Francesco Calzona has described the prospect of managing the Türkiye national team as 'a great honour'. The Turkish Football Federation is evaluating both the Italian coach and Arda Turan as potential successors to Vincenzo Montella.
Calzona, who has been without a club since April 2026, expressed his readiness for a new challenge. "My manager warned me to be prepared for an upcoming new task," he said. "Of course, if this is the Turkish National Team, it would be a great honour for me."
The 57-year-old Italian led Slovakia to the Round of 16 at Euro 2024, where they lost 2-1 to England in extra time. Over 40 matches with Slovakia, he recorded 19 wins, 8 draws and 13 losses, averaging 1.63 points per game. This spell remains his most successful period in national team management. He took charge of Napoli in February 2024 but managed an average of just 1.13 points per game there.
The federation's other candidate is 39-year-old Arda Turan. The young manager, currently in charge of Shakhtar Donetsk, acknowledged the speculation but indicated a preference to gain more experience abroad. "It's exciting to see people unite over my name after a long time. I am infinitely thankful for this appreciation," Turan stated. "But perhaps as a young manager, I can stay on the pitch more, develop myself further at a young age, and continue better in places where my country's flag is not present."
Turan led İstanbulspor to the 2023/24 1. Lig championship and promotion to the Süper Lig. He signed with Shakhtar Donetsk in May 2025 and his contract runs until 30 June 2027. This deal with the Ukrainian side complicates any potential return to Türkiye from a technical standpoint.
Türkiye's search for a new boss comes amid a difficult run of form, having lost their last four matches. They suffered consecutive defeats to France, Italy, Belgium, and Italy again, most recently falling 3-1 to the Italians on 5 October. During this four-match losing streak, the team conceded a total of 9 goals while scoring only 2. The team's next fixture is at home to Belgium on 12 November, a key match in their upcoming fixtures.
The federation is prepared to consider foreign candidates if the Arda Turan option does not materialise. A decision is expected before the Belgium match on 12 November. TFF officials emphasize that the new manager must lift the team's morale and restore lost tactical discipline.
This story first appeared at Transfermarkt
