Montella sends message to supporters after Turkiye sack: ‘A special place in my heart’

LEIPZIG, GERMANY - JULY 02: Vincenzo Montella, Head Coach of Turkiye, celebrates after the team's victory in the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between Austria and Turkiye at Football Stadium Leipzig on July 02, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Vincenzo Montella has taken to social media to thank the supporters of the Turkiye national team following the confirmation of his dismissal three years into his tenure earlier this week: ‘You will always have a special place in my heart’. 

Montella bids farewell after Turkiye sacking: ‘Thank you’

Montella was sacked as head coach of the Turkiye national team earlier this week after four consecutive defeats at the start of the 2026-27 Nations League campaign during the September-October international break. 

Turkiye were without several of their key players, including Hakan Calhanoglu, Kenan Yildiz and Arda Guler for their matches against France, Italy (x2) and Belgium during the most recent international break. 

Montella had been in charge of the Turkiye national team since 2023 and had led the team through successful qualification campaigns for the 2024 European Championship and the 2026 World Cup. 

He says that these experiences will stay with him for the rest of his life and that he still has a ‘special’ bond with the players he worked with and the supporters who cheered them on. 

“Every story has an ending, but some journeys leave a mark that goes well beyond football,” Montella wrote in a post on Instagram on Sunday. 

“It was a great honour for me to be the coach of the Turkey national team,” he continued. 

“Three years ago, I was appointed to manage the national team of this beautiful country. As for that, I would like to sincerely thank Mr Mehmet Büyükekşi and his team, who believed in me and kept their trust and appreciation that they had at the beginning of the journey. 

“I want to sincerely thank the players for their dedication, effort and commitment. I have received countless, loving messages from them after my stint as CT came to an end, and that is proof once again of that strong bond we share. 

“I want to thank my coaching team and all my colleagues for their endless efforts, our President   Mr. ğlubrahim Ethem Haciosmano Eklu and  the Turkish Football Federation for the confidence they put in me. Most importantly, I want to sincerely thank the fans for their unique passion and the support they have shown us around the world.

“We’ve had unforgettable moments together, achieved historical accolades, overcame difficulties and wrote a special story in this country’s history. I will carry these memories and the affection of the Turkish people in my heart forever.

“Thank you Turkiye, you will always have a special place in my heart.”