Fatih Terim: Youth academy coaches are the lowest-paid staff at clubs, so those chosen are often the cheapest rather than the most qualified. Club presidents and executives have short terms and are judged by results, which is why the game at the weekend matters more than long-term youth development
Fatih Terim: We don’t have the patience either; we want to sign a player and have him step onto the field a year later. The annoying pressure from the president and management prevents this and I’m generalizing here at all clubs. So then he says, “If I have to wait that long, I’d rather sign a foreign player, even if he’s older.” That’s the difference between us. Unfortunately, all of us and I include myself here; I’m generalizing, I feel guilty about this subject.
Fatih Terim: When I was the head coach of Galatasaray (first term) I went to France with my wife, Fulya. I called Carlos Alberto Perreira we’d developed a great friendship when he was coaching at Fenerbahçe. I said, ‘We need a goalkeeper; can you give me your thoughts on Taffarel?’ He had nothing but good things to say about him, so I returned and told our management, and they said, ‘All right, coach, let’s get moving.’
Let me give you an example: his flight landed right after our practice, and he rushed over to make it in time... He came down the stairs, and I told him to join the nearest 5-on-2 drill. Taffarel told one of the two young players on the field, “Get out.” Everyone stopped. Here’s a guy coming straight from the World Cup final, telling the young player in the middle, “Get out I’m taking your spot…” He’s a role model for everyone. He’s humble, hardworking, and an extraordinarily positive person.
Fatih Terim: Nando and I exchanged messages after the game. He’s 40 years old. Despite his age, he said he would continue to serve this country. That’s a very honorable thing to do.
The national team is at the top. The winds blow hard at the top. It’s only when the winds blow hard that you realize just how high up you are.
Football is a team sport; Uruguay lost as a team. Nando’s place in history has long been secured. He has so many achievements… Mistakes do not diminish his heroism.
Fatih Terim: We had 7 or 8 players in mind for the penalty shootout in the UEFA Cup final. Why 7 or 8? At any moment, one of them could say, 'Coach, I’m not feeling up to it.' If Hagi hadn’t been sent off, wouldn’t he have taken a penalty? The guy takes free kicks like they’re penalties. Of course he would have. I didn’t see the moment Hagi was sent off at first. I was talking about making a substitution. When everyone looked over there at the same time, I realized something had happened. When I saw the red card, we switched to a different plan. As for the penalty kicks, Hagi was going to take one. Capone was supposed to take the fifth one. It wasn’t meant to be for him. It ended with Popescu.
Person A: I remember being surprised when Ergün Penbe stepped up to take the first penalty.
Fatih Terim: I tend to surprise.
Fatih Terim: I'm not the kind of coach who has the team practice penalty kicks the day before a match. My reasoning is this: the players might interpret it as, 'We're planning to go to a penalty shootout.' It's very clear. Will we play defensively? Will we play for a draw? Even though they know me and understand my intentions, these 'what-ifs' can cause problems.