Italiano in Front at Beşiktaş, Plan B Palut and Nuri Şahin

The search for a head coach at Beşiktaş, which started after Sergen Yalçın's departure, has entered the last week. The football staff led by Önder Özen went all the way to Italy and held talks; at the centre of the picture is the 48-year-old Vincenzo Italiano who left Bologna. According to the transmission of the Italian transfer authority Gianluca Di Marzio, the black-and-white management started official talks with Italiano; journalist Kartal Yiğit, on the other hand, claimed that at the end of the talks Italiano accepted the conditions. The Beşiktaş side expects Italiano to clarify his final decision in a short time.

Italiano's career profile is the main factor that received the approval of Beşiktaş management. The Italian coach has led the teams Spezia, Fiorentina and Bologna; his brightest success remembered as the Fiorentina period was to reach the Conference League final (lost to Olympiakos). With Bologna, he won the Italian Cup in 2025 by beating Milan; he played in the Europa League quarter-finals. Italiano, who managed a total of 107 matches at Bologna between 2024-2026, had 25 wins, 12 draws and 19 defeats in 56 matches last season. His parting ways with Bologna in the summer created the ideal timing for Beşiktaş. It is stated that Italiano is evaluating Turkey as a foreign career opportunity; Di Marzio conveyed this situation as "he can experience his first overseas experience with Beşiktaş".

If a negative response comes from the Italiano side, the other Italian option on Beşiktaş's list is Raffaele Palladino. The 42-year-old coach, preparing to leave Atalanta, stands out among the alternatives; he had 18 wins, 8 draws and 13 defeats in 39 matches last season. Önder Özen also had a plan to meet Palladino on his Italian trip. Among domestic candidates, two names stand out: Konyaspor Head Coach İlhan Palut and Başakşehir Head Coach Nuri Şahin. Palut's Konyaspor performance, eliminating Beşiktaş in the Turkish Cup, kept him on the alternative radar of the black-and-white management; according to Sporx's news, a part of the management is ready for official contact for Palut.

The Nuri Şahin matter is more complicated. According to Sporx's news, Beşiktaş will turn the route to Nuri Şahin if it cannot get the result it wants in the foreign coach search. However, Başakşehir President Göksel Gümüşdağ had clearly stated in his previous statement that the young coach would not leave the team. Nuri Şahin finished the Süper Lig in 5th place with Başakşehir and carried the team to the UEFA Conference League qualifiers; his successful season tied Gümüşdağ tightly to the player. The release clause that Beşiktaş must pay for Nuri Şahin was expressed by sources such as Fotomaç and Duhuliye; however, the exact figure was not announced. This will mean extra financial burden for the black-and-white management.

It was also noted in Türkiye Gazetesi's news that Beşiktaş President Serdal Adalı does not look warmly to the domestic head coach option. Adalı had first wanted Filipe Luis, but the Brazilian coach preferred Monaco despite Beşiktaş's offer. So Adalı's priority is a foreign head coach; domestic names only come on the agenda if foreign talks end in failure. Despite the campaign that started on social media for Şenol Güneş, the president closed this possibility by saying "I'm not thinking of working". The name Arda Turan also came on the agenda of executives but continues at Shakhtar Donetsk. In the black-and-white community that has changed 12 head coaches in the last 5 seasons, this time wanting a lasting solution pushes the management to hurry; the final decision is expected to be clear by the end of the week.

Source: Gianluca Di Marzio

Image: milliyet.com.tr