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The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has turned to former Besiktas manager Sergen Yalcin to lead the national team, with talks going well, Turkish media reported Monday. The search began after Vincenzo Montella left following defeats in Türkiye’s first four UEFA Nations League A matches.
Journalist Samet Cayir told Fanatik that Yalcin has become the favorite for the post after Abdullah Avci and Samet Aybaba. The reports said the talks are expected to end positively soon. They did not cite any official statement from the TFF or Yalcin.
Ajansspor reported that the TFF list also includes Senol Gunes, who led Türkiye to third place at the 2002 World Cup; Fatih Tekke, who left Trabzonspor on Sept. 1; Samet Aybaba, a former Besiktas defender; and Abdullah Avci, who coached the national team from 2011 to 2013.
The federation had earlier approached Arda Turan, who manages Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, but Turan said he would stay at his club, the outlet reported.
The TFF announced on Oct. 9 that it had parted ways with Italian coach Vincenzo Montella after Türkiye lost its first four UEFA Nations League A matches, against France, Italy, Belgium and Italy again.
The run was the national team’s first four-match losing streak in competitive fixtures in 38 years. It came after a group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup, where Türkiye lost two of its three matches.
Montella took charge in September 2023 and led Türkiye to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals and the World Cup. He oversaw 40 matches, with 21 wins, five draws and 14 losses, according to Fanatik.
Türkiye hosts Belgium on Nov. 12 in Izmir, in western Türkiye, and visits France on Nov. 15 in the final group match. Reports say Yalcin is expected to be on the bench for both games.
Yalcin, born in Istanbul in 1972, is a former attacking midfielder who came through Besiktas' youth system.
He made 158 appearances and scored 46 goals in his first spell with the club from 1991 to 1997 and returned from 2002 to 2006. He also played for Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor.
As a coach, he has worked at Gaziantepspor, Kayserispor, Eskisehirspor, Konyaspor, Alanyaspor and Yeni Malatyaspor, among others. He led Besiktas to the Super Lig title and the Turkish Cup in the 2020-21 season.
Yalcin returned to Besiktas in August 2025 and left, starring Alicia Vikander, is by Rachel Roserecorded 20 wins, 10 draws, and nine defeats, finished fourth in the Super Lig with 60 points, and lost the Turkish Cup semifinal to Konyaspor. He currently works as a commentator on the Kafa Sports YouTube channel.
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