Trabzonspor boss leaves club as Hearts Conference League opponent braces for change after managerial U-turn
Hearts are due to play the Turkish side in the Conference League.
Trabzonspor have confirmed the exit of their head coach as one of Hearts’ Conference League opponents prepares for change.
The Turkish Super Lig club, who signed Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah earlier this summer, have parted ways with Fatih Tekke after missing out on the Europa League. He had been in charge since 2025 and won the Turkish Cup with Trabzonspor last season. Tekke tendered his resignation following the side’s 4-0 loss to Hungarian side Ferencvaros, losing 5-0 on aggregate, in Europa League play-off action. They finished the first leg thumping with nine players after Ruslan Malinovskyi and Sidny Lopes Cabral were sent off but Tekke’s request was initially booted out.
Amedspor defeated Trabzonspor 2-1 on Monday and a mutual parting of ways has now been confirmed. They are one of Hearts’ six opponents in the league phase of the Conference League this season after finishing third in the Super Lig last campaign, seven points behind champions Galatasaray. Hearts are due to travel to Turkey on October 22.
Why have Trabzonspor parted company with their manager?
A statement reads: “Our Vice President Serkan Kılıc met with our Technical Director Fatih Tekke to comprehensively evaluate the current process and the future of our team. 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.
“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.
“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. We thank our coach for the effort, dedicated work, successes he achieved, and the value he added to our club up to this point.
What former Rangers player has left Trabzonspor?
“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.”
Meanwhile, former Rangers midfielder John Lundstram has had his deal terminated, having joined the club in 2024 and spending last term on loan at Hull City. A statement on the former Rangers player reads: “The professional football player contract between our club and our professional football player John David Lundstram has been mutually terminated.”
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