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Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella considered quitting football during the COVID-19 pandemic due to uncertainty. He also praised Hakan Calhanoglu as a vital presence for the team.
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Turkey coach Montella reveals he âthought about quittingâ football during COVID pandemic
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella has revealed he came close to quitting football during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also praising Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu as a rare and vital presence.
Montella admitted that the uncertainty of that period left him questioning his future in the game. âDuring COVID I wanted to stop,â he said, with quotes via La Gazzetta dello Sport.
âI was well with my family and didnât have offers that excited me. Going to Adana, a completely different world, reignited me.â
That decision ultimately reshaped his career, leading him to the Turkey national football team job and a historic World Cup qualification. âAn entire people is happy and for me that is the greatest reward,â he noted.
Turning to Calhanoglu, Montella highlighted the Inter playmakerâs importance to both club and country. âCalha is one of those deep-lying playmakers who are becoming rare,â he explained. âHe is a champion you miss when he is not there. With him next to you, you feel safer because in difficult moments you can give him the ball knowing you are handing it to a bank.â
Vincenzo Montella thought about quitting football during the COVID-19 pandemic because the uncertainty of that period made him question his future in the game.
Montella praised Hakan Calhanoglu as a rare and vital presence for the Turkey national team.
Many coaches, including Montella, faced uncertainty and personal doubts about their careers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella is seen prior to the friendly football match between Hungary and Turkey in Budapest, Hungary, on March 22, 2024. (Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP) (Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)
Montella refused to be drawn into transfer speculation surrounding the midfielder, adding: âI never get involved in personal choices. For me, it is enough that he is happy, wherever he decides to play.â
The former Roma forward also addressed the situation at his old club, declining to judge the reported tensions involving Claudio Ranieri and Gian Piero Gasperini. âIt is delicate to judge from the outside,â he said. âI have great respect for both and I donât know what led to this ending. Itâs a shame, because the fans believed in this project.â
Montella also spoke about Italyâs wider struggles, suggesting structural issues remain. âThe national team is not as poor as it is made out to be,â he argued. âBut perhaps we need to go back to basics, teaching young players technique rather than overwhelming them with tactics.â
For Montella, the journey from uncertainty to renewed purpose has been clear. âHere I have rediscovered the flame of passion,â he said, a stark contrast to the moment he once considered walking away from football altogether.