19.10.2026 20:30
The harsh statements that Sergen Yalçın, the new head coach of the Turkish National Football Team, made in the past about Vincenzo Montella, from whom he took over the position, have resurfaced. Yalçın's remarks about the Italian coach, "He is not my rival. No one compares me to him. We are not in the same class," and "If I were in charge, I would make this team fly," also drew attention.
Sergen Yalçın, who took charge of the Turkish National Football Team, has once again brought to the agenda the statements he made in past broadcasts about his predecessor Vincenzo Montella. Yalçın's remarks, in which he harshly criticized the Italian coach's career and achievements and said he did not see himself on the same level as Montella, drew attention.
"WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME CLASS"
Sergen Yalçın had reacted harshly when he was compared to Vincenzo Montella in a broadcast he appeared on. Arguing that Montella had not achieved any significant success in his career, the experienced coach used the following words:
"Montella is not my rival. Nobody compares me to him. We are not in the same class. Because he is a coach with no achievements."
"WITH WHAT ACHIEVEMENT DID MONTELLA GET THE NATIONAL TEAM JOB?"
Yalçın also criticized Montella's appointment as head of the Turkish National Team in a statement he made on Kafa Sports about two years ago. Arguing that there should be certain achievement criteria for the national team coaching position, Yalçın said the following:
"For the national team, there must be an achievement criterion to be a big-team coach. There is no such thing anymore. With what achievement did Montella become the national team coach? What achievement does he have, for example?"
"IF I WERE IN HIS PLACE, I WOULD MAKE THIS TEAM FLY"
Sergen Yalçın's criticism of Montella also extended to the national team's performance on the field. In his assessment after the defeat against Paraguay at the World Cup, Yalçın argued that the Turkish National Team had a strong squad and made a bold claim:
"If I were in Montella's place, if Coach Fatih were there, we would make this team fly."
"DON'T WASTE THIS GENERATION WITH MONTELLA"
Yalçın also criticized the Italian coach's player selections. Claiming that Orkun Kökçü returned from the national team in low spirits, the experienced coach argued that the current group of players should be utilized better.
"I don't think Montella will play Orkun very much. When Orkun returned from the national team, he was coming to the team quite demoralized. There are some problems there, let me say. This generation is a very good generation. Don't waste these kids with Montella or anyone like that; it's a shame."
"THE NATIONAL TEAM IS THE HIGHEST POSITION IN TURKEY"
Yalçın also touched on the importance of the national team coaching position, saying that those appointed to the role should have achieved significant success in the past.
"The national team is a very important job. It is the highest position in Turkey, right? To become the national team coach, you absolutely have to have accomplished something somewhere. You need to have a league championship. Or you need to have very important achievements, you need to have something. These people who have come in don't have such an achievement. None, no achievement at all."
These statements that Sergen Yalçın made about Montella in the past were brought back to the agenda after he took charge of the Turkish National Team following the Italian coach.