Arda Turan, currently the head coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, is widely regarded as one of Turkey’s greatest ever footballers. After rising through the ranks at Galatasaray and being named club captain at just 21, he moved to Spain where he became a key figure at Atlético Madrid, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Supercopa de España, the Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
He later signed for Barcelona, where he added another La Liga title, two Copas del Rey, a Supercopa de España, and a FIFA Club World Cup to his trophy cabinet. A naturally gifted playmaker, Turan also earned 100 caps for Turkey, making him the sixth most-capped player in the nation’s history.
In his first coaching role in 2023, he took charge of Turkish side Eyüpspor and guided them to promotion to the Süper Lig for the first time ever. The following season, he led them to an incredible sixth-place finish in Turkey’s top flight, catching the attention of Shakhtar Donetsk.
Now at the helm of the Ukrainian giants, he is on the verge of securing their 16th league title while preparing for a Conference League semi-final clash against Crystal Palace.
Shakhtar have won only one European trophy in their history – the 2009 UEFA Cup – and Turan is hungry for more continental glory.
In an exclusive interview with Flashscore’s Tolga Akdeniz, Turan discussed his time at Shakhtar, how he’s preparing for a crucial phase of the season, his experiences in Spain, playing alongside Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta, and his thoughts on Turkey’s chances at the World Cup.
**Question:** You’re having a brilliant season with Shakhtar – on track to reclaim the Ukrainian league title and into the Conference League semifinals. Reaching the last four of any European competition is a huge achievement, especially given the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. How do you feel? How do you assess your first year at the club?
**Answer:** First of all, I want to thank Shakhtar. We have an excellent organization, which is not easy to guarantee under the circumstances of war. No matter how much is said about it, you can’t truly understand what’s happening without living it from the inside. We make long journeys all the time – up to 15 hours. We carry the hopes of the people with us, and we make sure the players understand that.
Regarding the league title, we will maintain the same level of seriousness until the end. In the Conference League, we got here after playing four qualifying rounds. If we finish in a good position in Europe, we can qualify directly for the Champions League league phase next season. We are aware of how important that is.
We are excited about the semi-final match. I think it can inspire children in Ukraine and around the world. We respect our opponents, but we will try to play our style of football because we are trying to build the team of the future here. That is our dream.
**Question:** You spent a few years at Eyüpspor before joining Shakhtar, and this is your first job abroad. What were you thinking when you joined the club? What were your ambitions? Did you expect this much success?
**Answer:** Honestly, yes. Sometimes you have doubts, but I really believed in the culture and the football organization at Shakhtar. Also, I have a lot of confidence in my own philosophy of play and my system. It can be difficult at times. New players need time to adapt, but we are on the right path.
