Basel coach Murat Yakin has become a much-wanted man, especially after those two Champions League victories over Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side.Yakin had a very successful playing career, especially in Switzerland. He won the Swiss league five times, and the Cup three, whilst also finishing runner-up to Chelsea in the 1998 UEFA Cup-Winners Cup. He played over 100 games for Grasshoppers and scored 17 goals while also playing over 100 games for his home-town team Basel and scoring 24 goals. He also played 40 games for the Swiss National Team, and scored 4 goals.
His coaching career started at Thun in 2009, as a 35 year-old. He quickly became a coach of enormous talent, and in May 2011 he joined Lucern. Just five months later the vacancy came up at his home-town club, and it was too much to turn down. So, in October 2011 he was named Basel head coach, and he hasn't looked back ever since. He won the Swiss Title in 2013 and was runner- up in the Cup.
This season Basel lead the league by a point over Lucern after 18 games, even though they've only suffered one defeat. But, its in this season's Champions League where Basel have really shined. Victories over Mourinho's star-studded team home and away have put Yakin's name at the fore-front of every club CEO's mind when a managerial vacancy comes up.
In recent days Yakin's name has been mentioned as a possibility to take over at Serie A side Lazio, to replace Vladimir Petkovic, and also at Tottenham Hotspur where Andre Villas Boas was sacked yesterday.
Whether he is interested in leaving his beloved Basel remains to be seen, but if he harbors serious managerial ambition, look for him to make a move in the coming weeks.
Published by @gersloveofsport December 17
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