Arda Turan became the first coach in the history of Shakhtar to debut in the Champions League with a draw. On September 10, the miners played 1:1 against PSV in the first round of the main stage of the 2026/27 season. Before the tournament started, Turan admitted that 'Shakhtar' is not ready for the Champions League after a loss to 'Polissya'. This is reported by Sport.ua.
How Arda Turan set a record for Shakhtar in the Champions League
The match at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven was Turan's first in the Champions League as the head coach of Shakhtar. The Ukrainian club did not lose to PSV and started the main stage with one point.
Before Turan, only two Shakhtar coaches in the 21st century avoided defeat in their first Champions League match with the team. Paulo Fonseca in the 2017/18 season defeated Napoli 2:1, while Igor Jovicevic in the 2022/23 season crushed RB Leipzig 4:1.
Turan became the first Shakhtar coach whose debut in the tournament ended in a draw. Even Mircea Lucescu, whom Dario Srna called the best coach of Shakhtar in the last two decades, lost his first Champions League match with the Donetsk team to Milan 0:1 in the 2004/05 season.
How other Shakhtar coaches debuted in the Champions League
In the 21st century, most Shakhtar coaches began their Champions League campaigns with a loss. Viktor Prokopenko lost to Lazio 0:3, Luis Castro to Manchester City 0:3, and Roberto De Zerbi to Sheriff 0:2.
Patrick van Leeuwen debuted with a loss to Porto 1:3, while Marino Pusika in the 2023/24 season lost to Barcelona 1:2.
Thus, Turan became only the third Shakhtar coach in the 21st century not to lose his debut match in the Champions League, and the first to start the tournament with a draw.
For the Turkish specialist, this is yet another personal achievement at the helm of the Donetsk team. Let us recall that following last season, Arda Turan was recognized as the best coach of UPL after accumulating 36 points in the voting.