Nati’s career ended in 2004: will Israel become Yakin’s fate again?

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There is a lot at stake for the national team and national coach Murat Yakin (49) on Wednesday in the match that was moved to Hungary due to the war in Israel. After recent poor performances, Nati’s coach is being counted. If his team wins the European Championship ticket, this will strengthen his position in the upcoming negotiations in December about a possible extension of his contract. In the event of a draw or defeat, the national team will have to continue to tremble.

Even though Switzerland defeated Israel 3-0 this spring, Yakin does not have good memories of Wednesday’s opponent as a player. On October 9, 2004, he played his last international match against Israel – at that time in Tel Aviv. “I remember feeling terrible pain in my hip during the match and having to be substituted,” the Nati coach reflected. “I was in pain like I’ve never had before.” In the cabin, the doctor gave him an analgesic injection.

It was clear that Yakin was not fit. The central defender did poorly in both of Yossi Benayoun’s Israeli goals. Yakin initiated at least one of the two Swiss goals before having to leave the field in the 65th minute. Although Yakin finished the season with FCB and became champion again, it was soon over. “It was a year in which I ran from one doctor to another. Then I felt it was over.”

His career in the national team ended after 49 matches. Although he wore the Nati jersey fifty times (“a magic number”), a match against Hong Kong was subsequently not considered an international match. The 2006 World Cup in Germany took place without Murat Yakin. “Since I had already missed the World Cup in the US in 1994 and we were eliminated from the 2004 European Championships, I really wanted to participate in the 2006 World Cup. Unfortunately, I was denied that.”

Now Yakin wants to make up for what he missed and take the national team to a final in Germany as a coach. Qualification is sealed with a win on Wednesday. It is Yakin’s 28th international match as national coach. It won’t be his last, even if Switzerland loses. And yet: a match against Israel could also determine his fate as national coach in the longer term.

Source : Blick