11.05.2026 22:20
Arda Turan, who led Shakhtar Donetsk to the championship, has made history in Turkish coaching. He became the first Turkish head coach to win a top-division league championship in European leagues since Murat Yakın. The 39-year-young manager also achieved a championship with Eyüpspor in the Trendyol 1. League during the 2023-2024 season.
Arda Turan, who led the Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk to the championship, achieved an unforgettable success in Turkish technical director history.
ARDA TURAN MADE HISTORY
Shakhtar Donetsk, which defeated Poltava 4-0 away in the 27th week of the Ukrainian Premier League, reached its 16th championship by increasing its points to 66 with 3 weeks left until the end of the league. Arda Turan, who officially took over Shakhtar Donetsk on July 1 last year, became the first Turkish technical director to win a top-tier league championship in European leagues after Murat Yakın. The young technical director had also achieved championship in the 2023-2024 season with Eyüpspor in the Trendyol 1st League.
ACHIEVED 30 VICTORIES
Arda Turan, who took office on July 1, 2025, experienced 30 wins, 11 draws, and 7 losses in 48 matches with the Ukrainian team. Arda Turan also became the fifth Turkish technical director to reach the semi-finals in European cups, competing in the UEFA Conference League with Shakhtar Donetsk. Other technical directors who led a Turkish team to the semi-finals in UEFA club tournaments were recorded as Adnan Süvari, Mustafa Denizli, Fatih Terim, and Aykut Kocaman. Additionally, the 39-year-old coach made history as the first Turkish technical director to advance to the semi-finals in European cups with a foreign club.
The names that represented Turkish technical directing abroad by working in different European leagues are as follows:
MURAT YAKIN MADE SWISS FOOTBALL HISTORY
Turkish-origin Swiss citizen coach Murat Yakın coached Basel, Grasshoppers, Sion in Switzerland, and Spartak Moscow in Russia at the club level. Taking over Basel during an unstable period in 2012, Murat Yakın lifted the league cup twice in a row by winning the Swiss Super League in 2013 and 2014.
Murat Yakın, who led Basel to the semi-finals in the UEFA Europa League 2012-2013 season, was eliminated by Chelsea, who won the cup that season. The 51-year-old technical director, currently coaching the Swiss National Team, took Switzerland to the quarter-finals in the 2024 European Football Championship.
FATİH TERİM'S ITALY AND GREECE ADVENTURE
Fatih Terim's European career was shaped by significant experiences in Italy and Greece. Starting his career in Italy with Fiorentina on July 1, 2000, Fatih Terim played 28 matches with the team. During this period, Terim achieved 10 wins, 11 draws, and 7 losses at the helm of the Florence team. Continuing his path with Milan in July 2001, the experienced technical director left his post in November after 8 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses in 13 matches. Signing a contract with the Greek team Panathinaikos in December 2023, Terim played 26 matches with the team. The Turkish coach experienced 14 wins, 6 draws, and 6 losses with the Greek team.
EROL BULUT'S ISLAND PAST
Erol Bulut coached clubs like Fenerbahçe, Yeni Malatyaspor, Alanyaspor, Gaziantep FK, and Antalyaspor in the Super League. Taking over Cardiff City, one of the English Championship teams, in July 2023, Erol Bulut served in 58 matches in total for the Welsh representative. Experiencing 22 wins, 6 draws, and 30 losses during this process, Bulut left his post in 2024 after his team's inconsistent performance caused them to drop to the bottom of the league. Starting his second season with the team poorly, the 51-year-old technical director collected only 1 point in the first 6 matches with 5 losses and 1 draw.
NURİ ŞAHİN FELL SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS
Nuri Şahin, who played for world giants like Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, and Liverpool in his career, worked as a technical director for Antalyaspor and RAMS Başakşehir. Starting in January 2024 at Borussia Dortmund first as an assistant to Edin Terzic, Nuri Şahin took over the team in July 2024 with a 3-year contract.
Despite good home performance, Nuri Şahin, who had to leave his post due to consecutive away losses, could not show the expected success. The 37-year-old coach, who played 27 matches at the helm of Borussia Dortmund, experienced 12 wins, 4 draws, and 11 losses.
MEHMET TOPAL'S 3 PERIODS IN ROMANIA
Mehmet Topal, who wore the jerseys of Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, and Başakşehir in his football career, worked in 3 different periods with Romania's Petrolul team, where he started his technical directorship.
Starting his first period in July 2024, Mehmet Topal achieved 8 wins, 11 draws, and 4 losses in 23 official matches with the team, leaving his post in December. Starting his second period at the club in March 2025, the 40-year-old coach experienced 3 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses in 8 matches. Starting his third and current period on March 28, the young coach achieved 2 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss in 6 matches.
MUSTAFA DENİZLİ'S SHORT EUROPEAN ADVENTURE
Mustafa Denizli became the only technical director in Turkish football history to win the Super League championship with Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş, known as the "Big Three." Starting his career in 1989 with Alemannia Aachen, a German 2nd League team, Denizli played a total of 17 official matches at the helm of the German team. Denizli left his post in March 1990 after 7 wins, 2 draws, and 8 losses. Outside Turkey, Denizli coached Pas Tehran, Persepolis, Tractor in Iran, and Hazar Lenkeran in Azerbaijan.
TAYFUN KORKUT AND FUAT ÇAPA
Tayfun Korkut, who coached only German Bundesliga teams among European leagues, managed Hannover 96, Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart, and Hertha Berlin, respectively. Korkut has not been involved with any team since 2022.
Fuat Çapa, currently serving as Samsunspor Football Director, worked as a technical director in Belgium for Turnhout, Patro Eisden, Heusden-Zolder, KMSK Deinze, and Geel, and in Holland for MVV Maastricht.