Arda Turan Turkish national team coaching negotiations

Arda Turan, the manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, has been identified as a primary candidate to succeed Vincenzo Montella as the head coach of the Turkish national team following a series of losses in the Nations League.

Turan has discussed the challenges of managing a club in Ukraine, noting that the team must navigate air raid sirens and bombings that can cause matches to last up to six hours. He stated that football loses its significance when compared to the protection of children.

Negotiations have progressed to an advanced stage. Following a 3-0 victory over Veres, Turan traveled to Istanbul to meet with Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu. Meanwhile, a federation delegation has traveled to London to initiate formal discussions.

A decisive meeting is planned to take place immediately following Shakhtar Donetsk’s Champions League match against AEK Athens at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, October 14.

During a press conference, Turan addressed the rumors, stating that being linked to the national team is a “great honor” and expressing deep pride in representing his country. However, he noted that as a young coach, it might be beneficial to continue his professional development abroad to better represent Turkey on the global stage.