Sergen Yalçın takes Turkey job on a four-year deal

Sergen Yalçın, the 53-year-old coach who last managed Beşiktaş, said on 20 October 2026 that he has accepted the Turkey head coach job. Speaking on the Kafa Sports YouTube channel, he said Turkish Football Federation (TFF) president İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu called him, the two sides settled on four years, and his salary has not even been discussed yet.

According to a TFF statement reported by Turkish media the same day, the federation's board appointed Yalçın as head coach of the national team, and Habertürk reported that he will sign a four-year contract. He replaces Italian coach Vincenzo Montella, whose spell in charge was ended by the federation. The financial terms have not been made public.

What did Sergen Yalçın say?

Yalçın said the national team ranks above any club job and that talks moved quickly over the previous few days. He added that turning down the offer was never really an option and that money comes second in a role like this.

Yalçın acknowledged that four years might sound long, but said the contract was built around the European Championship and the World Cup cycle, describing his arrival as part of a longer-term project.

The new coach promised not to favour any club in his selections, saying only players who earn it will get a chance. He called Kenan Yıldız one of the national team's most important players and said Yıldız and Arda Güler are still young and will improve further with experience.

How did Turkey fare in Montella's final games?

Yalçın takes over a struggling side. According to ScoreLab data, Turkey lost all four of their UEFA Nations League games this season without picking up a point. At the 2026 World Cup in the summer, Turkey lost 2-0 to Australia and 1-0 to Paraguay before beating the USA 3-2.

When is Sergen Yalçın's first game in charge of Turkey?

Sergen Yalçın's first game as Turkey coach is against Belgium on Thursday 12 November 2026 at the Gürsel Aksel Stadium in İzmir. Turkey then travel to France for a Nations League game on Sunday 15 November 2026. Yalçın said he knows all of his players and that the squad will go through an intensive, condensed build-up before the Belgium game.

1. 5 October 2026 — Turkey lose 3-1 to Italy, their fourth Nations League defeat
2. 20 October 2026 — Sergen Yalçın tells Kafa Sports he has accepted the job on a four-year deal
3. 20 October 2026 — The TFF board announces Yalçın's appointment as head coach
4. 12 November 2026 — Turkey vs Belgium, Gürsel Aksel Stadium, İzmir
5. 15 November 2026 — France vs Turkey, Nations League

Who is Sergen Yalçın?

Born on 5 November 1972, Sergen Yalçın moved into coaching after his playing career and most recently managed Beşiktaş. He led Beşiktaş to the Süper Lig title and the Turkish Cup in the 2020-2021 season. Turkey will be his first national team job as a head coach.