ISTANBUL
The head coach of Türkiye's National Football Team has hailed rising cooperation between Türkiye and Italy, the two countries which will co-host the 2032 UEFA European Football Championship (EURO 2032).
"Italy and Türkiye are countries with similar cultures and traditions. Therefore, I am delighted to be here. I can say that we are delighted that this cooperation will develop with the upcoming efforts and that our cultural exchange will further increase,” Vincenzo Montella said at the "MeeTürkItaly" event in Istanbul on Monday, supported by Italy’s Foreign Ministry and organized by the Italian Embassy in Türkiye, and led by Italy's Ambassador to Türkiye Giorgio Marrapodi.
Speaking to the press before the event, hosted at the Italian Embassy residence’s Venezia Palace, Montella said: "First of all, I am proud. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the minister and the ambassador. I am proud to contribute and to be at such a night. I also want to thank Türkiye. Thanks to their cooperation, this country is gradually becoming my own country as well."
Other key participants included Turkish Football Federation President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, Turkish National Olympic Committee head Ahmet Gulum, former TFF President Mehmet Buyukeksi, Italy's Olympic medalist judoka Alice Bellandi, and rower Matteo Lodo.
At the event, Marrapodi presented Montella with the Italian Sports Ambassador in World and Sports Diplomacy award.
Receiving the award, Montella said: "I am very excited. I am not used to receiving such appreciation. Of course, it is a source of pride for me. Thank you, Giorgio. I will ask you to convey my thanks to the minister. I am grateful to Türkiye. He entrusted me with an extremely important task. I had the opportunity to meet a country that is similar to me. Our cooperation will continue for EURO 2032, and I am proud of that. I want to thank the president for giving me this opportunity."
Haciosmanoglu, speaking at the award presentation, said: "Our coach is already half Turkish. We will make him fully Turkish. We have warm ties between Italy and Türkiye. My coach said, 'I am not used to receiving appreciation,' but I want you to be prepared now for the appreciations of 80 million people for the World Cup. God willing, we will all go together."