Arda Turan, the 38-year-old coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, is navigating a challenging path in European football as he leads his team amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The new chief, Turan, just assumed command six months ago. Since that moment he’s witnessed the emotional and physical toll on his players, including in a recent away match against Aberdeen as well as a home match that required them to spend the night in a concrete bomb shelter.
Shakhtar Donetsk, long the keepers of the flame of Ukrainian football, have accrued 15 league titles since the turn of the century. Currently, they sit atop the table in the Ukrainian Premier League. The circumstances are anything but ordinary. Since the start of this conflict, the club has had to play every match away from their home stadium. So much so that they’ve been forced to change their strategy and tactics like never before.
“We have to respect the job and give it 100 percent for the people who follow us,” Turan stated, emphasizing the importance of football as both a profession and a form of entertainment in these trying times. He’s even more humbled, though, by the dual recognition that for them, winning is important—but creating an emotional connection to their supporters is everything.
The team experienced a significant hurdle earlier this summer. Three days later, they were soundly beaten 4-1 to LNZ Cherkasy in what was meant to be a home match in Lviv. Turan would surely be disappointed to miss out on this one, especially as it was fundamental for his inexperienced young ensemble.
I was disappointed that it was such a pivotal game for us, he shared. This little guy, Roman, is a big Shakhtar fan. He survived the incredible odds of 35 surgeries after an artillery shell ripped through him after his home was bombed, and he came to visit us in the locker room.
This experience with Roman illustrated the human side of soccer that Turan loves. He reflected on Roman’s encouraging words: “Mister, don’t be sad. There are good days and bad days in life. You have to keep going.”
Turan has accepted the thrilling challenge of coaching a team filled to the brim with young, electric talent. Among the most exciting players are Isaque, Kaua, Lucas Ferreira, and Luca Meirelles, all only 16 years old. He also understands that their inexperience will lead to challenges and uneven play on the field. He’s a firm believer in giving them the room to thrive.
At times, they will struggle, for no reason other than their youth. That doesn’t mean we’re taking away from their right to fail. He noted. And when you do win, the joy of that success hits a lot harder.
Turan’s coaching style, a combination of doggedness and enthusiasm, favours speaking to his players in English and Spanish. When the topics get touchy, he likes to switch back to Turkish. “I prefer to use my native language when discussing more sensitive matters,” he explained.
He knows how tough motivation can be when you’re playing in front of dramatically thinned-out crowds than just a season or two ago. “Sometimes we cannot push. This is a team that played with 40,000 or 50,000 fans and is now playing in front of 2,000 spectators,” he said.
Turan contends with logistical challenges imposed by travel requirements. Having to endure the week-in, week-out matches and long travel schedules, younger players typically need more time to recover than their veteran teammates. “We have a lot of teenagers who need more rest than the experienced players so we are often forced to change the team,” he explained.
“Yes, this is a big challenge with very young players. But it is the chance to develop a team, to learn and compete at the same time,” he asserted. “I want this responsibility. I believe I can learn a lot here.”
Turan’s drive is more than personal development. He’ll be looking to guide Shakhtar Donetsk back to the top of the championship standings once more. “I truly wish I could win the title for him,” he said when dedicating the match to Roman and everyone affected by the war.
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