Montella reveals why new Besiktas coach Italiano is ‘both a good coach and person’ | OneFootball

Turkiye national team manager Vincenzo Montella revealed a very special fact about new Besiktas coach Vincenzo Italiano. ‘He’s a good person.’

Calcio is increasingly making inroads into Turkish football, as along with Montella, they now also have former Bologna and Fiorentina boss Italiano coming to Besiktas.

Curiously, he will be replaced on the Bologna bench by Domenico Tedesco, who had until this week been the coach of Fenerbahce.

Montella is preparing the Turkish side for the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, but during a press conference he was asked about his colleague and revealed an intriguing fact.

Montella knows Italiano well

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 09: Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna, looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg One match between Bologna FC 1909 and Aston Villa FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on April 09, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“When I set up a fund-raising account after the earthquake we had in Adana, the person who contributed the biggest donation was Vincenzo Italiano,” confessed Montella.

“I’m very happy for him. You might not know this, but he is my friend, so I can assure everyone that he is both a very good coach and a good person too.”

Italiano landed in Istanbul today and will put pen to paper on a two-year contract as the new coach of Besiktas, where he is expected to earn circa €5m per season plus bonuses.