İsa Turan

İsa Turan — Biography

İsa Turan came up through the Trabzonspor youth system and moved from the pitch into coaching. He is best known as a Galatasaray assistant coach and, since January 2024, as head coach of Akhisarspor.

He began playing in 1982 in Trabzonspor's youth categories, reached the first team in 1989-90 and left for MKE Ankaragücü at the end of that season. At the start of 1992-93 he joined Samsunspor, where he spent four seasons and won promotion to the top flight as 2. Lig champions. In 1996 he signed for İstanbulspor, then played for Adanaspor, Sakaryaspor and Aydınspor before retiring in 2000. While at Trabzonspor he made seven appearances for the Turkey under-16 and under-18 sides.

After completing his coaching course he opened a football school and began at Samsunspor's academy. In 2005 he worked with the first team as Ertuğrul Sağlam's assistant, then took charge of İlkadım Belediyespor, Lüleburgazspor and Çarşambaspor, returning to Lüleburgazspor in 2012. In 2013 Hamza Hamzaoğlu brought him to Akhisar Belediyespor as academy coordinator, and when Hamzaoğlu was appointed at Galatasaray in December 2014 he joined him as assistant. After his Galatasaray spell he signed with Akhisarspor on 18 January 2024, and the club's improved form that March was covered in the press as the "İsa Turan difference".