Montella on the brink of dismissal, possible replacement with Barça past

In the latest match of the Turkish national team in the Nations League, the side coached by Vincenzo Montella failed to earn any points after the first four matchdays of the group, leaving the squad without any chance to progress and adding to a series of poor results that had already marred its World Cup campaign.

Montella's future hanging by a thread

Montella took over the Turkish bench in 2023 and, after a disappointing World Cup campaign in which Turkey failed to progress beyond the group stage in just two matches, his future hangs by a thread. The Italian coach said after the latest defeat that he felt strong and defended both his work and that of his players. However, Turkish media already point out that his dismissal is a possibility that the Federation would have to compensate with almost one million euros.

EFE's coverage, led by journalist Xavi Solé, highlights the pressure on the coaching staff. Turkish fans express their frustration on social media, demanding immediate changes.

Arda Turan as a candidate for the bench

The same reports point to Arda Turan as a possible replacement; the former player, known as the "Turkish Magician", played for Galatasaray, Atlético de Madrid and Barça before hanging up his boots in 2022. After starting his coaching career at the modest Eyupspor, he led the club to promotion to the Turkish Super League in his second season.

In 2025 he signed for Shakhtar Donetsk and, in his first season in charge, won the league title and reached the Conference League semi‑finals. Turan, 39, now faces the possibility of combining his role at Shakhtar with the management of the Turkish national team, an option rarely seen in football.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) is seriously considering the proposal, although it has not yet been confirmed whether the former footballer will accept the dual challenge.