. "I am very sorry it has worked out like this," said Mansimov. "Rasim Kara is my friend and always will be. He has done much to develop Khazar as a club."
Mirjaradov success
First hired as Lankaran coach in 2004, Fatih Terim's former assistant helped the team finish second in the Yuksek Liga in his only full season before leaving after a UEFA Cup loss to Moldova's FC Nistru Otaci. His replacement, Ukrainian Viktor Pasulko, fared little better, but the side finally achieved glory under Mirjaradov, Azerbaijan's most successful trainer.
Qarabağ aggrieved
He oversaw a league title triumph and two Azeri Cup wins, yet Mansimov could do nothing to prevent the 61-year-old from walking away in the summer. Pinning down a successor proved a difficult task, with Lankaran eventually luring Kara from FK Qarabağ – where he had spent two years – with days to go before the new campaign began.
Ironic twist
Qarabağ were only appeased when they managed to hire former Azerbaijan star Gurban Gurbanov as coach, and it was ironic that Kara's resignation came after Lankaran lost 3-1 at home to his old club on 23 November. "When we won our previous league game, 1-0 at FK Qäbälä, the board acted like we had lost it," said Kara. "My decision to resign is final. I wish the club all the best."
Winter task
Goalkeeping coach Khafiz Aliyev took charge as Lankaran completed their autumn programme with a 2-2 draw at Simurq PFC, yet Mansimov must find a long-term solution having conceded that there will be no quick fixes. The fear among fans is that, as long as Lankaran lack a proper infrastructure and a youth academy, staff will continue to come and go at an alarming rate.
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