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 early 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 Ferencváros in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.
While the board initially rejected his resignation to keep stability ahead of the weekend, Monday’s dismal 2-1 Süper Lig defeat away to newly promoted Amedspor proved the final straw, prompting the hierarchy to pull the trigger.
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 on a two-year deal worth a reported €17m per season.
They have also signed a former team-mate of Salah in Brazil midfielder Fabinho.
While Salah has delivered individually, scoring three goals in his first four appearances across all competitions, the team have not performed.
With just four points taken from their opening three league fixtures and an aggregate mauling sending them tumbling out of Europe’s second-tier competition, the pressure became insurmountable.
Clearing house: Lundstram out, Hearts tie looming
Tekke is not the only departure in Trabzon. The club also confirmed the mutual termination of former Rangers and Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram’s contract, just a year after he arrived in Turkey and following a loan spell with Hull City.
The fallout carries major continental ramifications. Crashing out of the Europa League has dropped Trabzonspor into the UEFA Conference League league phase, where Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian are scheduled to travel 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.
