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Invincible Osmanlıspor coach making exit plans

Mustafa Akçay is proud as he looks to make it 20 games unbeaten in European football, but the Osmanlıspor boss tells UEFA.com his next target may be to quit coaching completely.

Mustafa Reşit Akçay has made it through 19 European games unbeaten
Mustafa Reşit Akçay has made it through 19 European games unbeaten ©Getty Images

Having steered Trabzonspor unbeaten through 12 European games in 2013/14, coach Mustafa Akçay continues to live a charmed life with Osmanlıspor; should they avoid a UEFA Europa League defeat at Zürich on matchday two, the 57-year-old will be in the impressive situation of having never lost in 20 UEFA games as a coach.

It is a remarkable achievement for Akçay, who initially specialised as a youth coach, and visited Ajax to study his craft. Having helped the likes of Fatih Tekke and Gökdeniz Karadeniz to make the grade at hometown club Trabzonspor, he worked his way slowly up the Turkish senior leagues as an assistant and then as a coach in his own right.

Hired by ambitious Osmanlıspor last year, Akçay has led his club through 11 games unbeaten this season, but as the bookish coach told UEFA.com, his next step may be to retire from front-line coaching entirely.

UEFA.com: How do you feel about your record of having never lost a UEFA game?

Mustafa Akçay: When it comes to success, a lot of it is down to fate. I am glad that I have achieved something noteworthy. I am very proud for my parents, who I miss very much. I am at peace with myself and that makes me calmer, more consistent and more enthused by the work. Knowing that warm, respectful relationships are a stepping stone towards success, I can have better relations with the people around me and my players.

UEFA.com: Is there any secret behind your achievements?

Highlights: Osmanlıspor 2-0 Steaua

Akçay: Having started out as a youth coach, I have 30 years tactical and technical experience to call on. If we can make the most of what the club and the players have to offer, I know we can deliver. We can't overlook the importance of attention to detail and consistency in our work either. I can never forget the support that I get from Allah either; there is a saying: "If he says 'fly', then you don't need any wings."

UEFA.com: Is it true that you are planning to quit coaching?

Akçay: That's correct. I will leave the football industry. As a sensitive person, working in this environment has taken a significant toll on me. However, I like the work that I do very much, so I am planning to carry on working in youth football, where I can make use of my creative side. For me, it is the mature thing to do. Football is not just a game. I am planning to make use of some of the free time I get to work on social projects too. I hope God will help me in this.

UEFA.com: What do you think the players can gain from playing in the UEFA Europa League?

Akçay: My personal priority is the Turkish Super League, but we will do as well as we can in Europe. I don't think the players have a problem with that. A lot of people at the club are very proud to be competing in the UEFA Europa League, and that gives our players plenty of motivation and strength out on the pitch. The enthusiasm of the board and our fans also helps us in the Europa League.

Akçay on the bench with Trabzonspor in 2014
Akçay on the bench with Trabzonspor in 2014©Getty Images