The national coach about the death of his mother: “The Yakin family is strong and stays together”

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It was just after half past eight on Friday morning when Murat Yakin (49) drove to the House of Football in Muri near Bern in his black company car. The national coach steps out and interrupts a telephone conversation to receive an initial condolence.

Yakin seems composed, even though he has had the most difficult days of his life. The death of his mother Emine, who died on Monday evening at the age of 89 in hospital in Basel, took a heavy toll on him. She was the most important woman in the Nati coach’s life.

Almost an hour later, the association invites you to a press conference on the third floor to announce the selection for the final of the European Championship qualification with the three matches within seven days against Israel (in Hungary), Kosovo (in Basel) and Romania (in Bucharest).

But the sporting issues are only secondary for now: what matters is Yakin’s well-being. It is also composed here. He speaks calmly and clearly: “It is a sad moment. But I feel a lot of gratitude for what we got from her and what we learned from her.

Yakin was there for his mother until the end

Despite the grief that everyone in the family deals with in their own way, it is also important to accept the whole, says Yakin. It is not the first fateful blow he has received in his life, even though they are not comparable. “We are a big family. We are strong and we stick together.” The Yakin-Irizik family consists of more than 50 members.

His mother was brave and always fought for her children, Yakin said. “We felt that until the end.” He was happy that he and his family could spend their last moments with her. Hakan Yakin and two half-brothers of the Nati coach are not in the hospital in Basel. On Sunday evening, Emine collapsed and had to be treated in intensive care. She died less than 48 hours later.

The national coach maintained very close contact with his mother. Even in recent months, when Emine’s health was no longer good, Murat continued to care for her. He accompanied her to medical examinations or to regular dialysis because she suffered from sluggish kidneys.

“Life goes on”

Emine raised him and his younger brother Hakan alone because she divorced their father at a young age. As the eldest of the two brothers, Murat had to take on a lot of responsibility at a young age. As a child, he accompanied his mother on official visits.

“Especially in our culture, the mother plays a very important role,” says Yakin. “She supported us in all matters.” But not only was she a mother, she was also a big football fan. As a child, his mother accompanied him and his brother to the football field. Even later, Emine was with her sons whenever possible and thus became famous throughout the country.

Important sports days are now coming up for the Nati coach, possibly the most important of his coaching career. The next two weeks will be all about Switzerland’s European Championship ticket and his job as national coach. “The focus is on the future, the concentration is on the days ahead,” says Yakin. “Because life goes on.” This is – according to Yakin – also in his mother’s mind.

Source : Blick