Trabzonspor head coach Fatih Tekke resigned following their Europa League exit, but the club's board rejected his resignation, deeming it an emotional decision. According to a report by The Athletic, Tekke will remain in charge, starting with Monday's Super Lig match against Amedspor.
The Turkish side crashed out of the Europa League play-offs on Thursday, August 27, 2026, after a 4-0 second-leg defeat to Ferencvaros in Budapest, losing the tie 5-0 on aggregate. Trabzonspor finished the match with nine men after red cards for Ruslan Malinovskyi and Sidny Lopes Cabral. In the immediate aftermath of the heavy loss, Tekke tendered his resignation, which the board attributed to the emotional intensity of the moment.
Why did Tekke offer to resign?
Fatih Tekke has been in charge since March 2025 and led the club to Turkish Cup glory in the 2025-26 season. The scale of the European defeat, however, prompted his decision. He said, "Misfortune and bad luck are all acceptable, but I cannot accept this performance. I cannot sleep with this feeling. May everyone forgive me." The board interpreted this statement and the resignation offer as a sign of his deep commitment to the team and insisted he continue his work.
Tekke will be on the touchline for the Monday night fixture as Trabzonspor look to build on their start to the domestic season. The club currently sits 4th in the Super Lig with 4 points from two games, having won one and drawn one. Their league standing shows they are 3 points behind early leaders Gençlerbirliği S.K.. They have scored 3 goals and conceded 2, giving them a +1 goal difference.
Summer signings and European consolation
Trabzonspor strengthened significantly this summer, most notably by signing Mohamed Salah from Liverpool. The 34-year-old Egypt international signed a two-year contract with an annual compensation package of €17 million, consisting of a €10 million salary and a €7 million signing-on fee per season. Salah is also entitled to 20% of merchandise sales related to him.
The club also brought in Ukraine midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi from Genoa and Cape Verde World Cup star Sidny Lopes Cabral from Benfica, both of whom were sent off in the decisive European tie. Former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho joined as a free agent after leaving Al Ittihad. Integrating these new players into the first-team squad will be key to their domestic campaign.
Missing out on the Europa League means Trabzonspor will now compete in the league phase of the 2026-27 Europa Conference League. They qualified for Europe by finishing third in the Super Lig last season, seven points behind champions Galatasaray. The club, which has won the Turkish top flight seven times, most recently in the 2021-22 season, also lifted the Turkish Cup last term.
What happens next for Trabzonspor?
With Tekke confirmed to stay, the immediate focus shifts to league consistency. The 4 points from the opening two games provide a decent platform, but the team must move on from the European disappointment. Their next major league test is an away derby against Fenerbahçe, who are 8th, on December 13, 2026. The matches leading up to that crucial clash on the fixtures list will be vital.
The board's show of faith in Tekke is a significant moment. However, expectations remain high, especially following the high-profile arrival of Mohamed Salah, for a strong showing both in the Super Lig and the Europa Conference League. Addressing defensive and midfield discipline, highlighted by the red cards in Budapest, will be an immediate priority. Maintaining their league position and closing the gap to the top is the clear objective for the rest of the season.
