Fatih Tekke resigns as Trabzonspor boss after Europa League play-off defeat

Fatih Tekke has resigned as Trabzonspor manager following the club’s heavy 4-0 defeat by Hungarian side Ferencvarosi TC in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off.

Trabzonspor had already lost the first leg 1-0, leaving them with a 5-0 aggregate defeat and ending their hopes of reaching the league phase of the Europa League. The Turkish club will instead compete in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League, with the draw scheduled to take place on Friday.

Tekke confirmed his decision to step down after the match, bringing an 18-month spell in charge to an end.

“We went through a sad night, of course I am responsible, as is the team,” said Tekke.

“The match was going positively until the red card and, as a result, we did not qualify for the Europa League.”

Trabzonspor’s task became significantly more difficult after Ruslan Malinovskyi was sent off in the 13th minute. Lopez Cabral then received a second red card for the Turkish side in the 57th minute, leaving Trabzonspor with nine players on the pitch.

Mohamed Salah started for Trabzonspor but was substituted in the 63rd minute.

Reflecting on his time as manager, Tekke said he and his coaching staff had spent the past year and a half working to improve the team in every area.

“For 18 months, I thought with my staff about how we could improve in everything. The team will develop more,” he said.

“That is certain. Let me not prolong this. Nobody knows. As of now, I resign from the position I have held for 18 months. Let me keep the right to punish myself.”

Tekke added: “There are matches that cause a person great harm. We went through one of them.”

Ferencvarosi TC’s victory secured their place in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League, while Trabzonspor will continue their European campaign in the UEFA Conference League.

The result leaves Trabzonspor needing to respond quickly, with their next domestic fixture against Amed scheduled for Monday in the third round of the Turkish league.

Tekke’s resignation comes immediately after one of the most damaging results of his tenure. Trabzonspor entered the second leg needing to overturn a one-goal deficit, but the early dismissal of Malinovskyi altered the contest and Ferencvarosi TC went on to complete a decisive aggregate victory.

The Turkish club will now wait for the UEFA Conference League draw to discover their opponents in the competition’s league phase, while Ferencvarosi TC prepare to continue in the Europa League.