Turkey Sack Vincenzo Montella After 4 Straight Nations League Defeats and 40 Games in Charge

Vincenzo Montella’s three-year spell as Turkey head coach is over. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced on Friday, October 9, that its executive board had decided not to continue with the Italian, following a World Cup group-stage exit and a disastrous start to the UEFA Nations League.

What the Federation Said

The TFF confirmed the decision in a statement but gave no reason for it and did not name a replacement. The move followed four consecutive defeats in the Nations League’s top tier, including a 3-1 loss to Italy in their most recent match, and came after Turkey went out in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Montella still had two years left on his contract.

Dismissal Snapshot

The Nations League Collapse

Turkey’s debut in League A placed them in a tough group alongside Belgium, France and Italy, and they lost all four games played: 1-0 to France, 4-1 and 3-1 to Italy, and 3-0 to Belgium. The side is now widely expected to face relegation. Montella lost six of his final seven matches in charge. The squad includes Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız, but results had been a near-constant disappointment in recent months.

A Reign With Real Highs

Montella’s record before the slump was strong. He led Turkey to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, their best result at the tournament since 2008, where they were knocked out by the Netherlands. He then became the first foreign manager to take Turkey to a World Cup, and the country’s first in 24 years, reaching it through the playoffs. Under him, Turkey climbed from 42nd to 22nd in the FIFA rankings, their highest position in ten years.

Who Replaces Him?

No official successor has been named, but media reports link Arda Turan, the former Turkey captain, with the job. The 39-year-old is currently manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, and previously began his coaching career at Eyüpspor in 2023.

Montella’s Wider Career

A former Roma striker nicknamed “L’Aeroplanino,” Montella began managing as Roma’s caretaker coach in 2011 and later coached Catania, Fiorentina, Sevilla and Adana Demirspor before taking the Turkey job. He was inducted into the AS Roma Hall of Fame in 2013.

Why It Matters

Montella leaves having delivered more than most of his predecessors in Turkish football, yet a World Cup group exit followed by four straight defeats left the federation unwilling to wait. His successor inherits a talented squad and the immediate task of avoiding Nations League relegation.

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