Manager Şenol Güneş shared his assessments on the transformation of football, the philosophy of developing athletes, and the football climate in Turkey during a session held at the Haliç Congress Center as part of Brand Week İstanbul.
Güneş stated that sports are increasingly taking on an industrial structure, warning that football is facing the danger of drifting away from its essence. The experienced manager emphasized that the core of the profession is being damaged in a system where money has ceased to be a tool and has become an end in itself.
Expressing that large resources are being spent in football but that these expenditures should serve the country's benefit and sustainable success, Güneş noted that talent on the pitch is no longer sufficient on its own in modern football; analytical planning, professional teamwork, and proper management have become the deciding factors.
RESPONSE TO FEDERATION PRESIDENCY
Touching upon the success in women's volleyball during his speech, Güneş said that this success serves as an example for children and that proper management is of critical importance for developing athletes. Stating that he wanted to work on a similar project in football, Güneş shared that he was told he should become the federation president during this process.
I wanted to implement a similar project in football. I wanted to work on this subject. However, they told me that I should become the federation president. I don't need to be the president. My knowledge and experience should be utilized wherever they are needed.
Stating that talented athletes emerge in Turkey but that there are problems in uncovering and developing this potential, Güneş pointed to Arda Güler as an example. Güneş expressed that the young footballer is an important talent demonstrating Turkey's production power.
Güneş assessed Arda Güler by saying, "We are talking about a star who could be considered among the top five players in the world." The experienced coach, who said that Turkey possesses "gold-value athletes," emphasized that the real issue is developing this resource with the right education and system.
Addressing the culture of criticism, Güneş said that everyone comments on football but that the boundaries of respect are sometimes crossed. Stating that one should be open to criticism, Güneş noted that, on the other hand, assessments that amount to insults are one of the significant problems in Turkey.
News Source: 12punto
