Erol Bulut finally lands new job more than a year after Cardiff City sackingGlen WilliamsCardiff sacked manager Erol Bulut after their dismal start to the Championship season last year(Image: PA Wire)
Former Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut has returned to management after being unveiled as the new head coach of Turkish side Antalyaspor.
The 50-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Super Lig outfit, marking his first job since being sacked by Cardiff just over a year ago. Bulut replaces Emre Belözoğlu, who left his post last week.
Bulut, who became Cardiff’s first-ever Turkish manager when he took over in June 2023, guided the Bluebirds to a respectable 12th-place finish in his debut Championship campaign.
After protracted talks in the summer of 2024, he eventually penned a new two-year extension — but things quickly unravelled.
A horrendous start to the following season saw Cardiff fail to win any of their first six games, collecting just a single point in a 1-1 draw with Swansea City.
A 3-0 defeat by Leeds United in September 2024 proved the final straw, with Bulut dismissed after just three months of his new deal.
His departure paved the way for Omer Riza and then ultimately Aaron Ramsey to take charge, but the Bluebirds’ fortunes continued to nosedive, ultimately ending in relegation to League One.
Now, Bulut is back in his homeland and looking towards his latest challenge.
Speaking at his unveiling in Antalya, the former Fenerbahçe and Alanyaspor boss said he would “do everything in his power” to bring success to the club.
“
I’m very happy to be at Antalyaspor,” he said. “
We’re here because we believe we can change things.
"We’ve worked under difficult conditions at clubs like Malatya, Alanya, and Gaziantep and managed to qualify for Europe. Football is constantly changing, and as managers, we must adapt to this change.
"Every club in Turkey has its challenges, and we need to overcome them together. The management, players, fans, and the media must all work together."
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