In 2021, following stints as manager at Swiss clubs including Basel, Grasshoppers and Sion, he was appointed as coach of the Swiss national team, guiding them to qualification for 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024.
Playing career
Yakin spent the longest spell of his career playing for his hometown club Basel, where he was the defensive linchpin, captain and libero of a team which enjoyed domestic and relative European success. He won the Swiss Super League on five occasions (1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005), and the Swiss Cup three times (1994, 2002, 2003). He recalls the 2002–Champions League second leg qualifying match on 28 August 2002 against Celtic in St. Jakob-Park as the "match of his life". Basel won the game 2–0, with Yakin scoring the second goal in the 22nd minute as Basel qualified 3–3 on the away goals rule for the 2002–03 UEFA Champions Leaguegroup stage.[2]
In 2003, he played in the FIFA "Match against Poverty" in Basel, on Ronaldo's team which won 4–3 against Zinedine Zidane's.[3]
Yakin was appointed coach of Thun in 2009, after a time as a youth coach at Grasshoppers and head coach of Frauenfeld.[5] Yakin led Thun to promotion in his first year as manager there, winning the Swiss Challenge League in 2010.[6] In his second season with the club, Thun managed to finish fifth in the Swiss Super League and earned a spot in the second qualifying round of the following season's UEFA Europa League.[6]
On 15 October 2012, Yakin was appointed as the new manager of Basel.[8] Under his management, Basel won twice, home and away, against Chelsea in the 2013–14 Champions Leaguegroup stage. He praised the supporters in the stadium, saying that they pushed the team to win through the 90 minutes. He was also delighted to have received praise from then Chelsea manager José Mourinho.[9][10] On 17 May 2014, Basel announced Yakin was no longer with the club after he guided them to two domestic titles in as many years.[11][12]
Spartak Moscow
On 16 June 2014, Yakin was appointed as manager of Russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow.[13] According to Russian media, the deal was a long-term contract with Yakin earning an annual salary of 1.6 million euros ($2.18 million).[12]
On 30 May 2015, after only one season with the club, his contract with the club was terminated after a mutual agreement.[14]
Return to Schaffhausen
On 17 June 2019, it was confirmed, that Yakin had returned to Schaffhausen, as their new manager having left Sion previously that year.[15]
Switzerland national team
On 9 August 2021, Yakin was appointed as the manager of the Switzerland national team.[16] In the 2022 World Cup qualification, Northern Ireland held reigning European championsItaly to a goalless draw, thereby ensuring that Switzerland qualified for the tournament and Italy had to play in the playoffs. In gratitude, he sent 9.3 kg of Swiss chocolate to the Irish Football Association.[17][18] In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he led Switzerland to finish second in their group, to qualify to the round of 16, where they lost 6–1 to Portugal.[19] At the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, Yakin guided Switzerland through to the Round of 16 knockout stage where they recorded a famous 2-0 victory against defending champions Italy. They were subsequently knocked out of the Quarter Finals in a penalty shootout loss to England, after a 1-1 draw.
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