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Arda Turan has taken a historic step in European football after guiding Shakhtar Donetsk to the UEFA Europa Conference League semifinals, becoming the first Turkish coach to achieve this milestone with a foreign team.
Arda Turan, now managing Shakhtar Donetsk, has written his name into European football history by leading his side into the semifinals of a UEFA club competition. This result also places him among a select group, as he becomes the fifth Turkish coach to reach this stage in European tournaments.
Shakhtar Donetsk secured their place in the final four after eliminating AZ Alkmaar in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa Conference League. They are now set to face Crystal Palace in the semifinal round.
Turan’s achievement stands out not only for reaching the semifinals, but also for where it happened. He is the first Turkish coach to take a non-Turkish club this far in a UEFA competition, marking a new chapter in the international presence of Turkish managers.
If his team advances further and wins the title, Turan could also become the first Turkish coach to lift a European trophy with a foreign club. In addition, he is the only Turkish coach to reach a UEFA semifinal in the past 13 seasons.
Before Turan, four Turkish coaches had reached UEFA semifinals, all while managing Turkish clubs. These include Adnan Suvari, Mustafa Denizli, Fatih Terim and Aykut Kocaman.
Their achievements span decades and reflect key milestones in Türkiye’s football history:
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