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Türkiye: Stefan Kuntz dismissed as national soccer coach

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Official: Türkiye dismisses Stefan Kuntz as national coach

Stefan Kuntz no longer coaches the Turkish national football team

© Frederic Sierakowski/AP/DPA

The Turkish Football Association is making official what has been a rumor for days: Stefan Kuntz will no longer coach the national football team.

Stefan Kuntz is no longer the coach of the Turkish national football team. The national football association (TFF) announced this after a meeting on Wednesday. The end did not come as a surprise for the long-time German U21 national coach. Shortly after the 4-2 friendly defeat against Japan on Tuesday last week, the separation was announced in the Turkish media. The association initially denied this. 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 ex-national coach Joachim Löw is being considered as his successor.

“We would like to thank Mr Stefan Kuntz for his services to the Turkish national football team and wish him much success in his future life,” the association said in a statement. Despite a good record with the national team, the former Besiktas Istanbul striker is not going any further in Turkey. And initially probably not at the German Football Association, where Kuntz was considered the successor to the released national coach Hansi Flick. The DFB is said to have already reached an agreement with Julian Nagelsmann, although the official announcement is still pending.

Kuntz’s 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.

Out for Stefan Kuntz in Turkey

After the 4-2 defeat in the test against Japan in Genk, Belgium, the association finally lost patience, although the national team is in second place in European Championship qualifying group D with ten points after five games. This would entitle you to take part in the European Championships.

Triumphs, ridicule and flat caps: these were the national coaches from Nerz to Flick

The Neunkirchen native initially enjoyed the trust of the fans, also thanks to a flattering inaugural speech. “Being here is like returning home,” the former Besiktas Istanbul striker said when he was introduced. “I want to become the most German Turk or the most Turkish German.”

First job with the senior national team

The former CEO of 1. FC Kaiserslautern started his first job as coach of a senior national team with good recommendations. The German U21s became European champions twice under Kuntz, also thanks to the coach’s ability to form a real team out of many talents. In the sometimes emotionally charged environment of the Turkish national team, Kuntz may not have succeeded quite so well.