Trabzonspor Negotiates with Thomas Reis for Coaching Role
Trabzonspor have accelerated their hunt for a new head coach, with Turkish reports stating the club has moved into a decisive stage of negotiations with German manager Thomas Reis to succeed the late Fatih Tekke.
The Black Sea club did not linger after Tekke’s departure was confirmed. Club officials quickly opened intensive talks with Reis, a coach who left a strong impression in Turkey during his spell with Samsunspor in the Super League and has since enhanced his reputation abroad.
Clear plan on the table
According to Turkish outlet “61saat”, Trabzonspor’s hierarchy have already held a first face-to-face meeting with Reis, who is currently in charge of Bulgarian heavyweights Ludogorets. During that meeting, the club laid out a clear roadmap for the coming months and presented their initial offer.
The proposal centres on a contract running until the end of the current season. It would serve as a trial phase, a chance for both sides to test the partnership in real competition before committing to a longer agreement.
Inside the club, though, this is not being framed as a short-term patch. Sources close to the talks insist Trabzonspor view Reis as the potential cornerstone of a long-term project. The length and scope of any extended deal would hinge on how the team performs under his leadership by season’s end – results, style of play, and overall progression.
Numbers that command attention
What is driving Trabzonspor’s push is not just familiarity with Reis from his time in Turkey, but the hard data coming out of Bulgaria.
Since taking over at Ludogorets on 12 July 2026, the German has overseen 11 matches and delivered an imposing average of 2.18 points per game. For a coach stepping into a new league and environment, that return underlines how quickly his tactical ideas have taken hold.
Those figures have not gone unnoticed in Trabzon. They see a coach who can impose structure fast, maintain high standards and adapt to pressure – all essential qualities for a club with title ambitions and a demanding fan base.
From youth dugouts to the Super League spotlight
Reis brings a substantial coaching résumé to the table. He cut his teeth in youth development, working with the under-19 teams at Bochum and Wolfsburg, before stepping into senior management.
His first major opportunities came back in Germany, where he took charge of the first teams at Bochum and Schalke 04, two clubs steeped in tradition and expectation. That background hardened him for intense footballing environments.
His first taste of Turkish football came with Samsunspor, where he delivered a notable spell that raised his profile on Turkish soil and opened the door to future opportunities in the region. From there, he moved to Bulgaria and continued to build his reputation with Ludogorets.
Now, Trabzonspor are testing how far that journey can go. If negotiations reach agreement and results match the numbers he has already produced, the German could soon be at the heart of a new long-term project on the Black Sea coast.
