Having assured their Euro 2024 spot after smashing Latvia 4-0, the Turkish Crescent-Stars secured the chance to take part in a significant worldwide event with an Italian coach, a feat not completed in 70 years.
The Italian tactician Vincenzo Montella is steering the Turkish nationwide workforce by way of this transformation.
He assumed the mantle of Türkiye’s coach throughout the nail-biting qualifiers, filling the void that Stefan Kuntz left.
Montella’s meteoric rise has mirrored the legendary Italian coach Sandro Puppo’s triumph seven a long time in the past when he first guided the Crescent-Stars.
Despite Montella’s seemingly odd monitor file on the grand stage, his current maneuvers have endeared him to the Turkish devoted.
His recent techniques breathed new life into the Crescent-Stars, securing their spot in Germany with essential victories over Croatia and Latvia, all inside a remarkably brief interval.
It is price noting that Türkiye’s preliminary foray into main worldwide soccer occurred throughout the 1954 FIFA World Cup below the steerage of Italian coach Sandro Puppo. Puppo, who took the reins in 1952, notably ousted Spain from the 1954 World Cup with a bit assist from a draw engineered by a 10-year-old Franco Gemma.
This momentous achievement marked the Crescent-Stars’ maiden journey to the World Cup.
Sandro Puppo’s legacy prolonged over 4 distinct durations, guiding the Crescent-Stars in 1952-1954, 1960-1962, 1964-1965 and 1965-1966.
In a protracted and storied historical past of Türkiye’s participation in eight main worldwide occasions (twice within the World Cup and 6 instances within the European Championship), solely Italian coaches Sandro Puppo and Vincenzo Montella have managed to steer Türkiye to those prestigious tournaments, setting them aside from their Turkish counterparts.
Following the 1954 World Cup, Italy as soon as once more performed a pivotal position in Türkiye’s journey to main worldwide tournaments, now below the dynamic management of Vincenzo Montella.
Other notable coaches who’ve contributed to Türkiye’s soccer historical past embody the legendary Fatih Terim for Euro 1996, Euro 2008 and Euro 2016; Mustafa Denizli for Euro 2000; and Şenol Güneş for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2020.
Each of those mentors has performed an indispensable position in propelling Türkiye into the limelight of main worldwide competitions.
At simply 49 years of age, Vincenzo Montella has scribed his identify into the chronicles of Turkish soccer historical past with solely two matches below his belt.
He stands because the fifth completely different coach to steer Türkiye to a significant worldwide event, a unprecedented feat.
More Italian connection
As destiny would have it, Türkiye’s qualification for Euro 2024 below the steerage of an Italian coach aligns seamlessly with the current approval of their joint internet hosting bid for Euro 2032 with Italy.
While some could view this confluence as mere coincidence, the Crescent-Stars view it as a chance to grab the highlight on the European stage.
Euro 2032 will unfold on Turkish and Italian soil, marking the sixth time the Euros have been hosted throughout a number of nations.
Previously, the event has graced Belgium and the Netherlands (2000), Austria and Switzerland (2008), Poland and Ukraine (2012) and most lately, Euro 2020, which unfolded throughout 11 completely different nations in the summertime of 2021.
This version will see Italy host Euro matches for the fourth time, with Rome’s Stadio Olimpico serving as a outstanding venue.
However, this marks Türkiye’s inaugural endeavor in internet hosting the competitors.
The bidding nations have proposed 20 stadiums, with 10 to be chosen to host matches, 5 per nation, by October 2026.
Türkiye’s venues embody Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium, set for renovation, the brand new Ankara Stadium in Ankara and varied different places akin to Istanbul, Bursa, Trabzon, Konya, Gaziantep, Eskişehir and Antalya.
Italy’s lineup of venues contains Milan’s Stadio San Siro – Giuseppe Meazza, Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, and a number of other others, together with Bari, Naples, Florence, Turin, Genoa, Verona, Bologna and Cagliari, a few of that are scheduled for renovation or are completely new stadiums.
Both nations have ample expertise in internet hosting main matches and occasions.
Rome’s Stadio Olimpico hosted 4 event matches throughout Euro 2020, whereas Milan’s San Siro and Turin’s Juventus Stadium shared internet hosting duties on the 2021 UEFA Nations League finals.
Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium lately hosted its second UEFA Champions League ultimate in 2023, and the town’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium was the venue for the last-ever UEFA Cup ultimate in 2009.
In a story of Italian allure, Vincenzo Montella’s steerage and the upcoming internet hosting of Euro 2032 paint a vibrant and promising image for Turkish soccer.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
