Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan has revealed the details behind the swift appointment of head coach Thomas Reis. The club, sitting 9th in the Süper Lig with 7 points from 5 games, moved quickly to secure a new manager after a period of instability following the Amedspor match.

Doğan highlighted Reis's immediate and straightforward response when approached. "He said, 'I won't discuss anything, I'll come the moment you call'," the president stated. This contrasted with other foreign coaches who demanded long-term contracts and significant release clauses, making the deal advantageous for the club. Doğan explained, "Most foreign coaches ask for long contracts and high compensation fees. Thomas Reis didn't have that."

NAMES CONSIDERED

High-profile names like Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola, and Stefano Pioli were considered during the search. Locally, Abdullah Avcı and Şenol Güneş were also mentioned. However, Doğan confirmed there have been no recent discussions with these figures. There were also no formal meetings with Arda Turan or Burak Yılmaz regarding the role. President Doğan said, "We had friendly conversations with Arda Turan and Burak Yılmaz. But there was no official contact regarding the head coach position."

The president said they were impressed by Reis's work at Samsunspor despite a limited squad. Negotiations progressed warmly and quickly, with Reis also praising Trabzonspor's squad as 'valuable with important players'. Doğan stated, "Thomas Reis's work at Samsunspor with a limited squad impressed us. Our negotiations with him progressed very warmly and quickly."

Doğan reiterated his belief in the team's potential, saying, "I believe this squad is one that can become champions and be successful in Europe." The team's form has been inconsistent, with two wins and three losses in their last five matches. Their latest result was a 1-0 defeat to Konyaspor, leaving them six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

Thomas Reis's annual salary is understood to be around 1 million Euros. His contract includes a clause for any potential release fee to be deducted from his pay. Under Reis, Trabzonspor will look to improve their league standing. Their next Süper Lig fixture is at home against 6th-placed Kocaelispor on December 21, 2026.

The report in full is at Hürriyet Spor