Duygu Erdoğan: Coach, Mentor, Game-Changer
- Gareth Mullins
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 19 hours ago
Just over a month ago, Edgewater Castle FC’s Men’s First Team squad had its most successful season in club history, winning the ISSA Open Cup and securing promotion after topping the Midwest Premier League’s Heartland Division 2, both team firsts. Much of this success has been due to the team’s head coach and technical director Duygu Erdoğan, whose style of coaching left a lasting impression on her players including Men’s First Team captain Quentin “Q” Benedetto.
“The most important thing that I believe Coach [Duygu] brought to the team that was able to carry us to the success that we had was her dedication, passion, and love for the sport,” said Benedetto. “In years past, that intensity and buy-in hasn't been [with the squad]. [Coach] Duygu was able to change the trajectory of the club through her dedication and her heart.”
With her momentous summer season finished and the Fall season about to begin, we sat down with Coach Duygu to discuss her past, present, and future as a record-breaking head coach.
Let’s first talk about where you started on your coaching journey. Can you take me back to when you first fell in love with the game — where did it start for you?
“I think my earliest sources of inspiration came from my childhood — the places I grew up and, of course, the countless hours I spent playing football with my friends. Later, I started drawing inspiration from players and teams. I still feel that excitement today; my passion hasn’t faded at all.”
Who were the biggest influences on your coaching philosophy when you were just starting out?
“In the early days of shaping my coaching philosophy, the biggest influences were the people I worked with — their approaches and the way they supported me. I feel very fortunate to have started my coaching career with the right people. Their guidance continues to influence me even today. You know, there are always people you admire or enjoy watching; that’s completely normal. For me, the inspiration came from how they approached the game and shared their knowledge. That period was the best time of my career so far. Sadly, one of the key figures from that era is no longer with us, which is a tremendous loss for me.”
How did you develop that philosophy? What factors influenced you when putting your philosophy together?
“Developing my coaching philosophy has been a two-stage process. The first stage was about being “the first” — almost like a fight for existence. You had to face that challenge, and that struggle shaped your path. It took me a long time to reach the second stage. Eventually, I detached myself from all of that. My focus became purely on my own purpose: What do I want, and how can I achieve it? I concentrated on that and prepared accordingly. I was constantly thinking about how to structure my own ideas and communicate them effectively — just like any coach.”
Did you always know you wanted to coach, or did that come later?
“After ending my playing career, yes, I knew coaching was what I wanted. Perhaps I could have started earlier, but given the circumstances at the time, I had to make that decision — and I did.”
How about we now talk about your time in Europe, where you spent time being the Assistant Coach at Galatasaray from 2010 to 2013, winning the Turkish Championship in the 2012/2013 season. How was it being a part of such a storied club?
At that time, I was a very young coach, trying to gain experience — completely normal and natural. I would describe myself as having a student-coach mindset during that period. The game itself is incredibly fast and full of variables; you have to act quickly while making the right decisions. Every move happens at the highest level of football. Everything takes place in front of everyone’s eyes, with top-level players and teams working in perfect harmony, and the fans’ energy adds an amazing atmosphere. It’s a true football environment and one of the most high-level experiences you can have. For a new coach just starting their career, these moments were invaluable — a chance to experience everything at the top level.”
What’s one aspect from your time overseas that you’ll never forget, something that still drives you today?
“The respect I received from people, especially from top-level head coaches, was always incredibly motivating. There were so many inspiring elements. For example, from my time in America, Gregg Berhalter’s approach toward me and my career was especially meaningful and valuable.”
Speaking of America, let’s talk about your transition from coaching in Europe to working in America. Why did you leave your career in Europe to start teaching soccer to children when you first moved to the US?
“First of all, as you know, I transferred to the United States as an assistant coach for a professional men’s team. I believe that was a first at the time, and maybe even in American soccer history. After my contract ended, I decided to stay. I began to see that period as a kind of school for myself, because there was something here that truly drew me in. Throughout life, people graduate from many schools, and some of our experiences serve as personal exams or lessons. Throughout my career, I’ve always been confident, but I never made any guarantees to anyone. All of these experiences laid the foundation for my successful career as an assistant coach. They were high-level experiences I gained both as a professional coach and as a student-coach. At a certain point, it was time to move into a different phase — to step into something new [in America]. I started by creating a ‘school’ for myself, and that process was about building that next stage. The education and experiences I gained weren’t just for observation; they were meant to be shared and multiplied. Now, as I continue to build my career, I can share these experiences with everyone as a football educator.”
You mentioned building a “school” for yourself - do you see yourself now as much of a student of the game as your former pupils?
I’m currently in the process of building my head coaching career, which is why I’m preparing myself at the highest level in many areas within my own “school.” This perspective gives me a very broad and open outlook.”
How has it been coaching different age groups of soccer players? Have you changed your approach from coaching one to another?”
“As a very young head coach, I make a conscious effort to understand the generation I will be working with. Communication and empathy must be genuine; otherwise, knowledge remains empty and lifeless. Being a student in my own ‘school’ is an incredibly enjoyable and unique experience for me.”
Now let’s talk about your last season coaching the ECFC Men’s Team First Team, where you became the first woman to lift the ISSA Men’s Open Cup as a head coach. What was going through your mind?
“At first, you don’t really think about it. Then someone tells you that you’re the “first,” and that’s when it sinks in. The goal is never just to be the first, but when you realize you are, it’s a very special feeling and it gives you strong motivation. Sometimes there’s only one path — to succeed. I see myself as a traveler on that path, because I don’t have another option. Every experience I’ve had there has also been a “first” for me, and I’m learning how to navigate it step by step. Of course, the greatest contribution came from my players and my club for the support they gave me and for believing in me. We achieved everything together. They are truly very precious to me.”
Did you feel the weight of that moment beyond just your team — like you were representing something bigger?
“At first, you don’t really think about it. Then someone tells you that you’re the “first,” and that’s when it sinks in. The goal is never just to be the first, but when you realize you are, it’s a very special feeling and it gives you strong motivation. Sometimes there’s only one path — to succeed. I see myself as a traveler on that path, because I don’t have another option. Every experience I’ve had there has also been a “first” for me, and I’m learning how to navigate it step by step.”
How have you seen perceptions of women in men’s soccer shift over your career, and where do you think things still need to change?
“There are still significant disparities in many areas, especially when it comes to rights and financial matters. In many clubs, there are either no women coaches or very few, and sometimes they are included just because it’s expected. We’re still trying to succeed within opportunities that often feel limited or conditional. I believe that, in time, people will better understand why this journey has unfolded the way it has. My aim is to contribute to world football — and especially to women’s football.”
Finally, let’s reflect on your overall career. What has been the toughest challenge you’ve faced so far, and how did you push through it?
“I believe I’ve faced many challenges in my career. But I don’t try to “fight” them; instead, I shift my perspective. In those moments, I set myself only one clear goal and focus on it. I’ve always been someone who looks ahead, especially when it comes to football. Within the game, you encounter every kind of journey and experience. In the past, when I wasn’t in the place others expected me to be, their reactions — seeing it as falling behind or failing — were difficult for me to deal with. Now, I see how meaningless that is.”
Looking back, what thread connects all these very different stages of your journey, from coaching in Europe, to teaching kids, and now being the Men’s First Team head coach at ECFC?
“The common thread in all these stages has always been my love for football and my identity as a coach. I am a football coach and also an educator. I feel I am at the right stage of life, with the energy and dynamism needed to experience everything this profession has to offer.”
What do you picture your next chapter in your coaching journey to be?
“This year, I began my UEFA PRO License course, and my priority is to complete it. After that, the next step will reveal itself with time and the journey ahead.”
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