Trabzonspor in Talks with Thomas Reis to Replace Fatih Tekke

Trabzonspor have accelerated their hunt for a new head coach, with Turkish reports stating the club has moved into a decisive phase of talks with German manager Thomas Reis to succeed the late Fatih Tekke.

The Black Sea club reacted quickly after Tekke’s departure was confirmed, opening intensive negotiations with Reis, whose stock in Turkey rose sharply after his impressive spell with Samsunspor in the Super League.

Clear plan on the table

According to Turkish outlet “61saat”, club officials have already held an initial face‑to‑face meeting with Reis, who is currently in charge of Bulgarian champions Ludogorets. During that sit‑down, Trabzonspor’s hierarchy reportedly outlined a clear roadmap for the coming months.

The proposal on the table is said to be a contract running until the end of the current season. It is framed as a first “trial” phase, but insiders insist it is anything but a short‑term patch.

From the boardroom, the message is different: this is the opening chapter of a longer project. If results and performances meet expectations by season’s end, the agreement is designed to evolve into a more extended tenure for the 50‑year‑old German.

Numbers that turn heads

What is driving Trabzonspor’s push? The figures coming out of Bulgaria.

Since taking over Ludogorets on 12 July 2026, Reis has overseen 11 matches and produced an eye‑catching average of 2.18 points per game. For a coach still relatively new to that dressing room, it is a return that underlines how quickly his tactical ideas take hold.

Those “frightening” numbers, as described in the Turkish press, have only strengthened the belief in Trabzon that he is the right man to steer the club through a turbulent period and into a more stable future.

A coach shaped in Germany, tested in Turkey

Reis arrives on this shortlist with a substantial résumé behind him. He cut his teeth in youth development, working with the under‑19 teams at Bochum and Wolfsburg, before stepping up to senior management at Bochum’s first team and then Schalke 04.

His first taste of Turkish football with Samsunspor left a strong impression. That stint showcased his ability to adapt to the league’s rhythm and pressure, a key factor in Trabzonspor’s interest as they look for someone who can hit the ground running rather than learn on the job.

From Germany’s academies to the Bundesliga, from Samsun to Razgrad, Reis has steadily built a profile of a coach who imposes structure quickly and demands intensity.

Now Trabzonspor must decide: is he the man to carry Tekke’s legacy forward and anchor their next project, or just the next name in a restless search for stability on the Black Sea coast?