Trabzonspor set for Thomas Reis link-up with Salah

Thomas Reis has been appointed head coach of Trabzonspor on a short‑term contract until the end of the season, with an option to extend for another year, linking him up with superstar Mohamed Salah. The German coach arrives after the club dismissed Fatih Tekke.

Fatih Tekke quit unexpectedly after a 4-0 defeat and Europa League elimination at the hands of Ferencvaros. He said, “For the past 18 months, my team and I have been working day and night, giving it our all, trying to figure out what we could do to improve. The team will have to be much better—that’s for sure.”

Reis signs a short contract that runs to the season’s end, with a renewal clause for a further season,

Why Trabzonspor turned to Reis

Before the appointment, Reis spent around two months at Ludogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria, collecting nine points from five games. His brief success attracted the Super Lig club’s attention.

Reis previously managed Samsunspor between 2024 and 2026, leading the side to European qualification in consecutive seasons despite a transfer ban. He arrived at Trabzon airport on Tuesday evening to a warm welcome from fans.

His earlier stint at Schalke 04 in the 2022/23 season proved short‑lived; he was dismissed after four defeats in seven games.

Implications for coach and club

As a player, Reis was a defender who made 176 appearances for Bochum between 1995 and 2003, scoring 18 goals, and earned caps for Germany from U15 to U21 level. He later coached Bochum’s second team in 2014, became a scout, and took charge of the first team in 2019, steering them to promotion and a championship.

Trabzonspor sit ninth after five league games and have invested a record €65 million this summer. Backed by Turkish financial services group Papara, the club last won the Super Lig in 1976 and aim to return to the summit.

The squad includes Mohamed Salah, signed out of contract from Liverpool, goalkeeper Andre Onana on loan from Manchester United, Albanian midfielder Ernest Muci and Brazilian defensive midfielder Fabinho. With an average age of 28, the team will look to the January window for further funds.

Former Cardiff City and Leyton Orient manager Omer Riza praised the appointment: “Reis is an excellent signing; he did well at Samsunspor, leading them to Europe two seasons in a row, in spite of the transfer ban.”