football
Stefan Kuntz after leaving Turkey: “Unfulfilled dream”
Stefan Kuntz was on leave as coach of the Turkish national football team. photo
© Uncredited/AP/dpa
The end of Stefan Kuntz as Turkey’s national football coach did not come as a complete surprise. The 60-year-old now thanked the team and companions.
“One of my biggest dreams was to be on the sidelines as coach of the Turkish national team during the home European Championships in Germany – unfortunately that now remains just an unfulfilled dream,” Kuntz wrote on his website on Thursday. He wishes the Turkish selection and “especially the Turkish people that our successful work will continue and the team will qualify for the upcoming European Championships in Germany.”
On Wednesday, the national football association (TFF) announced after a meeting that it was parting ways with the long-time German U21 national coach after the 4-2 friendly defeat on Tuesday. The 60-year-old Kuntz signed a three-year contract as Turkish national coach in September 2021. The Turkish news agency Demirören recently reported that former national coach Joachim Löw would be considered a successor.
22 players made their debut in two years
“I am proud that the goals I set out when I took office (2021): reaching the qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar and promotion from Group C of the Nations League to Group B were achieved,” Kuntz wrote and further explained: “We are currently in second place in qualifying group D with 10 points, tied with leaders Croatia, and therefore have an excellent chance of reaching the final round of the 2024 European Championship in Germany.” He and his coaching team are also proud that young Turkish talents have been discovered and supported. During the two years in office, 22 players made their selection debut.
His sporting record as coach of the Turkish team was positive: after replacing Senol Günes in the World Cup qualification, Kuntz led Turkey into the playoffs, but missed the Qatar ticket in the duel with Portugal. The coach celebrated twelve wins in 20 games, but in the last home game in the European Championship qualifier against Armenia it was only enough to draw 1-1. After the bankruptcy in Japan, the association finally lost patience, although second place in European Championship qualifying group D would entitle them to take part in the European Championship.