Türkiye Agree Montella Exit as Arda Turan Emerges as Leading Candidate
Türkiye are preparing to end Vincenzo Montella’s three-year spell in charge after agreeing terms for his departure, with Shakhtar Donetsk boss Arda Turan identified as the leading candidate to replace him.
The Turkish Football Federation is expected to pay Montella €915,000, equal to five months of salary, to settle the remainder of a deal he extended only in June 2025. That contract had been due to run through Euro 2028.
Monday’s 3-1 defeat away to Italy in Bologna appears to have accelerated the decision. It was Türkiye’s fourth straight Nations League loss, following another heavy reverse against Italy, 4-1 in Bursa, plus defeats to France and Belgium.
World Cup struggles added to pressure
The Nations League run followed a difficult World Cup campaign in which Türkiye finished last in a group containing the United States, Australia and Paraguay. Their only win came against the host nation, the USA.
Montella leaves with 21 wins, five draws and 14 defeats from 40 matches at the helm.
Euro 2024 and World Cup qualification remain key achievements
His tenure nevertheless included major landmarks. Montella took Türkiye to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, producing a tournament run that lifted expectations around the national side.
He also guided the country back to the World Cup for just the third time in its history, ending a 24-year wait for qualification. The finals campaign did not meet those expectations, but the qualification achievement remains a significant part of his record.
Turan is now in line to take over as Türkiye seek a swift reset after their recent decline.
