Turkiye’s press has had enough of Vincenzo Montella. After Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Italy in Bologna, the country’s newspapers are openly calling for the coach to go, with one outlet urging him to take a severance package and stay in Italy.
The result was Turkiye’s fourth Nations League loss from four matches. They were beaten 4-1 by Italy in Bursa eight days earlier, and also lost to France and Belgium, leaving them bottom of Group A1 without a point and facing relegation to League B.
The mood in the stands is no better. Chants of “İstifa” (“Resign”) rang out at the end of their most recent home game, and federation president İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu is also under fire.
What Went Wrong in Bologna
Monday’s match at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium followed a familiar pattern for Turkiye. Riccardo Calafiori scored his team’s second goal past Ugurcan Cakir, sealing a defeat that Turkiye could not avoid.
The defeat came after a week of poor results. Turkiye lost 4-1 to Italy in Bursa, then fell to France and Belgium. That run of defeats has pushed them to the bottom of Group A1, with no points to show for their efforts.
The situation is serious. Relegation to League B is on the table, and the pressure on Montella is growing by the day.
The Press Is Brutal
Turkish media have been vocal about Montella’s position. Fanatik led the charge with a blunt editorial: “I think it’s better for you to leave… Take a severance package and stay in Italy.”
Hürriyet was just as damning, insisting “his mission ended long ago” and criticising the federation over the cost of sacking him. Both outlets are making the same argument: Montella has failed to deliver, and the price of keeping him is too high.
The criticism is not just about the football. It is also about the financial burden of letting him go.
Fans Are Losing Faith
The support that once carried Montella through tough moments is now turning against him. Chants of “İstifa” (“Resign”) rang out at the end of their most recent home game, a sign that the crowd has given up on the current regime.
The federation president is also under fire. Hacıosmanoğlu has been criticised alongside Montella, caught up in the wider discontent with the direction of the national team.
Montella has hit back at some of the criticism, calling it “illogical.” He pointed to his two years in charge, which include promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.
Montella’s Record Is Real
Before this run of defeats, Montella’s record was impressive. He ended Turkiye’s 24-year wait for a World Cup, becoming the first foreigner to take them to both a European Championship and a World Cup.
But success breeds expectations, and expectations were not met in this Nations League campaign.
Missing Players Complicate Things
Montella has been without Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Kenan Yildiz this month, though, and Arda Güler has not always been fully fit. Those absences have weakened the squad, and the coach has had to cope with a reduced roster.
The injuries are a factor, but they do not excuse the results. A coach is judged on what happens on the pitch, and the pitch has shown a team unable to compete at the highest level.
The Road Ahead
Turkiye face a simple task: win their remaining Nations League matches or face relegation. The path is narrow, and the pressure will only increase with each passing defeat.
Montella’s future will likely come down to a decision from the federation. Will they cut ties and move on, or will they stick with the man who delivered the nation’s biggest trophy in decades?
Either way, the summer will be a defining period for Turkish football. The coach who once seemed untouchable is now the subject of open debate, and his fate hangs in the balance.
Key Dates So Far
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 10/05/2026 | Italy vs Turkiye | 3-1 |
| 10/07/2026 | Italy vs Turkiye (Bursa) | 4-1 |
Our View
The situation is uncomfortable for everyone involved. Montella’s record is real, but so is the present. A coach who once brought glory to his country is now facing demands he did not expect.
The press wants him gone, the fans want him gone, and the federation is caught between the cost of sacking him and the cost of keeping him. It is a classic problem in football, and it has no easy solution.
For now, the ball is in the federation’s court. Montella has answered his critics, but the answers have not silenced them.
Source material: “Turkiye press to Montella: ‘Take a severance package and stay in Italy’,” Yahoo Sports.
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