Murat Yakin's contract as national team coach ends after the European Championship exit against England. Even if the 49-year-old has not made a clear commitment, anything other than continued employment would come as a surprise.
Murat Yakin, who is often referred to as a "poker player" due to his tactical cunning and his ability to surprise opponents with personnel or alignment decisions, is not letting his cards be played on Saturday evening.
The national team coach sits in front of the media in the underground of the Düsseldorf stadium and reels off the compulsory program required of him in his role by the European association UEFA. So he talks about Switzerland's elimination in the quarter-final against England, about the "lottery" from eleven meters that his team had once again lost. For the third time in a row, the SFA team failed to reach a European Championship final after 2016 (against Poland) and 2021 (against Spain) on penalties. And he explains why he is proud of his team despite the abrupt end to a journey that began with the pre-camp in St. Gallen at the end of May.
Two evasive maneuvers
But Yakin is not only asked to take stock. The 49-year-old will also be asked to look to the future and say whether he will continue as national team coach. As things currently stand, the final whistle in Düsseldorf heralded Yakin's last days in the service of the SFA. The Basler's current contract runs until the end of the European Championship. As soon as he has fulfilled his last appointments, he can theoretically close the chapter on the national team.
However, it seems unlikely that this will happen in practice. Having reached the quarter-finals and put in strong performances against the top nations Germany, Italy and England, the 49-year-old now holds a number of trump cards after the European Championships that speak in favor of his continuing as national team coach.
Yakin is certainly aware of this. Nevertheless, despite two attempts, he is unable to make a clear statement about his future. First attempt: "What impact will retirement have on your future?" Yakin talks about the development of the team, about the good atmosphere, about how much he enjoys working with the players.
Second attempt: "What factors would be decisive for a contract extension?" Yakin says that it is not easy to keep a clear head at the moment, but that something has grown together in the national team in recent months. They have been able to build something and show how they work as a collective.
Xhaka's wish
Anyone reading between the lines of these evasive answers quickly realizes that Yakin is aware of his track record. And he is prepared to continue as national team coach. "Unfortunately, my contract is now coming to an end, but my priority is the national team," says Yakin, revealing a tendency that should also be in the interests of the SFA.
Rumors had recently surfaced about potential suitors from the Arab world and England who were interested in signing Yakin. Every victory at the European Championship would have put Switzerland and its coach even more in the limelight, so that the association or coach might not have been able to resist an offer.
Now, however, anything other than a continuation of the collaboration would come as a surprise. Captain Granit Xhaka also spoke to SRF on Saturday evening in favor of his coach's continued employment: "We clearly want him to stay. He had a brutal amount of pressure and he has shown once again that he is exactly the right man for this team."
Worthwhile rejection
In the spring, Yakin rejected an early extension to his contract - partly because the association could then have pulled out without major financial losses due to a clause in the event of an unsuccessful European Championship. It is a decision that should now pay off for the coach.
Yakin says: "I'm looking forward to holding talks next week or the week after and seeing if there is a future." The poker player has good cards.
SDA
