The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has announced the dismissal of Vincenzo Montella as manager of the national team following a disastrous run of results, bringing an end to his three-year tenure, with Arda Turan emerging as the frontrunner to succeed him.
The TFF issued a brief statement confirming that the board of directors had decided to part ways with the Italian coach without naming a replacement, though local and Italian outlets have positioned Turan at the top of the shortlist to lead the current generation.
Montella paid the price for a group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup following defeats to Australia and Paraguay, which was followed by losing all four opening UEFA Nations League fixtures—a 1-0 defeat to France, back-to-back losses to Italy (4-1 and 3-1), and a 3-0 defeat against Belgium. Over that span, Turkey scored just twice while conceding 11 goals.
The Italian tactician concludes his spell with Turkey after 40 matches in charge, recording 21 wins, 5 draws, and 14 losses, with his side scoring 66 goals and conceding 57. Turkey lost six of their final seven matches across all competitions, a steep decline that ultimately doomed his position.
Despite the difficult end, Montella’s tenure featured notable successes: he guided Turkey to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, earned promotion to Nations League League A, and secured a return to the World Cup after a 24-year absence. However, the early World Cup exit and subsequent collapse erased much of his goodwill.
Montella’s contract had been extended through Euro 2028 in June 2025. Consequently, according to Turkish media, he will receive a severance payment equivalent to five months’ salary—approximately €915,000—to terminate the agreement two years early.
Arda Turan leads the list of potential successors, with Fatih Terim and Fatih Tekke viewed as the main alternatives alongside Nuri Şahin, Abdullah Avcı, and Şenol Güneş. However, the TFF has yet to confirm official negotiations with any candidate.
Turan holds a clear advantage as an icon of Turkish football, having earned 100 caps and scored 17 goals during a playing career featuring spells at Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, and Galatasaray. The 39-year-old began his managerial career at Eyüpspor, leading them to a historic promotion to the Süper Lig and a 6th-place finish, before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk, where he clinched the Ukrainian Premier League title and reached the UEFA Conference League semi-finals.
The TFF is reportedly considering allowing Turan to dual-role as manager of both Shakhtar and the national team, after he previously rejected an approach to focus on his project in Ukraine. Should an agreement be finalized, his debut could arrive against Belgium and France in November—facing a stern test to revitalize a squad boasting talents like Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
