Coach crash at Türkgücü: Kayabunar talks about a break with Heraf - and thinks of farewell

Created: 02/22/2022, 1:45 p.m

By: Moritz Bletzinger

Alper Kayabunar is no longer part of Andreas Heraf's coaching team.

© Sven Leifer

Alper Kayabunar is no longer part of the coaching team at Türkgücü Munich.

There were differences with Andreas Heraf.

Why?

Doesn't understand Kayabunar himself.

Munich – Alper Kayabunar has been with Türkgücü Munich for eleven years.

The 36-year-old has been through everything at the club.

From reserve coach in the A class to interim in the 3rd division.

There was never really any trouble about Kayabunar.

Until now.

At Türkgücü, shortly after the bankruptcy, there was a real bang in the sporting camp.

Before the game in Osnabrück, Andreas Heraf cut four professionals from the squad and assistant coach Alper Kayabunar was also not allowed to take part.

A short time later, Türkgücü announced the drastic decision: Kayabunar would not return to the coaching team.

There are "different views" between him and Andreas Heraf.

But what actually happened?

Alper Kayabunar himself can't really explain that to us: "I don't understand how it could have happened.

I've seen 12 or 13 coaches here and I haven't had a problem with any of them.

It's the first time something like this has happened.” Andreas Heraf no longer wants him on the coaching team.

He never really explained why.

The decision, reports Kayabunar, was not even communicated to him in a confidential conversation, but on the training ground.

Türkgücü veteran Kayabunar on noise with Heraf: "I'm just disappointed with how it turned out"

There seems to have been a tense atmosphere between Heraf and Kayabunar.

Kayabunar doesn't know where that comes from either.

"Andreas Heraf found out about me before he arrived and called Alex Schmidt, among others, who says I'm one of the most loyal assistant coaches he's ever had.

I got on so well with him that at the time there was even a brief debate about going to Dresden with him to inquire him.

At some point there was a crash between Kayabunar and Heraf.

Some open questions remain.

But for Alper Kayabunar it is clear: there will be no more cooperation.

"I don't want any stress with Andreas Heraf.

I'm just disappointed in how it happened.

What makes me sad is that it happened like this within two or three weeks.”

After the pros are out: will Kayabunar leave Türkgücü in the summer?

Kayabunar cannot yet say how things will continue after the summer.

His contract in Munich runs until June 30th.

Then it might be over.

After eleven years in Türkgücü, he can no longer rule out a farewell.

Kayabunar has experienced a lot at Türkgücü over the years and has built up a large network: "There is no better school than twelve different trainers."

"I would have liked more cooperation in this difficult situation," says Kayabunar, "no matter what, I would always stand by the club because I owe him a lot.

But right now I'm not getting the opportunity and I don't know why."

Alper Kayabunar is disappointed with Andreas Heraf, but not with Türkgcü.

"I would never say anything bad about the club," he clarifies, "I hope that Türkgücü will get back on track, that he will definitely stay in place.

It doesn't have to be in the 3rd division right away."

Türkgücü Munich: Alper Kayabunar thanks Hasan Kivran for the chance in professional football

"I was doing laundry here ten years ago," Kayabunar recalls, "the last two years have been like a dream.

To play in these stadiums, with your club.

As a child, I played at Bayern Munich and watched Ataspor games at the weekend.

One often forgets that despite everything, the club has a lot of tradition.

If you talk to older people about football in Turkey, they all know Türkgücü Munich.

I look back on very, very good years.”

He himself did his part as a player, coach, assistant coach and video analyst.

Kayabunar never seems to have done a bad job.

“Hasan Kivran didn't care about people themselves.

He only took those who had done something.

Otherwise it could end quickly, you've seen that a lot," says Kayabunar, "I'm grateful to him because thanks to him I've become a professional trainer."