Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu has thrown his full backing behind the Crescent-Stars head coach Vincenzo Montella, revealing that the Italian tactician not solely enjoys deep-rooted respect within the squad, however sees himself as a part of the nation’s cultural cloth – a lot in order that even his daughter now wears the nationwide jersey.
Speaking throughout the nationwide group’s U.S. coaching camp in North Carolina, Hacıosmanoğlu painted a vivid image of a tight-knit, college-like spirit that Montella has nurtured contained in the Turkish setup.
“He’s not just a coach, he’s one of us,” Hacıosmanoğlu stated. “The players love him, we love him. It’s not a boss-employee dynamic; it’s a friendship. We walk together.”
The bond, it appears, goes past the dressing room. Montella lately confirmed a video of his daughter, surrounded by American buddies, cheering for Türkiye in nationwide colours throughout their pleasant towards the U.S., even flashing the enduring Bozkurt gesture.
“If a foreign coach’s child is feeling that connection from afar,” Hacıosmanoğlu stated, “then he’s passed that love for Türkiye to his family. He truly feels Turkish.”
Hacıosmanoğlu made it clear that Montella has no plans to go away. “He’ll serve for many years,” he stated. “That’s his only goal.”
Golden era
The TFF boss believes Türkiye has the expertise, coronary heart, and now the concord to qualify immediately for the following FIFA World Cup.
He cited the Euro 2024 journey, particularly the dominant win over Austria, as proof of their potential. “After we beat Austria, I thought we were on our way to the final,” he stated. “The loss to the Netherlands hurt – my 9-year-old daughter saw my reaction and told me, ‘Don’t be angry, Baba, become the football boss and win the World Cup.’ That pure faith pushed me to run for TFF president just 12 days before the election.”
He pressured that this present crop of gamers ought to type the nationwide spine for a minimum of a decade.
“This generation will stick together for over 10 years,” he stated, singling out captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu. “Hakan is the brain of the team – a character shaped by pain and perseverance. He lost two Champions League finals, but we told him: ‘You’re destined to lift the World Cup instead.’”
A brand new type of ‘lejyoner’ delight
According to Hacıosmanoğlu, this can be a new period of Turkish expertise. “We used to talk about other teams filled with ‘lejyoner’ players,” he stated. “Now, we’re that team. Wherever we go, local fans fight to take photos with Kenan Yıldız. That’s pride. We need more of that.”
On Gaza, Guardiola, and conscience
Shifting from soccer to humanity, Hacıosmanoğlu praised high-profile coaches like Pep Guardiola and Roberto Mancini for condemning violence in Gaza and urged others to observe go well with.
“This isn’t about religion,” he stated. “If you can’t feel for slaughtered children, you’re not human. Today it’s our children, tomorrow it could be yours.”
He expressed disappointment in rich Muslim nations’ tepid responses to the disaster, urging solidarity and ethical braveness. “If they united, this suffering would end,” he stated. “May God awaken their conscience.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com