Turkish Football Federation dismisses Vincenzo Montella after poor results

The Turkish Football Federation formally announced the termination of its relationship with Italian manager Vincenzo Montella on Friday. The decision was reached during an extraordinary meeting convened to address the recent deterioration in the national team’s results.

End of Montella’s tenure

This move concludes Montella’s approximately three-year stint as Turkey’s head coach, a role he assumed in September 2023. While his period included several positive outcomes, the team’s performance has noticeably declined recently, prompting the federation to part ways with the manager.

Pressure on the Italian coach intensified following four consecutive defeats in the UEFA Nations League. Turkey lost twice against France and Italy, in addition to a defeat versus Belgium, sparking widespread dissatisfaction regarding the squad’s form and outcomes.

World Cup qualification fallout

Reports indicated that the Turkish team failed to advance beyond the group stage for the 2026 World Cup. This development heightened criticism directed at the technical staff and increased doubts about Montella’s continued presence in the position.

Despite the difficult conclusion, Montella’s tenure featured significant milestones. He guided Turkey to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 and secured qualification for the World Cup for the first time since the 2002 edition.

The recent negative results ultimately drove the federation to cancel the contract. A new phase of searching for leadership capable of restoring the team to winning ways and regaining fan confidence now begins.