TFF dismisses coach Vincenzo Montella, detikcom reports

Vincenzo Montella was dismissed as head coach of the Turkish National Team on October 9, 2026, following a severe run of defeats in the UEFA Nations League and the 2026 World Cup, detikcom reported. The decision by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) ended a three-year tenure that began in 2023, coming immediately after a sequence where the team secured only one victory in their final seven competitive matches.

Federation Confirms Departure After Nations League Struggles

The TFF announced the termination through an official statement on its website, confirming that it had decided not to continue its working relationship with the Italian coach. Bolasport.com noted that the dismissal followed a meeting of the TFF Board of Directors. The federation did not disclose the official reason for the firing or name an immediate successor in its announcement.

The sporting collapse unfolded across multiple fixtures. According to detikcom, Turkey suffered consecutive losses to France by 0-1 and Belgium by 0-3, alongside two heavy defeats to Italy with scores of 1-4 and 1-3. Bolasport.com added that the team earned the nickname L’Aeroplanino or The Little Airplane based on Montella’s trademark goal celebration from his playing days, a moniker that featured heavily in local media coverage as the team’s fortunes shifted.

Pressure Mounts Following Heavy Losses to Italy

Jakarta Review reported that the immediate catalyst for the coaching change was a 1-3 defeat against Italy in Bologna on October 6, 2026. That result marked Turkey’s fourth loss in the UEFA Nations League and left the squad at the bottom of Group A1 without a single point, creating a serious risk of relegation to League B.

Local media pressure intensified rapidly ahead of the dismissal. Jakarta Review detailed that Turkish newspaper Fanatik published an editorial suggesting Montella should accept a severance package and leave the post, while Hürriyet criticized the federation over the high financial cost of terminating the contract early. Fans at home matches also voiced their frustration, chanting istifa or demands for resignation directed at both Montella and TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoglu.

Contrasting Historic Success With Recent Decline

The dismissal highlighted a sharp contrast between Montella’s earlier achievements and his final months in charge. Bolasport.com and Jakarta Review both emphasized that Montella guided Turkey to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 and secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, ending a 24-year absence from the tournament and becoming the first foreign coach to achieve both milestones for the country.

Before his departure, Montella defended his record against the mounting criticism. Jakarta Review reported that the coach dismissed much of the negative commentary as illogical, pointing to his prior two years of work and the team’s promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League. He also noted that the squad faced significant challenges due to a player crisis, competing without key figures Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz while Arda Güler dealt with fitness issues.

Uncertainty Surrounding Coaching Succession

While the TFF omitted any mention of a replacement in its official communication, speculation regarding the vacancy quickly emerged. Detikcom reported that former Atlético Madrid star Arda Turan, currently managing Shakhtar Donetsk, has been widely rumored as a leading candidate to take over the Turkish national team position.