Trabzonspor have moved quickly to retain their head coach Fatih Tekke, rejecting his resignation just hours after the Turkish club were eliminated from the Europa League in emphatic fashion. The seven-time Super Lig champions suffered a 4-0 defeat away to Ferencvaros on Thursday evening, a result that confirmed a 5-0 aggregate loss in the play-off tie and brought their hopes of competing in the competition's league phase to an abrupt end.

In the immediate aftermath, Tekke — appointed to the role in March 2025 — tendered his resignation. By Friday morning, however, the club had made their position clear, issuing a statement explaining that his decision stemmed from the "intense emotional impact" of the defeat rather than any considered long-term judgement. Trabzonspor, in short, were not prepared to let the heat of the moment dictate the direction of their season.

It is, on reflection, an understandable instinct from the board. Tekke oversaw a third-place finish in the Super Lig last season, a respectable return that secured European football for the club in the first place. Judging a manager solely on the basis of a heavy away leg, however painful, would be a short-sighted response — and Trabzonspor appear to recognise as much.

The club will now compete in the UEFA Europa Conference League as a consequence of the aggregate defeat, and will learn their six opponents for the league phase of that competition on Friday. It represents a step down from where ambitions pointed at the start of the summer, but the Conference League remains a meaningful stage, particularly given the considerable investment Trabzonspor have made in their squad over recent months.

That investment has attracted considerable attention across European football. Mohamed Salah, 34, made the widely discussed decision to join the club after mutually agreeing to end his contract at Liverpool, where he scored 257 goals in 442 appearances to become the third-highest scorer in the club's history, behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt. The Egyptian marked his arrival in Turkish football by netting twice in a 2-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir at the weekend, suggesting there is no shortage of motivation in his new surroundings.

Alongside Salah, Trabzonspor have added Fabinho — another figure familiar to Premier League supporters — as well as Andre Onana, who has rejoined the club on loan from Manchester United. It is a roster assembled with unmistakable ambition, which makes the European exit all the more frustrating from a club perspective and perhaps explains the raw emotion on the touchline that prompted Tekke's initial decision.

Whether the squad can be properly galvanised for a Conference League campaign remains to be seen. The draw on Friday will give the coaching staff a clearer picture of the challenge ahead. For now, the immediate task is to ensure stability: a manager who guided the club to third place last term, and who presides over a squad of genuine quality, is not someone Trabzonspor will lightly discard.

The rejection of the resignation suggests the board retains its faith in Tekke. Supporters will hope the coming days bring clarity, and that the club can redirect their energies towards making their European adventure count — even if it arrives in a competition that was not originally the destination.

Frequently asked

Why did Trabzonspor get knocked out of the Europa League?
Trabzonspor lost 5-0 on aggregate to Hungarian side Ferencvaros in the Europa League play-off round, including a 4-0 defeat in the away leg on Thursday. As a result, they will now compete in the UEFA Europa Conference League instead.
Who is Fatih Tekke and when did he become Trabzonspor manager?
Fatih Tekke is the Trabzonspor head coach, appointed to the role in March 2025. He guided the club to a third-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig last season before tendering his resignation following the Europa League exit, which the club subsequently rejected.
Is Mohamed Salah really playing for Trabzonspor?
Yes. Salah joined Trabzonspor this summer after mutually agreeing to end his contract at Liverpool. He scored twice on his debut in a 2-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir and is joined at the club by fellow high-profile signings Fabinho and, on loan, Andre Onana.