Manager who had bust-up with Mario Balotelli after calling him ‘brainless’ appointed as new Turkey boss

TURKEY have appointed Sergen Yalcin as their new boss following a horror start to their Nations League campaign.

Vincenzo Montella was after suffering defeats in all four showdowns during the international break.

But the moved quickly to convince Yalcin, 53, to take the top job.

The former midfielder had been out of management since quitting Besiktas at the end of last season.

And, following a crucial board meeting, Yalcin was earmarked as the preferred candidate to repair the mess left by .

A statement read: “The Turkish Football Federation board of directors decided today, in the meeting it held, to appoint Sergen Yalcin to the position of head coach of our national team.

“A four-year contract will be signed with the 53-year-old coach and his staff.

“Sergen Yalcin, opening a new chapter in his career, will now bring the experience he gained at the club level to our Crescent and Star-clad team and work henceforth for the success of our national football team.

“As the Turkish Football Federation, we wish Yalcin success in his new role and hope that this decision proves auspicious for our country and our national team.”

Turkey, who crashed to an during the summer, are already on course to finish bottom of their Nations League group.

Fixtures Results Tables

Thursday 12 November

Armenia

17:00

Group 2

Cyprus

Türkiye

17:00

Group 1

Belgium

Albania

19:45

Group 1

Finland

San Marino

19:45

Group 1

Belarus

Montenegro

19:45

Group 2

Latvia

Italy

19:45

Group 1

France

Czechia

19:45

Group 3

Spain

Tuesday 6 October

Switzerland

3 – 0

Group 1

N. Macedonia

Scotland

1 – 2

Group 1

Slovenia

Croatia

1 – 2

Group 3

Spain

Luxembourg

0 – 2

Group 4

Bulgaria

Estonia

0 – 0

Group 4

Iceland

Moldova

0 – 4

Group 3

Slovakia

League A – Group 1 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

10

5

3

1

0

2

4

7

3

2

1

1

3

4

6

1

2

0

2

4

4

0

-9

0

0

4

League A – Group 2 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

8

2

2

2

0

2

Greece

4

8

2

2

2

0

3

4

5

1

1

2

1

4

4

0

-5

0

0

4

League A – Group 3 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

12

7

4

0

0

2

4

9

11

3

0

1

3

4

3

-10

1

0

3

4

4

0

-8

0

0

4

League A – Group 4 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

12

5

4

0

0

2

4

6

0

2

0

2

3

4

3

-3

1

0

3

4

4

3

-2

1

0

3

League B – Group 1 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

12

10

4

0

0

2

Slovenia

4

7

2

2

1

1

3

4

4

-2

1

1

2

4

4

0

-10

0

0

4

League B – Group 2 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

8

4

2

2

0

2

4

7

1

2

1

1

3

4

4

-3

1

1

2

4

Georgia

4

2

-2

0

2

2

League B – Group 3 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

8

4

2

2

0

2

Kosovo

4

5

-1

1

2

1

3

4

5

2

1

2

1

4

Israel

4

2

-5

0

2

2

League B – Group 4 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

10

4

3

1

0

2

4

8

3

2

2

0

3

4

4

3

1

1

2

4

4

0

-10

0

0

4

League C – Group 1 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

9

5

3

0

1

2

Belarus

4

7

3

2

1

1

3

4

7

7

2

1

1

4

San Marino

4

0

-15

0

0

4

League C – Group 2 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

Montenegro

4

10

3

3

1

0

2

Cyprus

4

7

2

2

1

1

3

Armenia

4

4

-1

1

1

2

4

Latvia

4

1

-4

0

1

3

League C – Group 3 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

10

7

3

1

0

2

Faroe Islands

4

4

0

0

4

0

3

Moldova

4

4

-5

1

1

2

4

Kazakhstan

4

2

-2

0

2

2

League C – Group 4 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

8

6

2

2

0

2

Estonia

4

6

1

1

3

0

3

Bulgaria

4

4

-2

1

1

2

4

Luxembourg

4

3

-5

1

0

3

League D – Group 1 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

Malta

3

7

2

2

1

0

2

Gibraltar

2

2

0

0

2

0

3

Andorra

3

1

-2

0

1

2

League D – Group 2 Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

Azerbaijan

3

5

1

1

2

0

2

Lithuania

3

4

1

1

1

1

3

Liechtenstein

2

1

-2

0

1

1

They are six points adrift, with a goal difference of minus nine, and only have two clashes remaining.

Yalcin’s first encounter in charge will be against Belgium on November 12, ahead of taking on and his French team-mates three days later.

But the controversial chief previously had a huge bust-up with former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli.

The Italian famously when through on goal during a pre-season friendly with LA Galaxy.

And Yalcin, who was working as a pundit at the time, described Balotelli as “brainless”.

The Turkey squad he has inherited includes Brighton left-back Ferdi Kadioglu and .