Key Takeaways
- Vincenzo Montella considered quitting football during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a lack of exciting job offers.
- A move to Turkish club Adana Demirspor restored his motivation and led to his current role with the Turkey national team.
- The coach has praised Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu as a rare and vital deep-lying playmaker.
Vincenzo Montella has admitted he came close to leaving football during the global health crisis. The Turkey national team manager explained that the uncertainty of the pandemic left him questioning his future in the sport.
“I wanted to stop during COVID,” Montella stated. He noted that he enjoyed time with his family and had no appealing offers on the table. However, a switch to Adana Demirspor gave him fresh purpose. “Moving to Adana was a completely different world. It reignited my passion,” he said.
This career change opened the door to his current position with the Turkish national side. Under his leadership, the team secured qualification for Euro 2024. Montella expressed happiness at bringing joy to the country, calling this success his greatest reward.
The former forward also spoke highly of Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu. He described the midfielder as a rare type of deep-lying playmaker who offers security on the ball. “When you pass to him, it is like putting money in the bank. You feel safe,” Montella explained. He added that teams struggle when Calhanoglu is not available.
Montella refused to comment on reported tensions at his former club AS Roma involving managers Claudio Ranieri and Gian Piero Gasperini. He stated that judging situations from outside is difficult and expressed respect for both coaches.
Regarding Italian football, the coach suggested the national team needs to focus on basic skills. He believes young players require better technical training rather than complex tactical instruction. Montella feels he has now recovered his love for the game, marking a sharp contrast to his earlier desire to quit.