Samsunspor turns to ex-Union Berlin coach Bjelica after Fink's exit

While Thorsten Fink was dismissed after 25 games and a points average of 1.48 in the Turkish Süper Lig, Samsunspor immediately hired the 55‑year‑old Croatian Nenad Bjelica as the new coach. The former Union Berlin manager signs until the end of the season and will travel to Samsun on Wednesday to finalize the contract.

Fink's failed season

Fink arrived at Samsunspor in the summer and led the league's eighth‑most valuable team to only one win in the first seven matches. Highly‑rated players such as striker Marius Mouandilmadji (28, Olympiakos), Carlo Holse (27, St. Louis) and Rick van Drongelen (27, Panathinaikos) left the club already in the summer. Transfer income amounts to roughly €27 million, while expenditures stand at €14 million.

Bjelica's new challenge

Bjelica was most recently employed at Dinamo Zagreb from September to December 2024, after having guided the team to four titles from 2018 to 2020. Prior to that he gathered Süper Lig experience at Trabzonspor in 16 games from April to October 2023, with eight wins, eight draws and no defeats. In Berlin‑Köpenick he was in charge from November 2023 to May 2024 across 22 matches, but was dismissed shortly before the end of the season.

The Turkish top‑flight club thus again relies on a manager with Bundesliga experience. In addition to Bjelica, Valérien Ismaël has already been linked as a possible successor; the former coach of 1. FC Nürnberg, VfL Wolfsburg, LASK and Besiktas was most recently active until February with the English second‑division side Blackburn Rovers.

The club forums of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga are discussing the decision intensively. In the community forums, gaming sections and support areas, there are reports about premium‑service options and the new video format for the latest transfers.

Analysis posts on the club forums show that fans view the financial balance of €27 million in revenue against €14 million in expenses positively, although the sporting results have so far been disappointing.

The next step for Samsunspor is now to implement Bjelica's concept in the remaining games and to stabilise the squad strength after the summer departures.