20.10.2026 09:10
The harsh comments Sergen Yalçın, announced as the new head coach of the Turkish National Football Team, made about national team players in the past have come to the fore again. Yalçın's remarks criticizing many names from Kenan Yıldız to Arda Güler and from Ferdi Kadıoğlu to Hakan Çalhanoğlu drew attention.
Sergen Yalçın, who is said to have been appointed as the head coach of the Turkish National Football Team, has seen renewed discussion of the statements he made about leading figures in Turkish football during his time as a commentator. The experienced coach's past criticisms of Kenan Yıldız, Arda Güler, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Semih Kılıçsoy and many national team players drew attention with his new role.
HE HAD SAID OF KENAN YILDIZ, 'HE HAS NO STAR QUALITY'
One of Yalçın's harshest assessments had been about Kenan Yıldız. The experienced coach, objecting to the young footballer being described as a star, had said, 'Kenan has no star quality whatsoever.' In another earlier assessment, Yalçın had argued that Kenan Yıldız was not at the same level as Arda Güler.
HE HAD ALSO CRITICIZED ARDA GÜLER
Arda Güler had also received his share of Sergen Yalçın's criticism. Evaluating his EURO 2024 performance, Yalçın had commented about the young star, 'It doesn't work just to score 1 goal in those matches.' In an assessment in which Yalçın compared himself with Arda Güler, it was reported that he used statements meaning 'Sergen at 18 is better than Arda at 18.'
CRITICISM OF FERDİ KADIOĞLU AND SEMİH KILIÇSOY AS WELL
Speaking also about Ferdi Kadıoğlu, who plays in the Premier League, Yalçın had stated that he did not find the national team player special enough for the English league and said, 'Ferdi is also an ordinary player for the Premier League.' Yalçın, who argued that Semih Kılıçsoy was overpromoted in football public opinion more than necessary, had used the statements, 'Semih was blown up too much, blown up too much. He is not a player to be blown up that much, for one thing.'
HIS WORDS ABOUT CENGİZ ÜNDER, OĞUZHAN AND EMRE MOR
Among the names Yalçın criticized in the past were Cengiz Ünder, Oğuzhan Özyakup and Emre Mor. It was reported that the experienced coach used the statements 'Cengiz Ünder will not be a star player' for Cengiz Ünder, 'Oğuzhan is not a star' for Oğuzhan Özyakup, and 'Emre is not a very good player' for Emre Mor.
HE HAD ALSO EVALUATED HAKAN ÇALHANOĞLU AND ORKUN KÖKÇÜ
The national team's midfielders also featured in Yalçın's assessments. The experienced coach, criticizing Hakan Çalhanoğlu's defensive side, had commented, 'Hakan's defending is not that good.' About Orkun Kökçü, he had used the words, 'I don't need you in the number 6 position. I need a player who can solve problems.'
BARIŞ ALPER AND YUNUS AKGÜN ARE ALSO ON THE LIST
While evaluating Barış Alper Yılmaz's performance, Sergen Yalçın had said, 'Barış Alper Yılmaz is far below normal.' He had also commented about Yunus Akgün, 'Yunus Akgün is very out of form.'
HIS REMARK TO NURİ ŞAHİN, 'I HAVE EPAULETTES'
Yalçın's words directed not only at footballers but also at coaches had also drawn attention.
In a statement directed at Nuri Şahin, the experienced coach had used the expressions, 'My brother Nuri, I have epaulettes; what do you have? What success do you have, where is any success of yours?' These past assessments by Sergen Yalçın were brought back to the agenda after reports that he had taken charge of the Turkish National Team.