Unification achieved: Kuntz becomes Turkish national coach

The Turkish Association confirmed the agreement with Kuntz on Sunday afternoon, which succeeds Senol Günes. Already on Tuesday, Turkish media had reported on the negotiations with the 1996 European Champion, which had traveled to Istanbul for talks. The signature should be done on Monday.

The DFB had already announced in advance to grant the release despite the ongoing contract at a corresponding agreement with the Turkish Association.

Kuntz, who ran 30 times for Besiktas in the Turkish Süperlig in the 1995/96 season, had released his future at the DFB last repeatedly and explained to deal with other requests. Although he had looked after the U-21 national team during the past exhaust phase, but also a clear job of job avoided. Disappointed, he had also evaluated through the selection process at the successor search of Joachim Löw. Kuntz was considered one of the candidates, but a conversation announced by DFB manager Oliver Bierhoff did not take place. Instead, Hansi Flick had been appointed national coach.

EM title 2017 and 2021

With the German U 21, Kuntz had extremely successful success in his five-year term: 2017 and 2021, he led the DFB selection to the title win, 2019 in the final. At the Olympic football tournament this year, however, his team failed in the preliminary round.

First experiences as a coach Kuntz collected in his home club Borussia Neunkirchen. Later he supervised the Karlsruher SC for more than two years, Waldhof Mannheim and Lr Ahlen took over before he moved to the functionary level. First at the Tus Koblenz and later at VfL Bochum he was responsible for the sporting matters, followed by 2008 to an eight-year term as the board at the 1st FC Kaiserslautern, with which he celebrated the return to the Bundesliga in the meantime. After slipping into the second league mediocrity and internal disputes he left the red devil in the spring of 2016.

Kuntz is ahead of a heavy debut

In Turkey, Kuntz, which became German champion (1991) and cup winner (1990) with the FCK, was also twice a Bundesliga scorer and won the European championship in 1996, a serious task: Despite great expectations, the national team failed at the Em sang and closed and without victory in the preliminary round.

Choice coach Günes was allowed to continue against expectations, but had to take his hat after the recent 1: 6 defeat against the Netherlands. In the World Cup Qualification Group, Turkey is currently ranking behind the Dutch and Norway in third place. Kuntz s debut has the same in itself: On 8 October, Turkey receives the direct competitor Norway.