Hamit Altintop's 420-Word Letter: “If you succeed, that success is yours. If you fail, the responsibility is ours. You will write the story!”

Hamit Altintop (43), former Turkish national team right-midfielder and player for Real Madrid, Bayern, and Galatasaray, has sent an emotional message to Vincenzo Montella's squad ahead of Thursday's 2026 World Cup playoff semi-final against Romania in Istanbul.

The former international, with 82 caps and 7 goals for the Crescent-Stars, aimed to further motivate Vincenzo Montella's national team, which will face Romania on Thursday at Beşiktaş's stadium. Hamit Altintop posted a 420-word open letter on his Instagram account.

“To Our National Team
Preparation has begun.
It's a crucial match between Romania and Turkey in Istanbul.
Then, hopefully, in 5 days, the last big final on the road to World Cup qualification...

Dear Montella,
And my dear brothers and sisters,
You are the ones who will end this 24-year wait. I believe this with all my heart.
From day one, you embarked on this journey with great faith, questioning nothing and making no excuses.
I have no doubt.
But that's football... You never know until you play.

I can say this with full confidence:
If Turkey qualifies for the World Cup, it will be thanks to your hard work, character, and belief.
If we cannot go, the responsibility is ours.
I first set foot in Riva in 1999, when I was 17.
Back then, I was at the U18 national team training camp. Our coach was the late Gündüz Tekin Onay, and his assistant, Osman Denizci.
In Riva, there was almost nothing except a single small building and two golf courses.
There was a small market in the village, and when we were allowed, we would walk there.

Looking from 2026, Riva will have modern facilities, investments, developments, and even a golf course.
The picture is beautiful.
But when we look at football;
Betting, match-fixing, our results in Europe, the quality of the league...
Unfortunately, there are still significant shortcomings.
Both at youth and senior team levels;
working environments, the approach to football, respect for football...

Yes, there is interest. There is enthusiasm. There are fans.
But a solid foundation is still missing.
Education is missing. Order is missing. The system is missing.
Looking back at the past;
Achievements in 2002, 2008, and 2024…
For the most part, it came down to having character, team spirit, courage, and goodwill.

But now we know that this is not enough.
More is needed.
What I want to say is:
Play with courage.
Play with hope.
Play with enthusiasm.
But never lose your balance:
Off the field, be humble and modest...
On the field, act like a confident, courageous team that doesn't bow down to the opponent.

Hakan, do you remember…
I gave the team that blank notebook with A4 pages.
“Fill this out,” we said.
But not the way everyone else fills it…
This notebook;
It would be filled with characters, not as an excuse.

And on that day, we talked about it all the time:
You will write the story.
You will determine how you will be remembered.
Anyone who wants to wear this jersey,
First, they will carry themselves.

Off the field, humility,
Courage on the field...
And we always talked about this:
When the flag is raised,
Anyone who cannot grow under this jersey cannot wear it.

Anyone who wants to be on this team,
Must grow under that flag.
Because this is not just a place for good players…
Those with character remain here.

But I also know this:
You have courage.
You have that character.
I remember it like it was yesterday...
Our first training camp in October 2021…
How we started, how you grew, how you matured...
Arda, Kenan, Orkun, Eren, Barıș, Yunus, Kerem, İsmail…
And all my brothers and sisters, whom I cannot name individually here…

I see how you are all developing and getting stronger.
And you are aware of this.
You have a long way to go.
The goal is not just for today.
The target is 2032.
You are the pioneers of this path.

Those who come after you will follow in your footsteps.
May God help you.
Our prayers are with you.
And don't forget:
If you succeed, that success is yours.
If you fail, the responsibility is ours.
But I believe...
You will write this story in the most beautiful way.
Former National Football Player,
Hamit

Hamit Altintop lost twice against Romania in the three matches he played for the Turkish national team: 0-2 in a friendly in August 2007, then 0-1 at home in the Euro 2014 qualifiers, and won in a friendly in August 2010 (2-0), also on home soil. He played in a semi-final at Euro 2008, a 2-3 loss to Germany.