Will Murat Yakin remain national team coach or not? blue Sport lists possible reasons why a contract extension could still fail.
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- Murat Yakin has been coach of the Swiss national team for almost three years. The SFA wants to continue working with Yakin as head coach after the European Championship.
- "The national team has priority," says Yakin when asked about a possible contract extension. For him, the feeling and trust are the most important characteristics for a continuation of the collaboration.
- Co-coach Contini is also an important factor for Yakin. Yakin: "If it continues, it will be with him."
Pioneering decisions are pending for the Swiss national team. What will happen in the goalkeeping position for the 2026 World Cup? Will there be a shake-up in the squad?
Before these questions can be answered, the more important one is the coach. The Swiss Football Association (SFA) wants to extend Murat Yakin's contract. Back in the spring, the SFA made Yakin an offer beyond the European Championship. Yakin turned it down.
"I have achieved all my goals," said Yakin one day after the quarter-final exit against England. "I was able to take over a functioning national team three years ago." Under Yakin, the national team has matured and moved up a level in terms of play. "The fact that there is now an expiration date is normal."
Yakin says of a possible contract extension: "The national team has priority." Nati boss Pierluigi Tami also emphasizes that they want to continue with Yakin.
Pain threshold at 1.2 million annual salary?
But what could cause the contract extension to fail? One factor: the money. The association will have to dig deep into its pockets for Yakin. After the strong final round in Germany, the national team coach has enough arguments for a pay rise. According toBlick, the Basel man currently earns an estimated 750,000 francs a year. According to the article, the SFA's pain threshold in terms of annual salary is around CHF 1.2 million.
Yakin makes it clear: the contract and its content are secondary to him. "It's not a piece of paper that counts for me, it's the trust and the feeling." He has never worked according to contract duration.
Rumors from the Saudi region
When it comes to money, potential rivals from the Saudi league may know no bounds. Offers from another club - another point on which the Yakin deal could fall through. Only recently there were rumors that clubs from the Saudi region might be interested in signing Yakin.
What is certain is that there has been no contact between the coach and potential suitors. "I'm not in any other talks," Yakin assured last Sunday.
Co-coach Contini the "icing on the cake" for Yakin
Another factor in Yakin's contract extension is co-trainer Giorgio Contini. "Giorgio was the icing on the cake that we needed," says Yakin. For the national team coach, one thing is clear: "If it continues, then certainly with assistant coach Contini."
However, it is unclear whether Contini wants to continue in the assistant role with the national team. "Plan A is Murat and Giorgio together," says Nati boss Tami. A decision on the future of Yakin and his assistant should be made by the end of the week at the latest.
