Ertuğrul Sağlam's calm, nerveless demeanour sets him apart from many of his peers in the passionate world of Turkish football. The 37-year-old's positive outlook and undemonstrative style brought spectacular results at Kayserispor, who he transformed from relegation candidates to European challengers in two seasons. Beşiktaş JK will be expecting that success to continue after appointing their former player as coach this summer. Sağlam - which means strong in Turkish - made a positive start to his Beşiktaş career by knocking out FC Sheriff in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. His next challenge is to get off to a positive start to the new domestic season this weekend before taking the club back to the group stage with victory against FC Zürich this week.
uefa.com: Against Sheriff you used some players who were out of favour under the previous regime. Can we expect some radical changes?
Ertuğrul Sağlam: My technical staff and I came to Beşiktaş to be successful. To do that we have to use all the tools at our disposal. Age is not that important. We have to make the most of everyone from 16-year-old Batuhan Karadeniz to Rüştü Reçber who is 34. Half the players in the squad for the first game against Sheriff were under 23 which is good news for the future of the club. We will build a team that will not shirk from the challenges ahead.
uefa.com: What can we expect from Beşiktaş this season?
Ertuğrul Sağlam: Since I started coaching, I have stressed positivity and the beautiful game. We have to thrill our supporters who have longed for positive football for years. We have to keep the tempo up for the entire 90 minutes and delight our fans. But we can't forget our responsibilities when our opponents have the ball.
uefa.com: Is being such a young coach an advantage or disadvantage?
http://www.uefa.com/ml/images/Magazi...quotestart.gifYouthfulness, dynamism and ambition will be my advantages in this new rolehttp://www.uefa.com/ml/images/Magazine2005/quoteend.gifErtuğrul Sağlam: It's not a disadvantage for me. Of course experience is a very important part of the job but experience can be gained from every part of life. Perhaps a young coach who comes from outside the Beşiktaş community might face some difficulties but I played for this club for years and I really know it well. Youthfulness, dynamism and ambition will be my advantages in this new role. You often see young coaches at European clubs, but it is not so common in our country. Unfortunately, we have stereotypes against young people. We have to put more trust in our values.
uefa.com: You are not a coach that likes to shout at his players you seem a very calm person. What kind of a relationship do you have with your players?
Ertuğrul Sağlam: I always choose to treat my players [in a calm manner]. I believe that way I can become a successful coach. To take a position of high authority over a player wouldn't produce positive results in the long term. I choose to be a brother or a friend for my players. That way you can give them responsibility and you don't need to control them. The most important thing a coach must do is behave fairly. Every player should think: "If I deserve to play, I will. If I don't play well, I don't deserve to." If you give your players that mentality you face fewer problems.
uefa.com: What was the secret of your success at Kayserispor?
Ertuğrul Sağlam: Success depended on the people. The president, the board, the general manager, the technical staff and the players did their best. Everybody fulfilled their responsibilities. There was no confusion in people's roles at the club, which is a problem other clubs so often face. There was a terrific atmosphere. The players gave everything and the results increased our morale. After that success came naturally.
uefa.com: Needless to say the atmosphere will be different at Beşiktaş. Will the conditions be more difficult?
Ertuğrul Sağlam: The wind blows harder at the summit! That's why all the big clubs have so many critics. We will prepare ourselves in a way that will make sure we're not affected by them. That way we'll be more successful. We have got this far thanks to our own principles and knowledge. We will do what we believe in and nothing we don't believe in.
uefa.com: What are your goals in the UEFA Champions League?
Ertuğrul Sağlam: First of all we have to be qualify for the group stage. After that we'll aim for the knockout rounds. We might face powerful opponents but we love challenges. Reaching the knockout round would be a good result for us.
uefa yazarlari ertugrul hocanin gelecegini cok parlak goruyolarmis yani dunya capinda bi hoca olabilecegini dusunuyolarmis ozel roportaj yapmislar...
