Hakan Yakın is a Swiss professional footballer of Turkish descent. He is best known for his prolific career as a midfielder, representing Switzerland in 87 international matches across three major tournaments. He also secured domestic success with FC Basel and currently serves as the head coach of FC Schaffhausen.
Hakan Yakın secured his debut for FC Basel on 12 April 1995 against Lausanne, marking his arrival with a header just 18 seconds after entering the pitch as a substitute. This prolific start launched a professional career that saw the Basel-born midfielder represent Switzerland in 87 international matches and compete across multiple European leagues.
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Born on 22 February 1977 in Basel to Turkish parents, Yakın grew up in the suburb of Münchenstein. He developed his skills within the youth ranks of Concordia Basel before signing his initial professional contract with FC Basel in January 1995. His career path led him to Grasshoppers under manager Christian Gross, though he later returned to Basel in January 2001. His second stint at the club yielded significant success, including a domestic double in the 2001–02 season and another Swiss Cup victory the following year. A defining moment occurred on 12 November 2002, when he provided all three assists in a 3–3 Champions League draw against Liverpool, securing Basel's progression to the second group stage.
International Performance
Yakın chose to represent the Switzerland national team despite receiving an offer of Turkish citizenship. Over an eleven-year international tenure, he participated in UEFA Euro 2004, UEFA Euro 2008, and two FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2006 and 2010. During the 2008 European Championship, he scored three goals, finishing as a joint-second highest scorer. His impact was notable in the group match against Portugal, where he netted twice to secure Switzerland's first-ever win at the tournament. He retired from international duty on 4 October 2011, having scored 20 goals for his country.
Transfers and Coaching
His playing career included spells outside Switzerland at Paris Saint-Germain, VfB Stuttgart, Galatasaray, and Al-Gharafa, though these stints lacked consistency. He returned to Switzerland, representing BSC Young Boys, FC Luzern, and Bellinzona. Following his retirement as a player, Yakın transitioned into coaching. After serving as an assistant to his brother, Murat Yakin, at Schaffhausen, he took on the head coach role himself on 4 June 2022. Following a departure in May 2023, he returned to the manager's position at Schaffhausen on 4 March 2025, replacing Ciriaco Sforza.
Fast facts
- Born: 22 February 1977, Basel, Switzerland
- International caps: 87
- International goals: 20
- Citizenship: Swiss, Turkish
- Religion: Islam
- Languages spoken: German, Turkish, Italian
- Major clubs: FC Basel, Grasshoppers, BSC Young Boys
- Current role: Head coach, FC Schaffhausen
Questions readers ask
Did Hakan Yakın ever play for Turkey?
No. Although he was offered Turkish nationality, he declined for personal reasons and chose to play for the Swiss national team.
Is he related to other professional footballers?
Yes. He is the younger brother of Murat Yakin, a former player and current manager of the Switzerland national team, and the half-brother of Ertan Irizik.
