View source for Murat Yakin

{{Short description|Swiss football manager (born 1974)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Murat Yakin
| image = Spartak-Zrvena (3).jpg
| caption = Yakin in 2014
| full_name = Murat Yakin<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/member-associations/switzerland |title=Swiss Football Association |publisher=FIFA |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|9|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Basel]], Switzerland
| height = 1.83 m
| position = [[Centre back]]
| currentclub = [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] (manager)
| years1 = 1992–1997
| years2 = 1997–1998
| years3 = 1998–2000
| years4 = 2000
| years5 = 2000–2001
| years6 = 2001–2006
| clubs1 = [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]
| clubs2 = [[VfB Stuttgart]]
| clubs3 = [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]]
| clubs4 = [[FC Basel|Basel]]
| clubs5 = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
| clubs6 = [[FC Basel|Basel]]
| caps1 = 101
| caps2 = 23
| caps3 = 26
| caps4 = 23
| caps5 = 9
| caps6 = 91
| goals1 = 17
| goals2 = 2
| goals3 = 3
| goals4 = 2
| goals5 = 0
| goals6 = 24
| totalcaps = 273
| totalgoals = 48
| nationalyears1 = 1994–2004
| nationalteam1 = [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
| nationalcaps1 = 49
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| manageryears1 = 2006–2007
| manageryears2 = 2007
| manageryears3 = 2008
| manageryears4 = 2008–2009
| manageryears5 = 2009–2011
| manageryears6 = 2011–2012
| manageryears7 = 2012–2014
| manageryears8 = 2014–2015
| manageryears9 = 2016–2017
| manageryears10= 2017–2018
| manageryears11= 2018–2019
| manageryears12= 2019–2021
| manageryears13= 2021–
| managerclubs1 = [[FC Concordia Basel|Concordia Basel]] (assistant)
| managerclubs2 = [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]] (assistant)
| managerclubs3 = [[FC Frauenfeld]]
| managerclubs4 = [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]] (B team)
| managerclubs5 = [[FC Thun|Thun]]
| managerclubs6 = [[FC Luzern|Luzern]]
| managerclubs7 = [[FC Basel|Basel]]
| managerclubs8 = [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]]
| managerclubs9 = [[FC Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]]
| managerclubs10= [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]
| managerclubs11= [[FC Sion|Sion]]
| managerclubs12= [[FC Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]]
| managerclubs13= [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
}}
'''Murat Yakin''' ({{langx|tr|Murat Yakın}} {{IPA|tr|mʊ'ɾɑt jɑˈkɯn|}}; born 15 September 1974) is a Swiss [[association football|football]] coach and former player. He is the manager of the [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland national team]].

In 2021, following stints as manager at Swiss clubs including [[FC Basel|Basel]], [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]] and [[FC Sion|Sion]], he was appointed as coach of the Swiss national team, guiding them to qualification for [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2024]].

== Playing career ==
Yakin spent the longest spell of his career playing for his hometown club [[FC Basel|Basel]], where he was the defensive linchpin, captain and libero of a team which enjoyed domestic and relative European success. He won the [[Swiss Super League]] on five occasions (1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005), and the [[Swiss Cup]] three times (1994, 2002, 2003). He recalls the [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League#Third qualifying round|2002–Champions League second leg qualifying match]] on 28 August 2002 against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in [[St. Jakob-Park]] as the "match of his life". Basel won the game 2–0, with Yakin scoring the second goal in the 22nd minute as Basel qualified 3–3 on the [[away goals rule]] for the [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League]] [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group B|group stage]].<ref name="Das Spiel meines Lebens">{{Cite book | last1 = Widmer | first1 = Benedikt | last2 = Mugglin | first2 = David | title = Das Spiel meines Lebens | publisher = rotweiss Verlag GmbH, Basel | year = 2011 | isbn = 978-3-7245-1785-6|language=de}}</ref>

In 2003, he played in the [[FIFA]] "Match against Poverty" in Basel, on [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]]'s team which won 4–3 against [[Zinedine Zidane]]'s.<ref>[https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/awards/gala/news/newsid=90283.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226020238/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/awards/gala/news/newsid%3D90283.html|date=26 December 2009}}</ref>

Yakin was [[cap (sport)|capped]] 49 times for the [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland national team]], representing his country at [[UEFA Euro 2004]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te1664/switzerland/squad/|title=Switzerland » Squad EURO 2004 Portugal|publisher=World Football|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Early career===
Yakin was appointed coach of [[FC Thun|Thun]] in 2009, after a time as a youth coach at [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]] and head coach of [[FC Frauenfeld|Frauenfeld]].<ref>{{WorldFootball.net|murat-yakin}}</ref> Yakin led Thun to promotion in his first year as manager there, winning the [[Swiss Challenge League]] in 2010.<ref name="Thun">{{cite web|url=https://liberoguide.com/fc-thun/|title=FC Thun|date=October 2017 |publisher=Libero Guide|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> In his second season with the club, Thun managed to finish fifth in the [[2010–11 Swiss Super League|Swiss Super League]] and earned a spot in the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League#Second qualifying round|second qualifying round]] of the following season's UEFA Europa League.<ref name="Thun" />

In May 2011, he joined [[FC Luzern|Luzern]] for a reported 200,000 Swiss francs.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} He took over from [[Christian Brand]], who was made caretaker after the sacking of [[Rolf Fringer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://justcantbeatthat.com/2011/fc-yakin-the-club-formerly-known-as-fc-luzern/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127023436/http://justcantbeatthat.com/2011/fc-yakin-the-club-formerly-known-as-fc-luzern/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 November 2016|title=justcantbeatthat.com}}</ref>

===Basel===
On 15 October 2012, Yakin was appointed as the new manager of Basel.<ref name="Vogel fliegt – Yakin übernimmt">{{Cite news |url=https://www.kicker.de/vogel-fliegt---yakin-uebernimmt-576290/artikel |title=Vogel fliegt – Yakin übernimmt |publisher=Kicker |date=15 October 2012 |access-date=15 October 2012 |language=de}}</ref> Under his management, Basel won twice, home and away, against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in the [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|2013–14 Champions League]] [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League group stage|group stage]]. He praised the supporters in the stadium, saying that they pushed the team to win through the 90 minutes. He was also delighted to have received praise from then Chelsea manager [[José Mourinho]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/chelsea/champions-league/news/yakin-delighted-with-mourinho-praise_120517.html|title=Yakin delighted with Mourinho praise|website=Sports Mole|date=27 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/26/basel-chelsea-champions-league-match-report|title=Basel 1–0 Chelsea &#124; Champions League Group E match report|date=26 November 2013|website=the Guardian}}</ref> On 17 May 2014, Basel announced Yakin was no longer with the club after he guided them to two domestic titles in as many years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/de-de/10044/32243/16/7 |title=fcb.ch |access-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521001113/http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/de-de/10044/32243/16/7 |archive-date=21 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Spartak" />

=== Spartak Moscow ===
On 16 June 2014, Yakin was appointed as manager of [[Russian Premier League]] side [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[FC Spartak Moscow]]|url=http://spartak.com/main/news/55905/|script-title=ru:МУРАТ ЯКИН – НОВЫЙ ГЛАВНЫЙ ТРЕНЕР «СПАРТАКА»|date=16 June 2014|language=ru}}</ref> According to Russian media, the deal was a long-term contract with Yakin earning an annual salary of 1.6&nbsp;million euros ($2.18&nbsp;million).<ref name="Spartak" />

On 30 May 2015, after only one season with the club, his contract with the club was terminated after a mutual agreement.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[FC Spartak Moscow]]|url=http://spartak.com/main/news/newsautoupdate/|script-title=ru:«СПАРТАК» И ЯКИН РАСТОРГАЮТ ОТНОШЕНИЯ ПО ОБОЮДНОМУ СОГЛАСИЮ|date=30 May 2015|language=ru}}</ref>

=== Return to Schaffhausen ===
On 17 June 2019, it was confirmed, that Yakin had returned to [[FC Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]], as their new manager having left [[FC Sion|Sion]] previously that year.<ref>[https://www.nzz.ch/sport/murat-yakin-ist-wieder-trainer-beim-fc-schaffhausen-ld.1489444 Murat Yakin ist wieder Trainer beim FC Schaffhausen], nzz.ch, 17 June 2019</ref>

=== Switzerland national team ===
On 9 August 2021, Yakin was appointed as the manager of the [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland national team]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=swissinfo.ch/ug|title=New manager for Swiss national football team appointed|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/new-coach-for-swiss-national-football-team-appointed/46853490|access-date=9 August 2021|website=SWI swissinfo.ch|date=9 August 2021 }}</ref> In the [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2022 World Cup qualification]], [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] held [[UEFA Euro 2020|reigning European champions]] [[Italy national football team|Italy]] to a goalless draw, thereby ensuring that Switzerland qualified for the tournament and Italy had to play in the [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round|playoffs]]. In gratitude, he sent 9.3&nbsp;kg of [[Swiss chocolate]] to the [[Irish Football Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/nati_sfv_asf/status/1463537899744419846| title= We kept our word, @NorthernIreland 😉 A sweet Thank You is on its way! #sweetcaroline #sweetchocolate|publisher=Twitter|date=24 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fullerton |first1=Gareth |title=Switzerland boss Murat Yakin sends thank-you chocolates to Northern Ireland |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/switzerland-boss-murat-yakin-sends-22273217 |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=Belfast Live |date=25 November 2021}}</ref> In the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]], he led Switzerland to finish second in their group, to qualify to the round of 16, where they lost 6–1 to [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63789753|title=Portugal 6–1 Switzerland|website=BBC Sport|date=6 December 2022}}</ref> At the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, Yakin guided Switzerland through to the Round of 16 knockout stage where they recorded a famous 2–0 victory against defending champions [[Italy national football team|Italy]]. They were subsequently knocked out of the quarter-finals in a penalty shootout loss to [[England national football team|England]], after a 1–1 draw.

== Personal life ==
Yakin is the elder brother of [[Hakan Yakin]], who was also a professional footballer with successful stints at [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]], [[FC Basel|Basel]], and [[BSC Young Boys|Young Boys]] and represented [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] at international level also.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/a-family-affair-in-need-of-high-maintenance-1.381867|title=A family affair in need of high maintenance|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=8 October 2003|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> Yakin is of [[Turks in Switzerland|Turkish]] descent.

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 6 October 1996 || [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 3–2 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 2. || 11 October 1997 || [[Zurich]], Switzerland || {{fb|Azerbaijan}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 3. || 21 August 2001 || [[Basel]], Switzerland || {{fb|Austria}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 3–2 || [[Exhibition game#International football|Friendly]]
|-
| 4. || 12 October 2002 || [[Tirana]], [[Albania]] || {{fb|ALB}} || align=center| '''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–1 || [[UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Group 10|UEFA Euro 2004 qualification]]
|-
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|match played 18 November 2025}}<ref>{{soccerway coach|murat-yakin/195456}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure	
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=8|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}		
|-
|align="left"|[[FC Thun|Thun]] 
|align="left"| 1 July 2009
|align="left"| 1 July 2011
{{WDL|74|35|23|16|for=138|against=85|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|[[FC Luzern|Luzern]]
|align="left"| 1 July 2011
|align="left"| 19 August 2012
{{WDL|46|19|16|11|for=64|against=46|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|[[FC Basel|Basel]]
|align="left"| 15 October 2012
|align="left"| 19 May 2014
{{WDL|99|56|28|15|for=172|against=91|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|[[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]]
|align="left"| 16 June 2014
|align="left"| 30 May 2015
{{WDL|32|13|8|11|for=43|against=44|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|[[FC Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]]
|align="left"| 21 December 2016
|align="left"|28 August 2017
{{WDL|25|19|2|4|for=66|against=24|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|[[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]
|align="left"|28 August 2017
|align="left"|10 April 2018
{{WDL|26|9|7|10|for=34|against=29|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|[[FC Sion|Sion]]
|align="left"|17 September 2018
|align="left"|7 May 2019
{{WDL|28|9|7|12|for=38|against=45|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|[[FC Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]]
|align="left"| 17 June 2019
|align="left"|9 August 2021
{{WDL|77|22|26|29|for=97|against=117|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|[[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
|align="left"|9 August 2021
|align="left"|''Present''
{{WDL|55|24|19|12|for=94|against=61|diff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|462|206|136|120|for=744|against=542|diff=yes}}
|}

== Honours ==
=== As a player ===
;Grasshoppers
* [[Swiss Super League|Nationalliga A]]: [[1994–95 Nationalliga A|1994–95]], [[1995–96 Nationalliga A|1995–96]]
* [[Swiss Cup]]: [[1993–94 Swiss Cup|1993–94]]

;Basel{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
* Nationalliga A/[[Swiss Super League]]: [[2001–02 Nationalliga A|2001–02]], [[2003–04 Swiss Super League|2003–04]], [[2004–05 Swiss Super League|2004–05]]
* Swiss Cup: [[2001–02 Swiss Cup|2001–02]], [[2002–03 Swiss Cup|2002–03]]

'''Individual'''{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
* Swiss Young Player of the Year: 1994
* [[Swiss Footballer of the Year|Axpo Swiss Super Leaguer Player of the Year]]: 2002

=== As a manager ===
'''Thun'''{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
* [[Swiss Challenge League]]: [[2009–10 Swiss Challenge League|2009–10]]

'''Basel'''<ref name="Spartak">{{cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-russia-spartak-idUKL4N0OX25220140616|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729190918/https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-russia-spartak-idUKL4N0OX25220140616|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 July 2019|title=Spartak Moscow appoint Yakin as new coach|work=Reuters|date=16 June 2014|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
* Swiss Super League: [[2012–13 Swiss Super League|2012–13]], [[2013–14 Swiss Super League|2013–14]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Swiss Super League]] Manager of the Year: [[2013–14 Swiss Super League#Annual awards|2013–14]],<ref name="srf.ch">{{Cite web |date=27 January 2014 |title=Super League – Salah zum SL-"Spieler des Jahres" gewählt |url=https://www.srf.ch/sport/fussball/super-league/salah-zum-sl-spieler-des-jahres-gewaehlt |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |language=de}}</ref> [[2017–18 Swiss Super League#Annual awards|2017–18]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 January 2018 |title=SAFP GOLDEN 11 2017 – Die Gewinner |url=https://golden11.ch/awards/2017 |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=Golden11 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{TFF player|29478|Murat Yakın}}
* {{SFL|team=52457|coach=207846}} {{dead link|date=May 2014}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121225101144/http://www.fcb.ch/Teams/1.Mannschaft/TrainerBetreuer Murat Yakin] on the website of FC Basel
* [http://www.parlonsfoot.com/archives/2004/10/10/murat-vend-des-kebabs/ Article detailing Murat's connection with two of his passions: kebabs and Turkish rap] {{in lang|fr}}

{{Current managers of UEFA national teams}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Switzerland squads
| bg = #E00000
| fg = white
|bordercolor = #CC0000
|list1 =
{{Switzerland squad UEFA Euro 2004}}
{{Switzerland squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Switzerland squad UEFA Euro 2024}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{FC Thun managers}}
{{FC Luzern managers}}
{{FC Basel managers}}
{{FC Spartak Moscow managers}}
{{FC Schaffhausen managers}}
{{Grasshopper Club Zürich managers}}
{{FC Sion managers}}
{{Switzerland national football team managers}}
}}
{{ASF-SFV football awards}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yakin, Murat}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Turkish descent]]
[[Category:Swiss people of Turkish descent]]
[[Category:Swiss men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Basel-Stadt]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Switzerland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League players]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:Fenerbahçe S.K. footballers]]
[[Category:FC Concordia Basel players]]
[[Category:FC Basel players]]
[[Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern players]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart players]]
[[Category:Grasshopper Club Zurich players]]
[[Category:Swiss football managers]]
[[Category:Russian Premier League managers]]
[[Category:FC Frauenfeld managers]]
[[Category:FC Thun managers]]
[[Category:FC Luzern managers]]
[[Category:FC Basel managers]]
[[Category:FC Basel non-playing staff]]
[[Category:FC Spartak Moscow managers]]
[[Category:FC Schaffhausen managers]]
[[Category:Grasshopper Club Zurich managers]]
[[Category:FC Sion managers]]
[[Category:Switzerland national football team managers]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Russia]]
[[Category:2022 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2024 managers]]