Yücel İldiz

Yücel İldiz — Biography

Yücel İldiz is a UEFA Pro Licensed manager and former footballer, known in Turkish football for taking his teams up a division. He is described as one of only three managers to achieve promotion to the Süper Lig four times, alongside Yılmaz Vural and Kadri Aytaç. In June 2026 he was among the former players and coaches who met students in İskenderun.

He began coaching at İskenderunspor, and Orduspor was the eleventh team he managed. He took Malatyaspor up to the Süper Lig in 2000-01. At Orduspor he worked three seasons: in 2004-05 he turned an 11-point deficit into the 2. Lig Category B Group B title and set a record by winning the last 17 matches; the next season the team reached the play-offs but lost to Altay.

In 2009-10 he agreed to manage Kardemir Karabükspor and won the 1. Lig with four rounds to spare, lifting the club to the Süper Lig. The following year the team finished ninth and drew praise for its football; he resigned after a home defeat to Eskişehirspor on 5 November 2011. He left Karabükspor again in June 2016 and Giresunspor in May 2017. On 12 October 2018 he took over Denizlispor and won the 1. Lig in 2018-19, and on 7 August 2020 he became manager of Altay.