‘Salah has thrown Trabzonspor into turmoil’ – Coach chaos after latest embarrassment

28 Aug 2026 10:35 BST | 4 min read

Mohamed Salah, Trabzonspor, 2026/27 — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor has not started in the manner he would have wished, and the Liverpool legend is about to find the pressure cranked up on him further after a shock Europa League defeat.

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The Turkish side are banking on their new Egyptian forward to lead them into a period of prosperity, yet instead they find themselves heading for the Conference League having been thoroughly humbled over two legs by Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros 5-0 on aggregate.

Such was the chastening nature of Trabzonspor’s 4-0 midweek loss in Hungary, Salah was hauled off midway through the second half as part of a damage-limitation exercise. By that point, the tie was a lost cause. His side trailed 3-0 and were down to nine men.

STATS

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Trabzonspor

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Trabzonspor

4

Games
2

Goals
0

Assists

The Liverpool icon scored his first goals for his new side last weekend in a 2-1 win over Basaksehir, but across the four matches he has played, Trabzonspor have recorded only one victory.

It prompted a resignation offer from head coach Fatih Tekke following the midweek loss. This was turned down by the board.

Salah’s nightmare evening: Onana with more dribbles and passes

If Salah had individually performed solidly in the first leg, the 33-year-old was unable to make an impact in Hungary.

Even accounting for his side’s numerical disadvantage, the numbers he posted were alarming. He failed to muster a shot during the match and was outperformed in completed dribbles, passes and touches by goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Salah vs Onana (Ferencvaros vs Trabzonspor)

	Andre Onana	Mohamed Salah
Minutes	90	64
Completed passes	21	11
Touches	54	21
Shots	0	0
Successful dribbles	1	0

Following his first start for the club, the situation in Trabzon was described as a “major mess” by the local media, but the situation has since deteriorated, with reports in Turkey indicating that Tekke’s decision to hand in his resignation was driven by the new superstar signing.

“Salah has thrown Trabzonspor into turmoil,” anonymous insiders are quoted by Haberler as having said.

© Screenshot - An image of Salah on the bench has prompted tabloid speculation that he regrets his move

The player has not made any comment, but speculation is rife among the Turkish tabloid media that the player ‘regrets’ moving to the club. This has been fuelled by an image of the former Liverpool star on the bench in the closing minutes of the game looking glum.

For a player used to competing on Europe’s biggest stage with the Anfield giants, this is an enormous comedown.

He has signed a two-year deal with Trabzonspor that was expected to be funded by the club’s progress in Europe, but having surprisingly missed out on the Europa League, there is the potential for a shortfall in their budget.

The Super Lig club, however, have recorded record merchandise and season ticket sales following the arrival of the Egyptian, whose arrival has generated unprecedented interest in the club.

However, should the project continue to falter in this way, scrutiny on Salah’s surprise decision to move to Trabzonspor will only increase.