Sergen Yalcin Reportedly Set to Become Turkey’s New National Team Coach
Turkey may be close to appointing a familiar figure to lead its national football team. Several Turkish media outlets report that Sergen Yalcin has agreed to replace Vincenzo Montella, who was dismissed earlier this month. An official announcement is expected after a Turkish Football Federation (TFF) board meeting on Tuesday, although the appointment has not yet been formally confirmed.
The reported move would put a celebrated former Turkey international in charge at a difficult moment. The national side is coming off a disappointing run of results, and its position in the UEFA Nations League is under serious threat. Yalcin’s experience, reputation at Besiktas and knowledge of Turkish football could offer a fresh start—but the new coach would have little time to settle in before facing demanding opponents.
Why Turkey Moved On From Vincenzo Montella
Montella’s departure marks the end of a three-year spell that included both a major tournament high and a sharp recent downturn. The Italian guided Turkey to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024, earning praise for a spirited campaign that showcased an ambitious young squad. Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler was among the players who helped make Turkey one of the tournament’s most compelling teams.
However, the momentum did not last. Turkey’s subsequent World Cup campaign in North America ended in a group-stage exit after two defeats in its opening matches. The team then suffered four losses in the Nations League, intensifying scrutiny of Montella’s tactics and the side’s ability to compete against stronger European opposition.
Heavy defeats proved particularly damaging: Turkey lost 4-1 at home to Italy and 3-0 away to Belgium. Those results deepened frustration among supporters and reportedly contributed to the federation’s decision to make a change. For a team that had raised expectations at Euro 2024, the contrast between that performance and the latest results was difficult to ignore.
Yalcin Emerges After Other Candidates Decline
Arda Turan was initially viewed as a leading candidate for the job, according to reports, but the former Turkey international chose to remain with Shakhtar Donetsk. Turan took charge of the Ukrainian club in 2025 and is under contract until next summer, making continuity at club level his preferred option.
The federation also reportedly considered Abdullah Avci, who most recently coached Trabzonspor before leaving in August 2024. Avci has previous experience with the national team, having managed Turkey from November 2011 to August 2013, but was unavailable for the role. Yalcin is therefore said to have become the next choice in the search.
The reported preference for a Turkish coach reflects a broader desire to restore a strong domestic connection to the national side. Montella, an Italian, and his predecessor Stefan Kuntz, a German, were both foreign appointments. A home-grown coach may offer familiarity with the country’s football culture, players and public expectations, although that connection alone cannot guarantee improved results.
Who Is Sergen Yalcin?
Yalcin, 53, is one of Besiktas’ most recognisable figures, having made his name as both a player and coach. A technically gifted left-footed attacker, he earned 37 caps for Turkey and scored five international goals. He played an important part in the team’s qualification for Euro 2000, contributing five assists and a goal during the campaign.
He appeared three times at the tournament in Belgium and the Netherlands, having also represented Turkey twice at Euro 1996. A cruciate ligament injury later ruled him out of the 2002 World Cup, when Turkey finished third. That missed opportunity remains a notable chapter in a career that connected him closely with the national team’s modern history.
After retiring from playing in 2008, Yalcin began working with Besiktas’ youth setup. He spent much of the following decade coaching Turkish clubs, often in short-term roles, before taking charge of Besiktas’ first team in 2020. His standout achievement came in the 2020-21 season, when he led the Istanbul club to a league and cup double.
Besiktas Experience—and Questions to Answer
Yalcin’s relationship with Besiktas has been central to his coaching career. He returned to the club in summer 2025, but resigned in mid-May and has been without a coaching position since. His reported appointment to the national team would therefore represent a new challenge: rather than working with a club squad day to day, he would need to prepare a group of players brought together only during international breaks.
That shift requires quick decisions on selection, tactics and team identity. Turkey have talented individuals, but recent results suggest that finding balance and defensive reliability will be just as important as making the most of attacking players such as Güler. Yalcin would also need to rebuild confidence after a run of defeats and persuade supporters that the team can compete consistently at the highest level.
Turkey’s Upcoming Fixtures and Prediction
Reports indicate Yalcin could make his first appearance as national coach when Turkey host Belgium in the Nations League on 12 November, followed by an away match against France three days later. The fixtures would be a demanding introduction, particularly given Belgium’s recent victory over Turkey and France’s quality across the pitch.
Turkey’s Nations League outlook is already bleak after four consecutive defeats, with relegation from League A appearing all but certain. That makes the immediate challenge less about a dramatic turnaround in the table and more about restoring organisation, confidence and a clear plan for the next stage of the international cycle.
Prediction: Yalcin’s appointment could bring an early lift through his familiarity with Turkish football and his standing among supporters, but the schedule offers little room for an easy start. Turkey may show greater energy under a new coach, yet facing Belgium and France makes a quick run of victories unlikely. The clearest measure of success may be whether Yalcin can make the team more disciplined and competitive while laying the groundwork for future qualification campaigns.
