Chaos at Mohamed Salah’s Trabzonspor as Manager Fatih Tekke Departs Less Than a Week After Club Blocked His Resignation

Mohamed Salah’s new chapter in Turkish football has descended into early turmoil after Trabzonspor confirmed the departure of head coach Fatih Tekke, less than a week after the club publicly refused to accept his resignation. The decision brings a swift end to Tekke’s tenure and leaves the side searching for stability just five games into the Liverpool legend’s highly anticipated spell in the Super Lig.

The sequence of events began in the aftermath of a humiliating 5-0 defeat by Hungarian side Ferencvaros in the Europa League play-off last week. That heavy loss eliminated Trabzonspor from the competition and left Tekke taking personal responsibility. In a striking statement at the time, the coach declared that he was “imposing this punishment on myself” and submitted his resignation. Trabzonspor, however, moved quickly to reject the offer. Officials made clear that the resignation had “not been accepted” and confirmed Tekke would remain in charge for the upcoming domestic fixture against Amedspor.

Any hopes that the club’s show of support might stabilise the situation were short-lived. On Tuesday, Trabzonspor suffered a 2-1 defeat by Amedspor, compounding the sense of crisis. The result triggered further discussions between the coaching staff and the board. By the end of those talks, both parties had reached a mutual agreement that Tekke would leave his post. In an official statement, the club confirmed the parting of ways and sought to frame the decision as one taken in the best long-term interests of Trabzonspor.

“As a result of the discussions held, we have mutually agreed to part ways with Fatih Tekke in line with Trabzonspor’s interests and future-oriented goals,” the club said. The statement went on to strike a respectful and appreciative tone, acknowledging the contribution Tekke had made during his approximately 18-month spell in charge. “Over the approximately 18-month period he served, Fatih Tekke added significant value to Trabzonspor. In addition to his contributions to the development of the players integrated into our squad during this time, he provided our club with important gains both in sporting and economic terms. By bringing the Turkish Cup to our trophy cabinet, he once again inscribed his name in Trabzonspor history.”

The club emphasised that the decision had been reached by mutual understanding. Tekke himself had expressed that he could never accept his presence causing any harm to the club, and both sides concluded that a new roadmap was inevitable. “At the point we have reached today, we have arrived at a mutual understanding with our coach – who expressed that he could never accept his presence causing any harm to Trabzonspor in any way – that it is inevitable to chart a new roadmap by placing the club’s interests above all else,” the statement continued. “We thank our coach for the effort, dedicated work, successes he achieved, and the value he added to our club up to this point. We wish Fatih Tekke success in his future career; as a member of the Trabzonspor community, I want to express that we will always remember him with respect for the beautiful emotions he brought to our club and the valuable legacy he left behind.”

In a further update, Trabzonspor announced that Hüseyin Cimşir would take temporary charge of the next match while the process of appointing a permanent replacement continues. The club has given no indication of a preferred candidate or a clear timeline for the permanent appointment, leaving supporters in a state of uncertainty at a delicate stage of the season.

The timing of Tekke’s exit is particularly notable because it arrives so early in Mohamed Salah’s spell at the club. The Egyptian forward completed a high-profile move to Trabzonspor in the summer and has already made an impact in front of goal, scoring three times in his first five appearances. Yet the team’s overall results have been underwhelming. Trabzonspor have managed only one victory in their opening three league matches and have already been eliminated from the Europa League, leaving the campaign feeling unsettled almost before it has properly begun.

For a club that invested significant prestige in attracting a player of Salah’s global stature, the early managerial upheaval represents an unwelcome distraction. Tekke’s departure removes the coach who oversaw the start of the new era and forces the board to search for fresh leadership while results remain fragile. The respectful tone of the official statement suggests both parties were keen to avoid a prolonged and damaging public dispute, yet the speed of the turnaround – from blocked resignation to confirmed exit in under a week – underlines the pressure that has rapidly built around the club.

Trabzonspor now face the dual challenge of stabilising results on the pitch and managing the transition in the dugout. Cimşir’s temporary appointment offers a short-term solution, but the longer-term direction will depend on the identity and philosophy of the permanent successor. Meanwhile, Salah and his teammates must navigate the uncertainty while attempting to turn around a start that has already included a heavy European exit and inconsistent domestic form.

The episode serves as a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in football. What began as a bold new chapter for both Salah and Trabzonspor has, within a matter of weeks, been overtaken by managerial change and the need for a fresh start. Whether the club can regain stability and capitalise on the presence of one of the world’s most recognisable forwards will depend on the decisions taken in the coming days and the response of the squad under temporary leadership. For now, the departure of Fatih Tekke marks a turbulent early milestone in Trabzonspor’s season and leaves the Black Sea club searching for answers.