Vincenzo Montella Sacked by Türkiye After Three Years in Charge

Vincenzo Montella’s time as head coach of the Türkiye national team has come to an end.

The Turkish Football Federation decided on Friday not to continue with the Italian manager, bringing an abrupt finish to a tenure that included some of the country’s most significant international achievements in recent years.

Montella was appointed in September 2023, replacing Stefan Kuntz. He arrived with previous experience of Turkish football from his time at Adana Demirspor and inherited a squad containing a mixture of established internationals and emerging young talent.

His tenure began with considerable promise but ultimately ended after a sharp decline in results.

A Promising Start

Montella quickly established himself within the national team setup and guided Türkiye through Euro 2024 qualifying.

The European Championship in Germany became his first major tournament with the team, and Türkiye made a strong impression.

They reached the quarter-finals after defeating Austria 2-1 in the round of 16. Their campaign eventually ended against the Netherlands, who came from behind to win 2-1.

Although Türkiye missed out on a place in the semi-finals, reaching the last eight represented an important step forward. The tournament also provided a platform for several younger players, including Arda Güler, to gain greater international recognition.

For Montella, the performance at Euro 2024 strengthened the belief that Türkiye had the talent and organisation to compete with some of Europe’s leading national teams.

The quarter-final appearance also raised expectations around the national team. Supporters had seen a side capable of producing disciplined performances while giving younger players opportunities to establish themselves at international level.

The World Cup Milestone

Montella’s next major achievement was helping Türkiye reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Qualification ended a 24-year absence from the competition. Türkiye had last appeared at the World Cup in 2002, when they finished third.

The achievement was particularly significant because it gave the country an opportunity to return to football’s biggest international stage after more than two decades.

It also added to Montella’s place in Türkiye’s football history. He became the first coach to lead the national team to the European Championship and World Cup in successive tournaments.

Expectations were therefore high when Türkiye finally arrived at the 2026 World Cup. After the progress made at Euro 2024 and during qualifying, there was optimism that the team could make another strong impression.

A Short World Cup Campaign

The World Cup, however, did not produce the run Türkiye had hoped for.

They opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Australia before suffering another setback in a 1-0 loss to Paraguay.

Those results left Türkiye in a difficult position and ended their hopes of progressing from the group stage.

A 3-2 victory over the United States in their final group match provided a positive finish, but Türkiye had already been eliminated.

The early exit was disappointing for a country that had waited 24 years to return to the World Cup and placed further pressure on Montella.

The Italian remained in charge, but the team’s next results would determine whether he could recover from the setback.

Four Defeats End the Run

The situation deteriorated further when Türkiye began their UEFA Nations League campaign.

They lost 1-0 to France before suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat against Italy.

A 3-0 loss to Belgium followed, leaving Türkiye without a victory from their opening three matches.

The fourth game brought another meeting with Italy, this time in Bologna.

Türkiye lost 3-1.

The four consecutive defeats left the team with two goals scored and 11 conceded. More importantly, the results represented a significant change from the performances that had helped Montella establish himself during the earlier part of his tenure.

The defeat in Bologna proved to be his final match in charge.

The Turkish Football Federation subsequently confirmed that it would not continue with Montella, without immediately announcing his successor.

The decision brought an end to a period that had produced both notable progress and significant disappointment. The contrast between Türkiye’s earlier performances and the results at the end of Montella’s tenure ultimately became too difficult for the federation to overlook.

Montella’s Record

Montella leaves after 40 matches in charge of Türkiye, having recorded 21 wins, five draws and 14 defeats.

The overall record reflects the progress made during much of his tenure, particularly at Euro 2024 and during the campaign that took Türkiye back to the World Cup.

However, the timing of the defeats proved decisive.

Six of Montella’s 14 losses came during his final seven matches, creating a sharp contrast with the confidence that surrounded the national team during the earlier stages of his reign.

The run of poor results ultimately forced the federation to make a change.

Despite the disappointing ending, Montella leaves with a record that includes more victories than defeats and several achievements that will remain important in the history of the national team.

A Contract Cut Short

Montella’s dismissal also brings an earlier-than-expected end to his contract.

His deal had been extended in 2025 and was expected to keep him in the position through Euro 2028.

That extension reflected the confidence the federation had placed in his work after Türkiye’s progress under his leadership.

His departure before the agreement expired demonstrates how quickly the situation changed following the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign and subsequent Nations League results.

The decision also leaves the federation with the task of selecting a coach capable of restoring stability while maintaining the progress made in recent years.

The Search for a Successor

Türkiye must now begin the search for a new coach capable of restoring confidence while continuing the development of a talented squad.

Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız are among the younger players expected to play important roles in the national team’s future, while Hakan Çalhanoğlu remains one of the squad’s most experienced and influential figures.

Former Türkiye international Arda Turan has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the position, although the federation had yet to announce a successor following Montella’s departure.

The next coach will inherit a team with considerable potential but will also face the challenge of rebuilding momentum after a difficult period.

There will also be pressure to make the most of a generation that has already gained valuable experience at major international tournaments. The new manager will have to find the right balance between developing younger players and relying on the experienced figures already established within the squad.

A Significant but Unfinished Tenure

Montella leaves Türkiye with genuine achievements to his name.

He guided the national team to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, helped end the country’s 24-year wait for another World Cup appearance and became the first coach to take Türkiye to both tournaments in successive editions.

His tenure, however, will also be remembered for the dramatic loss of momentum towards the end.

The World Cup campaign ended in the group stage, and four consecutive Nations League defeats followed soon afterwards.

Those results ultimately convinced the federation that a change was necessary.

For Türkiye, attention now turns to finding a new coach and deciding how best to build on the talent within the squad.

For Montella, a three-year chapter that began with optimism and delivered several important milestones has ended with the Italian looking for his next challenge.

His time in charge leaves behind a foundation that includes major tournament experience, World Cup qualification and a new generation of talented players.

The next manager will now be responsible for turning that foundation into sustained progress and ensuring that Türkiye can once again compete consistently at the highest level.

Montella’s departure marks the end of an important period for Turkish football, but the talent within the national team means the story is far from over.