Ex-Sittard coach Ultee: Doubts “whether Yilmaz isn’t bigger than the club”

rumors of influence

Fortuna Sittard landed a transfer coup in the summer with the free transfer of Burak Yilmaz. The 36-year-old ex-captain of the Turkish national team, who joined France from LOSC Lille, has five goals in eight games in the current Eredivisie season. Ex-Fortuna coach Sjors Ultee, who was released at the end of August after three consecutive defeats, now critically questioned the influence of the veteran. Dutch media had previously speculated that Ultee’s separation was also due to Yilmaz’ influence, as he has a close relationship with Sittard’s club leadership.

“I didn’t mind working with him at all. But I’ve mentioned it a couple of times: it’s sometimes said that nobody is bigger than the club. I have my doubts – there’s nothing wrong with that sentence – whether Burak Yilmaz isn’t much bigger than the club,” Ultee said at “Voetbal Internationalquoted. Although Yilmaz was always “very modest” and “helpful” after his arrival and the cooperation was “pleasant”, “but I can imagine that it’s really crazy as a teammate when someone you know is sitting next to you that he’s one of the owner’s best friends,” Ultee explained, continuing:

“Suppose you are Paul Gladon. He was partly responsible for staying up in the league last season. (…) But he knows: It’s quite possible that I’ll have to step aside again when Burak is fit. These are also difficult situations for a coach.” At the same time, Ultee, who has been on the sidelines as interim, assistant and head coach for Sittard since 2019, also emphasized that Yilmaz never determined the formations at Fortuna. Admittedly, you consult “as a coach with your players. But that is different from determining. I will never ask a player who should play. Consult, yes, but let them decide, absolutely not.”

Sittards Yilmaz on reports: ‘Never made a squad here’

According to media reports, Yilmaz also wanted to influence the bonus regulations at Fortuna. The player himself recently rigorously denied the speculation, but admitted a dispute with a member of the coaching team: “I’ve never set up a squad here. It’s a shame that people say that. That is also a great disrespect for the coaching staff. I am very sorry for these allegations. They even mentioned the bonuses which is very embarrassing. I wish such stories hadn’t been made up and I can say with certainty that both claims are lies that came out of nowhere.” Goal.com quoted.

“There was a fight, that’s true. But there has never been an incident where we have been disrespectful to each other. The voices got a little louder, that’s quite normal in football. The biggest problem with this controversy is that this incident left the player bus. I understand the journalists who wrote about it because it’s their job. But I was disappointed that it was in the media and didn’t stay on the bus because we’re family.” The incident is now “forgotten and forgiven”, but the 36-year-old described the reporting as “very shameful”.

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