Maidstone United head coach Hakan Hayrettin plotting Wembley return after winning FA Trophy under Martin O'Neill at Wycombe
Published: 00:00, 15 February 2019
Hakan Hayrettin is thinking of a return to Wembley after Maidstone's progress in the FA Trophy.
Hayrettin was part of Martin O'Neill's Wycombe side who thrashed Runcorn 4-1 in the 1993 final.
He was back at Wembley a year later as the Chairboys beat Preston 4-2 in the old Division 3 play-off final.
It's a special place and Hayrettin would love to go back there as Maidstone's head coach.
The Stones are through to the quarter-finals after beating Salford in a third-round replay on Tuesday night.
Victory secured a quarter-final at National North club Stockport on February 23 and Hayrettin said: "This club’s got a great tradition, great support, they’ll get behind their team and we’ll have a go.
"Who doesn’t want to play at Wembley? It was the highlight of my career.
"I don’t think it’s a distraction. At this stage of the season, whatever we do, every game’s a cup final, so the next round against Stockport is a cup final, the next league game’s a cup final.
"They’re all big games and we’re going to try and attack them the best way we can to try and win."
Hayrettin took plenty from O'Neill, who went on to enjoy huge success with Leicester and Celtic.
He treasured his time with the Northern Irishman, now in charge at Nottingham Forest, but rates Stones boss John Still as the biggest influence on his career.
Hayrettin said: "I learnt a lot off Martin O'Neill. He was a deep thinker, he didn't complicate things, but John's my mentor.
"I’m pretty sure John, if he wanted to push himself, could have managed a lot higher but that’s just my opinion.
"I managed before I was with John and I managed after I was with John, but I’m happy to be working with him again.
"He’s a good friend of mine, full of knowledge and I could sit there for hours and talk to him about football.
"It was a great move by the club to bring John in and I’m lucky to be with him."
Maidstone visit bogey side Bromley this Saturday, looking for a first National League win over the Ravens at the sixth attempt.
They could do with a change of luck with the side seven points from safety - and they may just get it under Hayrettin.
He said: "All I know is whenever I’ve played against Bromley, I’ve won.
"I’m looking forward to it, local derbies are always good.”
Maidstone host FC Halifax in a rearranged game on Tuesday.
Read more
Football Maidstone Sport Maidstone United Malling Sport Non League Sevenoaks Sport Sport Sport Football Tonbridge Sport Tunbridge Wells Sport Weald SportMore by this author
Craig Tucker