It’s all over following the defeat in his native Italy: Turkey have parted ways with their national team manager, Vincenzo Montella, after a poor start to the Nations League.
Four matches, zero points, a goal difference of 2–11 – Turkey’s start to the Nations League has gone thoroughly wrong, although they were certainly not facing the easiest of opponents in Group 1 of League A, with Italy, Belgium and France. Nevertheless, recent events have now led to Turkey parting ways with their national manager, Vincenzo Montella, on Friday evening following a summit meeting of the Turkish Football Federation.
Fans had recently been calling for his resignation
The sacking comes as no surprise; criticism of the Italian had already been mounting during the international break, with his final match having been, of all things, the 1–3 defeat in his home country. Rather, it is the logical consequence of the past weeks and months. Many fans have still not forgiven him for the humiliating exit in the group stage of the World Cup, to which Montella had led Turkey for the first time in 24 years. They recently booed the Italian off the pitch and called for his resignation.
Montella had not considered this, always emphasising that he believed in the work being done. “Even though I had significant opportunities, I didn’t leave. Because we have work to continue here.” He no longer has that chance.
Successor Arda Turan?
Yet Montella’s tenure – which now comes to an end after just over three years – was largely positive. As well as securing a return to the World Cup, Turkey reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, where they narrowly lost to the Netherlands despite taking the lead. Most recently, in 2025, they secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.
A successor to Montella has not yet been named. Meanwhile, Arda Turan, who has made 100 appearances for the Turkish national team, is considered a leading candidate. During his playing career, the 39-year-old played for Galatasaray, Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona, amongst others. As a manager, he led Eyüpspor to the second-tier championship in two seasons and to sixth place in the Süper Lig. In 2025, he moved to Shakhtar Donetsk.
