Turkish national football team coach Fatih Terim announced that he will be leaving his post, minutes after his side suffered a 2-0 loss at Belgium.

The loss in the 2010 World Cup qualifier was the final blow to the Turkish team and coach Terim, who will only be spectators at the tournament in South Africa.

“The game against Armenia on Wednesday will be my last game as the national team coach,” Terim told a post-game press conference in Brussels.

The experienced coach was in the stands of the King Baudouin Stadium Saturday night, serving a one-match automatic ban for being sent off in the game against Bosnia. The protests by Turkish fans watching the game with Terim was on the coach’s mind. “A group of fans shouted, ‘Terim resign,’ while others called me ‘Emperor,’” said Terim.

Some Turkish supporters also protested players, angering Terim. “No one has the right to swear at my players when they are wearing the jersey with the crescent and star,” he said. “We have gone through a lot with them and we have accomplished a lot with them. You can’t cheer for them one day and curse the other.”

Turkey’s chances of earning a berth in the 2010 World Cup were very slim, and depended on the possible failure of Bosnia against Estonia. But when the Belgium-Turkey game kicked off, the Bosnians were already leading with two goals.

“We watched the first half of the game at the hotel and it was 1-0, and they had scored the second when we arrived at the stadium,” Terim said, adding that the loss and terrible play against Belgium was the result of the players’ psychology.

“All my players were downhearted, while Belgium was really ready with its new coach. I congratulate Dick Advocaat and his players, and wish good luck to Bosnia for the playoff games.”

It was Advocaat’s first game as Belgium coach and he was delighted to see Emile Mpenza scoring a double. Having ended a run of five straight qualifying defeats, fourth-placed Belgium will travel to Estonia on Wednesday for its final game in the group.

Final decision

Turkey will host Armenia in Bursa on Wednesday in the last game of its failed campaign. Terim will leave after that match. “The Armenia game will be my farewell to the national team,” said the 56-year-old. “I know that [Turkish Football Federation President] Mahmut Özgener and many others will tell me to stay, but I’ve made up my mind,” he added. “We have failed and I am responsible.”

Before the game, Özgener told reporters that Terim would be with the team until June 2012, when his contract expires. “Terim has an ongoing contract, and there is nothing more to say on this matter,” said Özgener. “There are many more tournaments to compete in.”

Reports in the Turkish media suggest that Terim has already received an offer from Italy’s Napoli. But the experienced coach declined to comment on a possible switch.

“I will hold a press conference, at which I will give striking information on Turkish football,” said Terim. “The conference will most probably be next weekend.”

Many pundits believe that Terim should be replaced with a foreign coach. But it will not be a surprise if Bursaspor coach Ertuğrul Sağlam, known to have very close relations with President Abdullah Gül, takes over the job.

Terim is probably the most controversial character in Turkish football. While he is widely respected as a coach for his success and experience, many think that his uncompromising attitude and harsh discipline, as well as his sometimes-radical nationalist political view, are handicaps for him.

Terim has also been criticized for not taking action against his players who acted wrongly; neither Emre Belözoğlu, who made a gesture with his arms to the press members to “criticize” their pieces, nor the players who fought on the pitch with opponent players in a friendly game against Georgia on Feb. 7, 2007, were disciplined by Terim. Instead, the coach stood up for them and tried to find excuses for their actions.

With his success and controversial actions, Terim will remain an important figure in Turkish football wherever he goes