Trabzonspor Pursues Thomas Reis as New Head Coach
Trabzonspor have accelerated their hunt for a new head coach, with Turkish reports saying talks with German manager Thomas Reis have moved into a decisive stage following the death of Fatih Tekke.
Club sources quoted in the local press say the Black Sea side have already tabled a concrete offer to Reis, who is currently in charge of Bulgarian champions Ludogorets. The proposal would see him take over immediately and lead the team through the remainder of the current season.
Short deal, big plan
Trabzonspor did not linger after Tekke’s departure was confirmed. They went straight for a familiar name to Turkish fans.
Reis carved out a strong reputation in the Super League with his work at Samsunspor, and that spell has clearly stayed in the minds of decision-makers in Trabzon. According to Turkish outlet “61saat”, club officials have already held an initial face-to-face meeting with the 50-year-old, outlining a clear roadmap for the coming months.
The leaked details point to a contract running only until the end of this season. On paper, it looks like a trial. Behind the scenes, it is being framed very differently.
Sources close to the negotiations insist Trabzonspor do not view Reis as a stopgap. The short deal is seen as the opening chapter of a longer project, one that would be activated if results and performances under the German meet expectations by season’s end.
The message is simple: deliver now, and the keys to a long-term rebuild are yours.
Numbers that turn heads
What is driving this level of conviction? The numbers out of Bulgaria are hard to ignore.
Since taking over Ludogorets on 12 July 2026, Reis has overseen 11 matches and produced an average of 2.18 points per game. That kind of return, over any stretch, demands attention. For Trabzonspor’s hierarchy, it signals a coach who imposes his ideas quickly and effectively.
That “frightening” figure, as described in the Turkish press, has become a central part of the internal argument for bringing him back to Turkey. It suggests not just stability, but momentum.
From Bochum to the Black Sea?
Reis arrives at this point with a solid, if understated, résumé.
He cut his teeth in youth coaching, working with the under-19 teams at Bochum and Wolfsburg, before stepping into senior management with Bochum’s first team. A spell at Schalke 04 followed, exposing him to the pressure and scrutiny of one of Germany’s most demanding clubs.
His first Turkish adventure with Samsunspor then added a new dimension to his profile. The stint left a positive impression on Super League observers and clearly opened the door now being pushed wide by Trabzonspor. From there, he moved on to Ludogorets, where his swift impact has only strengthened his candidacy.
Talks are ongoing. The framework is on the table.
If Reis signs on and the results match the numbers he has just posted in Bulgaria, Trabzonspor may not just be appointing Tekke’s successor – they could be locking in the architect of their next era.
