Filipe Çelikkaya

Did You Know?

• Çelikkaya's father, from Eskişehir, Turkey, was on a European tour of over two years when he met his mother in Portugal.
• Both of his parents were unemployed when he was born; his father later obtained work in industry.

Early life and playing career

Çelikkaya was born in Lisbon to a Turkish father from Eskişehir and a Portuguese mother. He grew up mostly in Almada, with a brief period in Estarreja. A youth player at C.F. Os Belenenses alongside Ruben Amorim, he began coaching studies early after realizing he would not become a professional. He later played college soccer for the Sacred Heart Pioneers in Connecticut.

Managerial career

Filipe Çelikkaya’s coaching approach was influenced by a book his father gave him, The Theory of Collective Sport. He started in Benfica’s academy, then followed Bruno Lage to Al Ahli SC as an assistant. He later worked under Luís Castro at G.D. Chaves, Vitória de Guimarães, and Shakhtar Donetsk. In 2020, Sporting CP manager Rúben Amorim put him in charge of the reserve team, where 25 players, including Eduardo Quaresma and Geny Catamo, moved up to the senior side over four years. He left in May 2024 to seek a head coaching role. After turning down Beşiktaş in December 2024, he became Gregg Berhalter’s assistant at Chicago Fire FC in January 2025. On 22 June 2026, he was appointed manager of Hungarian club Zalaegerszegi TE on a one-year contract, replacing Nuno Campos.