Montella facing Turkey exit as Arda Turan emerges as leading candidate

Vincenzo Montella's future as Turkey head coach is hanging by a thread following the national team's disastrous start to the UEFA Nations League. The Italian manager has come under intense pressure after overseeing four consecutive defeats, leaving Turkey rooted to the bottom of the group without a single point. The latest setback, a 3-1 loss against Italy, further fueled criticism despite Montella's public confidence in both his methods and his squad.

The former Fiorentina coach, appointed in September 2023, previously guided Turkey to qualification for the 2026 World Cup and helped the side reach a historic Euro 2024 quarter-final. However, recent results have overshadowed those achievements.

According to reports from Turkey, the federation is evaluating potential replacements, with Arda Turan leading the shortlist. The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid midfielder has impressed as a coach, earning promotion with Eyupspor before winning the Ukrainian league title and reaching the Conference League semi-finals with Shakhtar Donetsk.