Former Croatian international and Juventus star Igor Tudor on Thursday signed a deal to be the new coach of Istanbul giants Galatasaray after the sacking of Dutchman Jan Olde Riekerink.

Tudor's first task will be to catapult Galatasaray into serious title contention, with the side currently third in the Super Lig behind Istanbul rivals Besiktas and Basaksehir.

"I am happy to be here... (to have) such a big opportunity to be part of a club as big as Galatasaray," Tudor said after signing his one-and-a-half-year contract at a ceremony in Istanbul.

"I will do my best to make success of this club," he added.

"Let's win the league. Gala is always playing to win. There is a lot of work to do. I will do all I can to win the league."

Tudor had previously been managing Karabukspor in Turkey.

A successful playing career saw Tudor, 38, notch up a decade's worth of appearances as a defender for the Croatian national team and Italian giants Juventus.

He retired early with an ankle injury and then turned to management, first with Hajduk Split in his homeland and then PAOK of Greece before moving to Karabukspor.

The 2015 champions Galatasaray have a team packed with stars such as Germany's Lukas Podolski and Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder, and for the club directors the title is a must.

The Turkish Super Lig is notorious for its revolving door managerial jobs but the situation at Galatasaray has been extreme, with Tudor the sixth boss to take charge of the club since 2014.

Riekerink lasted just a year in the job, but that was longer than some predecessors. But Tudor said he was not worried.

"All my life is pressure. It's been pressure since I was 10 years old playing for Hajduk Split," he said.