Dreaming is free, as they say. And who are we to rain on the ambitions of a man who would relish the chance to patrol the dugout of Premier League giants Arsenal at some point in the future?
Mikel Arteta‘s job is safe for now, obviously. That almost goes without saying, the former Manchester City assistant having taken over a club at their lowest ebb in 2019 and putting them within 270 minutes of the top-flight title.
And even if Arsenal were looking to move on from the man who has constructed a palace from the rubble and the destruction of the Unai Emery era, it’s highly unlikely that The Gunners would even consider for a second a 47-year-old who’s CV reads less like a ‘who’s who’ of Turkish football but more of a ‘who’s that?’.
A Turkey-based manager would love the Arsenal job
Ilhan Palut took over at Caykur Rizespor in 2023, having previously made his home at Hatayspor, Goztepe and Konyaspor.
Currently seventh, Palut has Rizespor in line for their first top-half finish since 2005/06, however, potentially putting himself in the shop window of clubs a few rungs further up the ladder, if not those quite as high as Arsenal.
“Of course (I want to coach a European giant),” Palut tells A Spor. “This job gets harder as the level increases. It gets harder as the pressure increases. I am ready for whatever is the most difficult job.
“I have no worries, I have full confidence in this regard, but I am not in a rush. Here in Rize, I can produce today.
“There is a team (I would like to manage in the future). I like it very much. I follow their development, I see how young players reach an elite level and play head-on in the most difficult league.
“There is only one team in this regard; Arsenal.”
Given his admiration for The Gunners, you would be forgiven for assuming that Palut plays the kind of free-flowing, possession-heavy football popularised by Arsene Wenger and maintained by Arteta.
Rizespor, however, are a more counter-attacking side by nature, ranking near the bottom of the Super Lig standings for possession and passes-per-game. They have also scored the most goals in 2023/24 from counter-attacking situations (WhoScored).
Mikel Arteta’s side three games away from glory
By Palut’s own admission, he remains a long, long way away from being able to throw his hat into the ring for the continent’s top jobs. That could change, however, if he can take Rizespor into European football – still a very real possibility – before bloodying the noses of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce later down the line.
“Why not? I hope (I can work at Arsenal),” Palut adds. “It is difficult, but I follow them with envy, because they have recruited young players in that great league. They are pushing for the title in the toughest league this year, too.
“I am very upset about the match against Aston Villa (that 2-0 home defeat in April). It was an accident that shouldn’t have happened. I am a keen follower of Arsenal and I want them to be champions this year.”
Arsenal face Andoni Iraola‘s high-flying Bournemouth on Saturday, Arteta knowing that they will likely have to win or at least go unbeaten in their final four games to snatch the crown off his old mentor Pep Guardiola’s head.
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