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Türkiye Part Ways with Montella: The October Decision and Key Moments of 2026A coaching change after World Cup qualification and the opening Nations League fixtures, with two November matches on the announced schedule.
On 10 October 2026, the Turkish Football Federation issued a statement confirming the end of Vincenzo Montella’s tenure after more than three years in charge of the senior national team. The decision followed the board meeting on 9 October; FIFA reported the departure in an article dated that same day. It came in a year that brought Türkiye back to the World Cup, followed by a difficult start in the UEFA Nations League. The change opens a new chapter, while the year’s earlier milestones remain part of the team’s record.
The Turkish flag in Alanya. Illustrative archive photograph from August 2024.
The 9 October Decision and the 10 October Follow-Up
The federation’s board decided on 9 October not to continue with Montella. The following day’s statement thanked him for his work and service to Turkish football and wished him success in the rest of his career. It also said federation president İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu would meet him in person when he arrived in Türkiye the following week to convey those thanks.
The chronology distinguishes the board’s decision and announcement, the subsequent statement of thanks, and a meeting planned for later. The statements confirm that the coach would not continue, but do not identify his successor or set out the next phase in detail. Any account of the new coaching staff should therefore begin with a later announcement specifying the appointment, responsibilities and timing.
Two Milestones in Spring 2026
One of the spring’s key results was the 1–0 victory over Kosovo in the playoff final on 31 March. The announcement of 1 April confirmed that the win returned Türkiye to the World Cup after a 24-year absence. That qualification was a major milestone in the same year Montella’s tenure ended. The dedicated World Cup article in this section covers the tournament campaign in more detail.
In the FIFA ranking release announced on 1 April, the national team reached 22nd place with 1,599 points. The federation described it as Türkiye’s best position in nine years, noting that the team had last occupied the same place in May 2017. Qualification and an improved world ranking therefore coincided at the start of spring, each representing a different measure of progress.
The Turkish national team before facing the Netherlands in Amsterdam in 1958. An archive photograph from the team’s history.
Autumn and the Nations League Results
Türkiye entered League A of the Nations League for the first time, in Group 1 alongside France, Italy and Belgium. Their opening four matches ended without a point. The last before the coaching change was a 3–1 defeat against Italy in Bologna on 5 October, another result in the ongoing competition.
This sequence of announced events and results establishes the context in which the decision was made. It does not establish the board’s motives: the official statements confirmed the decision not to continue and offered thanks, without detailing those reasons. Supporters can discuss performance while keeping tactical analysis separate from explanations of motives that were not publicly specified.
| Date in 2026 | Milestone | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 31 March | Playoff final | 1–0 win over Kosovo; World Cup qualification |
| 1 April | FIFA ranking | 22nd; 1,599 points |
| 5 October | Nations League | Italy 3–1 Türkiye |
| 8 October | FIFA ranking | 31st; 1,563 points |
| 9–10 October | Coaching change | Decision announced on 9 October; statement of thanks on 10 October |
The Rankings from April to October
The October FIFA ranking adds another perspective on the year. According to the report published on 8 October, Türkiye stood 31st with 1,563 points. Comparing the two releases gives a change of nine places and 36 points. It is a comparison between April and October, showing the movement in position and points across those two dates.
A world ranking measures something different from qualification or the table of a particular group. March’s playoff secured a World Cup place; the Nations League tally reflects the autumn group matches; and a FIFA release gives a world position at a specific date. Identifying those contexts helps readers interpret the news without merging different measures into a single judgement.
An exterior view of Beşiktaş’s stadium in Istanbul. Archive photograph from 2020.
What Awaits the Team in November?
Under the announced schedule, Türkiye host Belgium on 12 November at Gürsel Aksel Stadium in İzmir, with kickoff at 20:00 Türkiye time. The group then concludes against France on 15 November at Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux, at 22:45 Türkiye time. Both fixtures were still ahead when Montella’s departure was announced.
The intervening period allows supporters to follow announcements about the team’s management before those dates: appointing the coaching staff, preparing the squad and approaching the final two group games. Each step will have its own announcements and matches. New developments can be added to this account with their event dates, while the dedicated Nations League article continues to track results and standings.
What to Watch in the Next Phase
A useful way to assess the next phase is to watch complete matches: how the team organises possession, responds after losing the ball, creates chances and maintains concentration throughout the game. These are angles for analysis and discussion, rather than an announced plan for a new coaching staff. They provide a basis for comparing future performances beyond the identity of the coach.
Which aspect do you think the team most needs to improve before its group concludes in November? Linking an opinion to a particular passage of play or period of an earlier match can make the discussion more concrete. The player and national-team articles below offer further background.
Related topics 
Türkiye in the Nations League 2026–2027: Results, Group and Fixtures- Türkiye at the 2026 World Cup: A Return After 24 Years and a Group-stage Exit
- Türkiye’s National Football Team: History, Players and a Guide for Supporters
- Turkish Players in Europe 2026–2027: Clubs, Roles and Season Profiles
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Kenan Yıldız at Juventus 2026–2027: Number 10, Extension to 2030, Statistics and Return to Action -
Hakan Çalhanoğlu at Inter 2026–2027: Midfield Leadership, Long-range Goals and Season Statistics -
Türkiye Under-21: Play-off Qualification and the Road to EURO 2027 - Türkiye Under-17 and Under-19 Teams 2026–2027: Talent, Results and the European Path
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