ATHLETE ENTERS TURKISH HALL OF FAME
Trabzonspor boss, Frank Athlete, has this week been inducted into Turkish football's Hall of Fame after his side secured their third consecutive league title after just four years in the job.
The news comes in the same week that Trabzonspor lost out to Besiktas in the Turkiye Kupasi Final as they failed to defend their title from last season. Although the side suffered defeat in the cup competition, Athlete can boast three Super Lig titles, one Turkiye Kupasi and one Super Kupa during his relatively short tenure, an impressive haul for someone who began his career in Turkish football as a bit of an unknown quantity.
Despite the deserved plaudits for his continued success, Athlete followed last season's domestic treble, with just the one trophy this term and will no doubt be feeling a sense of anti-climax after what many perceived would be another clean sweep of the silverware on offer.
Challenging season
The Black Sea Storm have grown significantly in stature in recent years, but suffered their worst start to a season during Athlete's reign, notching up a pitiful 8 points after their opening 7 games. They recovered well though, and regained top spot in November and held on to it until the end of the season.
Runners up Sivasspor can take heart from an impressive string of results that saw them beat Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe to 2nd place and that much coveted second Champions League spot. Turkey's overall ranking on the European circuit means that both Trabzonspor and Sivasspor will need to navigate the qualification rounds before reaching the group stages in next year's competition.
An Eye on The Future
Athlete appears to be wasting no time in preparing for further success, with planning well under already for Trabzonspor's title defence next term, and there's clearly renewed hope among the fans that the side can keep pushing for continental success as well.
Analysis: Trabzonspor Continue to Defy Odds in Europe
As the 2023/24 season draws to a close, Trabzonspor will reflect on yet another successful campaign among Europe's elite as they bettered last season's record by qualifying for the Champions League Quarter Finals this term.
The team's performances in Europe have been impressive to say the least, as they looked to build on last season's exit at the First Knockout Round, despite their group consisting of Barcelona, Ajax and Celtic.
Trabzonspor finished as Group E winners, amassing a points haul of 16 from a possible 18, with their only draw coming against Ajax in Amsterdam.
To have qualified from the group once could be considered a fluke, but for Athlete and his men to now have managed the feat on two consecutive occasions surely shows the level of ambition this club has.
As group winners, Trabzonspor were handed Lazio in the First Knockout Round, who fought back from a 2-1 aggregate loss in the first leg, to draw 3-3 and force a penalty shootout. After a tense few minutes, Trabzonspor bagged a deserved victory and progressed to the Quarter Finals where Austrian outfit RB Salzburg would be their opponents.
Many among the fan base had hoped the fairy-tale would continue but it wasn't to be, with RB Salzburg winning 2-0 in the first leg, and then saw out a tense 2-2 draw in the tie at the Şenol Güneş Stadium.
This newfound form in continental football has given the fanbase even more to shout about as Trabzonspor continue to push the boundaries of success enjoyed by Turkish sides of the past.
The Peglow Phenomenon
It's no surprise to anyone who has been following Turkish football in recent years that Trabzonspor are now considered one of the biggest clubs in the country. The side have rediscovered their winning capability from years gone by, and have bagged silverware in almost routine fashion since Frank Athlete joined.
One of the key components of their success has been the shrewd investment in the playing squad as Athlete has carefully balanced youth development with both domestic imports and signings from abroad. One such signing has been none other than Peglow, a Brazilian forward who's development under Athlete's coaches has seen him become an invaluable member of the team.
Initially, Peglow was brought in as a back up to Ekuban but has proved since his arrival that his place in the starting XI is unquestionable. Signed from Brazilian club, Internacianol for an eye watering ₺150M (€14.85M), many fans questioned the decision to invest such a large portion of the transfer budget in a player who had never played in Europe before.
Fast forward a few years and Peglow is proving all the critics wrong with his consistent, high standard performances. After 100 games with the club, he's notched up 63 goals, 8 assists and 18 POM awards. His average rating over three seasons is 7.12, but this would be higher if you exclude his first season where he was still getting used to his new environment.
Many have queried his absence from the Brazilian national side, but at just 22 years old, it's clear his potential to continue to improve is significant. One thing is for certain however, no Tranzonspor fan is doubting his ability now and without the added pressure of international football, that just means he's fresher and fitter for this club instead.
Around the Grounds
In this regular feature, we take a look at some of the other news stories from around the world that have captured our attention beyond the city of Trabzon in recent days.
AS Saint-Etienne Boss Returns for Squad Overhaul
After some time away from the prying eyes of the world, the St. Etienne manager has returned to the club in recent weeks and work is underway to overhaul the playing squad in preparation for further progress on the pitch. Read more.
GAIS Manager Reveals Secret to Corners Success
In a thrilling revelation, the manager of Swedish side GAIS has shared how he sets his side up for corners, and how he looks for specific attributes within the squad to maximise their goals haul from set pieces. Read more.
Royal Antwerp Make History
After a gripping season in the Jupiler Pro League, Royal Antwerp are enjoying some of their greatest success in recent times. Read more.
Internet Giant CoffeehouseFM Announce New Signing
This week saw another FM media outlet join forces with the hottest FM news website on the internet. With no subscription fees involved, you can get your daily fix of FM content from a plethora of industry experts, with news, views and updates from a wide range of clubs from across the football universe. Read more.
SC Verl Building From Ground Up
As SC Verl continue to do well and draw large crowds, the Board look to invest in the club's training and youth facilities. Read more.
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