The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has announced the appointment of Sergen Yalcin as head coach of Türkiye’s senior national football team and former English Premier League referee Anthony Taylor as chairman of its Central Referees’ Committee (MHK).

The TFF said on Tuesday its executive board had approved both appointments.

Yalcin, 53, is set to sign a four-year contract with his coaching staff, while Taylor becomes the first foreign national to lead the referees’ committee.

Yalcin returns to the spotlight

Yalcin, a former Türkiye international who began his professional playing career at Istanbul giants Besiktas, has managed several Turkish clubs, including Gaziantepspor, Sivasspor, Kayserispor, Konyaspor, Alanyaspor, Yeni Malatyaspor and Antalyaspor.

His most notable managerial achievement came in the 2020-21 season, when he led Besiktas to a Super Lig and Turkish Cup double. 

The feat made him the first person in the club’s history to win the league title both as a player and as head coach.

His playing career also set him apart. Yalçın represented all four of Türkiye’s major clubs — Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor — becoming the first player to achieve that distinction.

At international level, he earned 37 caps and scored five goals for Türkiye, featuring at the 1996 and 2000 UEFA European Championships.

The appointment marks Yalcin’s first spell in charge of Türkiye’s senior national team.

Taylor takes historic refereeing role

Taylor, 47, will lead the MHK after the TFF executive board approved his appointment following an assessment of vacancies on the committee. He will work alongside newly appointed members Alan Snoddy, Igor Radojcic and Baris Simsek.

The Englishman joined the federation in August as its director of elite referees after retiring from professional refereeing following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Taylor has officiated at major international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship and UEFA Champions League. His career also included the 2023 UEFA Europa League final and the FIFA Club World Cup final.

The TFF had announced earlier this month that appointments of referees to Süper Lig matches would be based on Taylor’s technical assessments, signalling a growing role for his expertise in Türkiye’s domestic officiating system.

SOURCE :TRT World and Agencies