TFF president bids farewell to Montella after Turkey exit

The head of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu, has said goodbye to Vincenzo Montella, whose time as Turkey head coach is over. According to Sporx, the two met on 14 October 2026 at the national teams' training base in Riva, near Istanbul. Hacıosmanoğlu thanked the Italian for his work with the national team and his contribution to Turkish football, and wished him well in the next stage of his career.

Vice-presidents Fuat Göktaş and İbrahim Özbay joined Hacıosmanoğlu at the meeting. Board members Metin Akyüz, Tahir Ediz Kıray, Hasan Surözü, Cengiz Gökay and Fazlı Çilingir also attended. Montella received a farewell plaque with a photograph taken after Turkey's match in Kosovo, showing the Turkish flag. Sporx reported that Hacıosmanoğlu also thanked the coach for the successes the team achieved under him.

Why did Montella leave Turkey?

Turkish media reported that the TFF board decided not to continue with Montella at a meeting on 9 October 2026. The reports on the farewell meeting do not give a reason. The decision did come straight after a poor Nations League start, though. ScoreLab data shows Turkey lost all of their first 4 games in League A, Group 1, scoring 2 goals and conceding 11. They have no points and sit bottom of the group.

What happened under Montella?

According to media reports, Montella led Turkey to the quarter-finals of the European Championship. ScoreLab data shows that Turkey reached the 2026 World Cup through the play-offs, beating Romania 1-0 and then Kosovo 1-0 away. The photograph on Montella's plaque was taken after the Kosovo game. At the World Cup, Turkey lost 2-0 to Australia and 1-0 to Paraguay, then beat the USA 3-2. ScoreLab data shows the USA game was Turkey's last match of the tournament.

1. 26 March 2026 — World Cup play-off: Turkey 1-0 Romania.
2. 31 March 2026 — Kosovo 0-1 Turkey; Turkey qualified for the World Cup.
3. 14-26 June 2026 — World Cup group games: Australia 2-0 Turkey, Turkey 0-1 Paraguay, Turkey 3-2 USA.
4. 25 September - 5 October 2026 — Four defeats in four Nations League games.
5. 9 October 2026 — The TFF board was reported to have decided to part ways with Montella.
6. 14 October 2026 — Hacıosmanoğlu said goodbye to Montella and gave him a plaque.

What is next for the Turkey national team?

The reports on the farewell do not say who will replace Montella, and the TFF has not made an announcement on the matter. The new coach will take charge for Turkey's last two Nations League games. ScoreLab's fixture list shows Turkey host Belgium on 12 November 2026 and then visit France on 15 November 2026. Turkey are bottom of the group and will be looking for their first points in those games.