Former Wanderers man Nicolas Anelka has been named as the new CEO of Turkish club Umraniyespor.

The 44-year-old’s most recent role was as sporting director of French side Yeres, which he left in 2021.

Umraniyespor were relegated from the Turkish top flight last season and currently find themselves 12th in the second tier.

The Turkish outfit posted on social media: "Our club has agreed with Nicolas Anelka for the CEO position. We welcome Nicolas and wish him success."

Anelka had a spell in Turkey during his playing career, making several appearances for Fenerbahce during the 2005/06 campaign.

The forward then joined Wanderers for a club-record fee – nearly doubling the previous high set when El-Hadji Diouf arrives from Liverpool.

Anelka spent 18 months in the North West before he was snapped up by Chelsea. He also went on to have stints at Juventus and West Brom among others before hanging up his boots.

Last year, Sam Allardyce said: “He came from Turkey and came to Bolton as the goalscorer we had been searching for for a while.

“It was the most money I spent at Bolton, I had never spent £8million on anybody before.

“We didn’t have £8million to spend on anybody before, but we managed to persuade the board to finally get their hands in their pockets.

“He just took us to another level. I didn’t have long enough with Nicolas because I left myself.

“I wouldn’t have done this but they sold him to Chelsea for £15million and lost one of the best goalscorers in European football - not just the Premier League - at the tender age of 28, in his prime.

“It was a pleasure working with him. Some have said he was sulky, but he wasn’t with me or the rest of the lads. He fitted in great and hopefully enjoyed his time here.”