TFF dismisses Vincenzo Montella after poor Nations League record

The Italian coach Vincenzo Montella is no longer head coach of the Turkish national football team, after Turkey lost four matches in the Nations League. The Turkish federation (TFF) confirmed the split on Friday in a brief statement on social media, after the daily newspaper Milliyet had already reported the decision on Wednesday.

Federation's Decision

The TFF's statement was issued on Friday and contained no further details. It followed a report by Milliyet, which on Wednesday announced that federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu and the executive board had decided on the separation.

In the current Nations League season, Turkey has recorded four defeats and zero points after four matches. The most recent game ended in a 1‑3 away loss to Italy.

At the summer World Cup, Turkey was already eliminated after the group stage, despite great hopes for a successful tournament. The disappointing start to the Nations League season continued this trend.

Montella was appointed in 2023 as the successor to Stefan Kuntz. He coached the Turkish national team from September 2021 to September 2023. Already at that time, Turkish media had reported a possible dismissal, which the federation initially denied, before Kuntz was eventually released.

The topic was also covered in the sportschau.de programme on 09.10.2026.