Ersun Yanal

Ersun Yanal — Biography

Kazım Ersun Yanal was born on 17 December 1961 in the Buca district of İzmir. He played as a footballer for Denizlispor before moving into coaching once his playing career ended.

Over the course of his managerial career he has taken charge of clubs including Ankaragücü, Gençlerbirliği, Eskişehirspor, Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe, as well as the Turkish national team. Known for an attacking style built on tactical ideas that were largely new to Turkish football at the time, Yanal has earned a respected standing among Turkish coaches despite winning only a single title.

In the summer of 2026 he returned to the Süper Lig, agreeing terms with a new club, and drew further attention with his public remarks on the World Cup and the state of Turkish football.