Trabzonspor have parted company with head coach Fatih Tekke by mutual consent, plunging the Turkish heavyweights into chaos less than a month after pulling off the blockbuster signing of Mohamed Salah.
Tekke, who took charge in March 2025 and guided the club to Turkish Cup glory last season, tendered his resignation last week following an embarrassing 5-0 aggregate drubbing against Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.
While the board initially rejected Tekke resignation to keep stability, Monday’s dismal 2-1 Super Lig defeat at promoted Amedspor proved the final straw, prompting the hierarchy to act.
Mohamed Salah, @SuperLig’e merhaba dedi! 👋#TrendyolSüperLig | @Trabzonspor | @MoSalah pic.twitter.com/zJKXe7jGGg
— Trendyol Süper Lig (@superlig) August 25, 2026
How have Trabzonspor started the 2026/27 season?
The Black Sea Storm invested heavily this summer, headlined by landing 34-year-old Liverpool icon Salah as a free agent on a two-year deal worth a reported €17m (£14.6m) per season.
Trabzonspor have also signed a former Reds team-mate of Salah in Brazil midfielder Fabinho.
While Salah has delivered individually by scoring three goals in his first four appearances across all competitions, the team have not performed.
With just four points from their opening three league fixtures and an exit from Europe’s second-tier competition, the pressure became insurmountable.
Trabzonspor fixtures: Conference League 2026/27
Tekke is not the only departure in Trabzon. Rangers and Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram, who spent last season on loan at Hull City, has had his contract terminated two years after arriving in Turkiye.
Crashing out of the Europa League has dropped Trabzonspor into the league phase of the UEFA Conference League, starting with a trip to Finnish side Kups on October 15, followed by the visit of Scottish Premiership team Heart of Midlothian to the Papara Park on October 22.
Hearts will now be bracing to face a side possessing Salah’s firepower, but likely operating under an entirely new managerial setup.
