The Swiss national football team reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1954 under the leadership of Murat Yakın. An association football coach and former defender, he holds dual citizenship in Switzerland and Turkey, having transitioned from a domestic playing career to a prominent career in international football management.
Playing Career
During his time as a player, Yakın functioned as a defensive linchpin and libero for his hometown club, Basel. He secured five Swiss Super League titles and three Swiss Cup victories throughout his career. His most notable individual moment occurred on 28 August 2002, when he scored a goal against Celtic in the Champions League second leg qualifying match at St. Jakob-Park. He earned 49 caps for the Switzerland national team and participated in UEFA Euro 2004.
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Following a period as a youth coach at Grasshoppers and head coach at Frauenfeld, Yakın moved to Thun in 2009. He achieved promotion to the Swiss Super League by winning the 2010 Swiss Challenge League title. By his second season, the club finished fifth in the league and earned a spot in the UEFA Europa League. In May 2011, he transitioned to manage Luzern.
Management at Basel and Abroad
Appointed manager of Basel in October 2012, Yakın secured two domestic titles in two years. During the 2013–14 Champions League group stage, his side defeated Chelsea both home and away. He later accepted a long-term contract with the Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow in June 2014, where he remained for one season before departing by mutual agreement. By 2019, he returned to manage Schaffhausen.
International Leadership
In August 2021, Yakın became the manager of the Swiss national team. He directed the squad to qualification for three consecutive major tournaments: the 2022 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2024, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His tenure included a notable victory against Italy in the round of 16 during Euro 2024 and a 2026 World Cup campaign that saw the team progress to the quarter-finals after defeating Colombia.
Fast facts
- Born: 15 September 1974, Basel
- Citizenship: Switzerland, Turkey
- Languages: German, Turkish
- Swiss Super League titles as manager: 2
- International caps: 49
- Brother: Hakan Yakin
Questions readers ask
Which major clubs did Murat Yakın manage before the national team?
He managed Thun, Luzern, Basel, Spartak Moscow, and Schaffhausen.
