Arda Turan Appointed as New Head Coach of Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk have officially unveiled their new head coach — 38-year-old former Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, and Turkey national team midfielder Arda Turan.

According to the club's press service, Turan has signed a two-year contract that will keep him at the helm of the Ukrainian giants until the summer of 2027.

Turan only began his managerial career two years ago with Eyüpspor, but quickly turned heads across Europe. In the 2023/24 season, he guided the Istanbul-based club to promotion to the Turkish Süper Lig. Impressively, they finished 6th in the top flight during the 2024/25 campaign — a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted side. Interestingly, former Shakhtar midfielder Taras Stepanenko played under Turan at Eyüpspor during the second half of that season.

Shakhtar will be hoping that Turan brings fresh energy to the club following a disappointing 2024/25 season under Marino Pušić. The team finished only third in the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) and failed to qualify for the European knockout stages. The lone piece of silverware came in the form of the Ukrainian Cup, which they secured via a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the final.

Turan’s appointment signals a bold new chapter for the Miners, as they aim to reclaim domestic dominance and make a deeper impact on the European stage.