Trabzon Times | #6

July 20, 2021

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.

Got a story to share? Contact us with a link to it here.

Thank you for subscribing to the Trabzon Times, your support of our fictional newspaper is greatly appreciated. Over the course of the next year we will be documenting the successes and failures of Frank M. Athlete in his own fictional universe within Football Manager 2021. If you would like to read any previous issues of the Trabzon Times, please visit our dedicated web page. You can also chat with other subscribers via our exclusive chat function on Slack.

Trabzon Times | #5

February 11, 2021

ATHLETE MAKES HISTORY IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Trabzonspor have qualified for the First Knockout Round of the Champions League for the first time in their history. After impressing during the Group Stages, the Black Sea side finished second in Group G with a tally of 12 points. Trabzonspor will now play Portuguese side FC Porto across two legs, starting on 21st February 2023.

The team were initially drawn against Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen and Krasnodar in the group in what many predicted to be a very difficult contest for the Turkish club. Those concerns looked to bear fruit in the opening match as Manchester City dispelled an early Trabzonspor goal to run out eventual 3-1 winners at the Şenol Güneş Stadium.

Frank Athlete and his men were not to be deterred however, and would go on to first defeat both Krasnodar and Bayer Leverkusen away, before completing the rout with wins in the reverse fixtures as well. A second gruelling 4-0 defeat to Manchester City meant the English side qualified as group winners with 15 points.

With the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich all still in the competition, many might argue that FC Porto pose a slightly more favourable challenge, with many Trabzonspor fans optimistic that the team could yet go even further.

Frank Athlete is choosing to take a more pragmatic approach however, saying "there's a lot of football still to be played so it's not really significant for me" when the question was put to him in Friday's press conference. Asked if he thought Trabzonspor could go all the way to the final, Athlete responded "we're just taking things one game at a time as always". A sensible, albeit reserved reply from the manager.

FC Porto were winners of Group E, having lost just once to Italian side Atalanta, and securing wins against Everton and PSV in the process. The match between Trabzonpsor and FC Porto will be the first since July 2010 when the Portuguese outfit emerged 1-0 winners in a friendly.

FC Porto famously won the Champions League in 2004 after an impressive run saw them defeat the likes of Manchester United and Lyon on the way to beating Monaco 3-0 in the final.

As the current Liga Nos champions, they're certainly a side capable of winning comfortably in this fixture, and will view Trabzonspor as a stepping stone into the Quarter Finals. Frank Athlete meanwhile, will be hoping it's his side that upset the odds and will no doubt be aiming to bring the team's league form in to the match with them, after his side remain unbeaten in the Süper Lig this term.

Trabzonspor are the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition, with a coefficient of just 6,580. By contrast, the next lowest is Atalanta with 64,500, while FC Porto have 80,000. The highest ranked team is Liverpool who have a coefficient of 139,000.

Familiar Faces

Trabzonspor and FC Porto are the only two teams to feature in the First Knockout Round outside of Europe's five big leagues. England's Premier League have the most teams still in the contest (4), with last years winners Liverpool featuring alongside Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.

Meanwhile, the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A each have three representative's left in the competition, with Germany's Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, Spain's Athletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona, and Italy's Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta, all vying for a place in the Final. France's Ligue 1 side, PSG, are the other team through to the knockout stages.

Trabzonspor are the first Turkish team in recent years to get this far in the competition, while FC Porto have been knocked out at this stage twice in the last two years. They'll be hoping to right that record against the Turkish champions, while the Black Sea Storm will be looking to ensure their fairy tale continues into the next round.

Analysis: Black Sea Storm Begin Another Season Unbeaten

Trabzonspor are once again unbeaten in their opening 15 games of the Süper Lig this year, with the current champions amassing a haul of 39 points so far. Last season Trabzonspor managed a streak of 32 games unbeaten between 21st April 2021 and 4th March 2022.

This time around the team's last defeat came back in May 2022 when they played away against Kayserispor. Media pundits are predicting the team's streak could continue for a while yet. It's been a stop-start season so far, with the World Cup in November leading to a forced break to Süper Lig action.

Despite the disruption, Trabzonspor have been emphatic this season, with impressive wins at Fenerbahçe and Başakşehir, and they've continued that form after the break with another three straight wins at the end of December.

As the teams look to resume in the New Year, the Black Sea side are preparing to play 3rd placed Alanyaspor before another tricky game against Beşiktaş on 4th January 2023.

Athlete's biggest challenge however, is likely to come off the field this year, with interest in some of Trabzonspor's best players thought to be high. Chief among them is young attacking midfielder, Süleyman Cebeci, who has impressed in the first team this year, and is attracting some interest from Europe's other leagues.

Elsewhere, young Brazilian forward, Peglow, also looks to be in high demand, particularly following several club's pursuit of him in the Summer transfer window. Frank Athlete managed to keep hold of him then and will no doubt be hoping he can do the same throughout January.

One player looking likely to depart however is attacking midfielder, Igor Coronado who, while performing well for the side in recent weeks, has not recaptured his impressive form from at the start of his time with Trabzonspor.

It's rumoured that a bid from a Chinese Super League side is expected very soon, and with Süleyman Cebeci performing so well in attacking midfield this year, it's widely anticipated that a bid could be accepted, provided the fee is right.

Igor Coronado signed for Trabzonspor in 2021 for ₺20M (£1.9M).

Opinion: Süper Kupa Win Tees Up Domestic Treble

Athlete's quest for silverware has continued this term, as his side added the 2022 Süper Kupa to the trophy cabinet, alongside last season's Süper Lig title.

Trabzonspor were impressive in their victory against Galatasaray, although the match was tightly contested in the first half with Trabzonspor just edging their opponents 1-0. The second half was a different affair, with Trabzonspor bagging 5 more goals and Galatasaray only able to respond with one.

A 6-1 victory really highlighted Trabzonpsor's intent for this season and their current unbeaten run in the league along with their impressive run in the Champions League, is proof that this team is capable of great things, both domestically and internationally.

Athlete will be looking to continue the club's progress on the field, and will no doubt be eyeing a second league title and the Türkiye Kupası as yet more opportunities to secure some silverware.

Many would argue that the key to Trabzonspor's success so far has been down to their utilisation of their full playing squad. Frank Athlete has used 24 players across all competitions, totalling 22 games this season.

This approach has provided an opportunity for a number of young players to feature, while also managing to keep the more senior squad members feeling fresh.

Many fans have voiced their pleasure at seeing some of the stars of the future in action, and it looks likely that Athlete will continue with this approach in the upcoming league and cup games as well.

Trabzonspor kick off their Türkiye Kupası campaign against fourth tier side Turgutluspor on 11th January 2023.

Insider: Who is the Real Suleyman Cebeci?

New rules in the Super Lig's squad registration process has meant that the starting XI must feature at least one player under the age of 22, and who has been trained by the club between the ages of 15 and 21.

Anyone taking note of Frank Athlete's squad registration back in the Summer would have been shocked to see him name just two players that fit that criteria, with one of those a backup goalkeeper.

Many suggested at the time that perhaps the club had not realised there were changes to the rules, but that notion seems laughable of a professional football club.

It would appear that despite questions at the time from sections of the media, Frank Athlete had a plan all along with young and promising attacking midfielder, Süleyman Cebeci, proving more than capable of fulfilling the requirement.

Cebeci is one of a number of recent academy graduates to break into the first team, following in the footsteps of such players as Abdulkadir Ömür. At just 19 years of age, Süleyman is showing all the signs that he could even surpass the quality of Ömür, and has recently been likened to former Turkey international, Tümer Metin.

Süleyman has featured in 16 games so far this term, notching up 4 goals and an assist in the process, but his impressive work rate and pass completion are traits that fit very nicely into Frank Athlete's preferred playing style.

Often deployed as an Advanced Playmaker or simply as an Attacking Midfielder, Süleyman operates very well in the hole behind the forwards, linking the midfield with attack with intelligent passing and good movement.

Cebeci has attracted some interest from other European clubs, with the likes of Atalanta and SLB showing signs of potentially signing the youngster in the future.

Memory Lane: The Ottomans

In the last column of this recurring feature on the history of Trabzon, we explored the eventual rise of the Ottoman Empire as they conquered the city in the middle of the 15th Century.

For the next 150 years, Trabzon would remain the administrative hub for the region before eventually becoming the capital of it's own province in 1598.

In the centuries that followed, Trabzon would remain an integral part of the Ottoman Empire and it's significance with trade would lead many European nations to start opening their own consulates in the region, while simultaneously becoming Persia's main port for exports, before the opening of the Suez Canal changed that.

The city continued to house a culturally diverse population with many migrants moving in and out, and multiple religions practiced in the region as well during this period.

Trabzon would later see many Western technologies and innovations introduced, which in turn led to a surge in schools being constructed that would educate the youth of the migrants moving to the region. These ranged from Greek, Muslim and Armenian initially, to then also include international schools for American, French, Italian and Persian children as well.

This investment in education led to the the region having the highest literacy rate in the the Ottoman Empire.

At the heart of Trabzon's development over the course of the last several hundred years, had been the ever-present diversity of the people residing here, with the old Silk Road playing a significant role in bringing so many different people from all corners of the world to the city.

In fact as the end of the 19th Century drew nearer, it was also those travellers that would bring with them a pastime that was growing in popularity in other European countries and would soon become just as popular here as well: Football.

Germany Win World Cup

The Qatar 2022 World Cup has been concluded with Germany crowned the eventual winners of the competition. Since Turkey failed to qualify this year, there was little for Trabzonspor fans to be excited about, with Iranian central defender, Majid Hosseini, the sole representative from the side. Unfortunately Iran were unable to secure a single point in their three group games and so failed to qualify for the knockout rounds.

Perhaps the biggest shock of the contest was Croatia's failure to qualify at all. The 2018 Runners Up were beaten by the Netherlands in the final of the qualification rounds. Elsewhere, the other big shock was Euro 2020 winners, Italy's, early departure from the group stages, notching up 3 draws and missing out on qualification to Denmark and Brazil.

As we reached the knockout stages, Switzerland were the standout side of the Second Round, dispatching Argentina 1-0 to qualify for the Quarter Finals. Their dream run was ended by Portugal who would go on to reach the Final for the first time in their history, defeating Spain on penalties in the process. Reigning Champions, France, suffered a Quarter Final exit to England who's Semi-Final appearance was their second in two World Cups.

England's loss to Germany set up an all-European Final for the second consecutive World Cup, and the match proved to be a thrilling spectacle, with Germany taking an early two goal lead inside 10 minutes through goals from Leroy Sane and Timo Werner. Led by 37-year-old captain, Christiano Ronaldo, Portugal snatched one back with a German own goal, before Jonathan Tah added Germany's third before Half Time. Portugal's second came through Andre Horta in the 71st minute and despite a strong showing at the end of the match, they never really looked like equalising, leaving Germany to run out as deserved champions.

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.

Rotation Rotation Rotation

It was another great season for Toulouse, with many praising the club's Director of Football for the squad depth he has brought to the side. Some consistent performances and a solid rotation policy saw the team continue their drive towards the top. Read more.

Rayo Vallecano Undergo Tough Test

Before this season, Rayo had enjoyed promotion as champions of LaLiga 2 followed by 6th, 7th and 2nd placed finishes in the top flight under Teixidó. Now he undergoes his greatest test in this season's opening 10 games of the season. Read more.

La Dea Optimistic for Season Ahead

Following back to back seasons of progress in the league and a decent showing in the Champions League group stages, this time Atalanta will look to start closing the gap on the title race and chasing silverware in the Coppa Italia. Read more.

Initial Difficulties for Les Thoniers

A very poor start to the 2025/26 league campaign saw French side U.S. Concarneau slip to bottom of the division with just one point secured from their opening six games. Read more.

AS Saint-Etienne Boss Seeks New Keeper

Saint-Etienne headed into the new season with no recognised number 1 goalkeeper, and although the youngster did well, the hunt was on for a new shot stopper. Read more.

Royal Antwerp in Hunt for Europe

Royal Antwerp have qualified for the Championship Group in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, and now face the prospect of just 6 more games as they vie for qualification to Europe's elite competitions next year. Read more.

Got a story to share? Contact us with a link to it here.

Trabzon Times | #4

February 1, 2021

TRABZONSPOR WIN SÜPER LIG

Trabzonspor have secured their first Süper Lig title since 1984, as the club celebrate an impressive season that will live long in the memory of its fans. The club's overall dominance in the league was a particular highlight, after the side initially went 32 games and 45 weeks without defeat, eventually losing their first game since 21st April 2021 to 7th placed Beşiktaş.

Manager Frank Athlete has cast a divisive shadow on the touchline this season, with many of the Trabzonspor faithful still angered at his decision to sell fan favourites Omur and Djaniny last Summer. It was Athlete's dealings in the transfer market however, that proved to be the difference this term, with new recruits Igor Coranado and Metehan Altunbaş among the side's top performers.

Trabzonspor's impressive defensive record saw the club break the record for the number of clean sheets (22) and fewest goals conceded (24) in the league, while their attacking prowess was also noteworthy as they ranked second in the division for goals scored (83) behind eventual runners-up, Başakşehir (87).

Despite a strong showing in the league throughout most of the season, there were murmurs among the fan base that the team's mentality might let them down in the latter stages of the campaign, with the Trabzonspor side seemingly doing all they could to throw away their title hopes as they entered the last few weeks of the campaign.

Having opened up an 8 point lead over second placed Başakşehir, that gap was closed to just 3 points when the two teams met in the penultimate game of the season, with the 1-1 score a fair reflection of these two sides' abilities this season. The gulf between the top 2 and the other early-season title challengers was quite incredible, with many shocked at the likes of Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş all finishing outside of the top 4 this year.

Trabzonspor could have had the title sewn up much earlier in the season, but for their abysmal form in the final eight games, collecting just 10 points from a possible 24. This poor run was in stark contrast to their scintillating form in the first half of the season, with notable losses away to Alanyaspor and Kayserispor, not to mention points dropped at the likes of Kasımpaşa and İstanbulspor.

Key Injuries

Major injuries sustained in a number of training sessions, saw key personnel side-lined for several weeks at the turn of the year. Starting central defender, Vukasin Jovanovic, young Advanced Playmaker, Suleyman Cebeci, veteran striker, Tony Nwakaeme, and Süper Lig Yılın Oyuncusu (Player of the Year) winner, Anders Trondsen, all being out injured at the same time.

In the wake of such absences, opportunities arose for the likes of Tuğbey Akgün and Hüseyin Türkmen to stake their claim for a regular starting place in the side, with solid performances helping the team to stay in title contention and giving manager Frank Athlete plenty to think about in terms of his best XI.

Athlete has signed a new contract in November 2021 which will keep him at the club until June 2024, and with so many talented footballers doing well this year, he's sure to have his work cut out to find space for everyone when he begins his title defence next season.

Analysis: Black Sea Storm Rue Cup Final Slip

Trabzonspor's impressive form that was witnessed in the league, was also evident in the Türkiye Kupası this year as the side attempted to make it a league and cup double come season's end. Successive wins over newly promoted Samsunspor, Kayserispor, Fenerbahçe and Alanyaspor, saw the Black Sea Storm team make it through to the Türkiye Kupası Final where they would play last season's Runner Up, Galatasaray.

This was Trabzonpsor's first cup final since 2020, when they ran out winners over this season's Semi-Final opposition, Alanyaspor. Sadly, the feat would not be repeated, with Galatasaray comfortably dispatching Frank Athlete's men 3-0, taking their total cup final wins to 19 - the Turkish record.

Trabzonspor's performance on the day was lacklustre at best, with the side seemingly forsaking their early season form and having little by way of response, even when their Istanbul-based opponents had a man sent off in the 70th minute. Despite a disappointing end to a strong campaign, Trabzonspor can take heart from their run to the final, and no doubt fans across the region are already eagerly anticipating the prospect of more silverware next year after the club bagged their first league title in 38 years.

Club Captain, Uğurcan Çakır, seemed in optimistic mood on reflection of a decent season, remarking "we were disappointed to lose the cup final but we're obviously thrilled to secure the league title. We knew we were capable of challenging for trophies, and we've confirmed that this year. We want to keep winning and will set our sights firmly on attaining more silverware next year."

In terms of the Türkiye Kupası, Uğurcan was probably Trabzonspor's top performer, often being the difference when the team were struggling to score at the other end. His season statistics across all competitions suggest as much too:

Meanwhile, Trabzonspor will kick off their hunt for more silverware with a Süper Kupa appearance in August with their opponent once again being Galatasaray.

Trabzonspor were Süper Kupa winners in 2021, while Galatasaray have won the trophy on 17 occasions. They will be determined to spoil Trabzonspor's party, particularly after they lost to the Black Sea coast team on the first day of last season.

Meanwhile, with no time to rest on his laurels, Athlete will already have started his planning, and will be looking to use this traditional curtain raiser to demonstrate his intent for the season ahead.

Opinion: Trabzonspor Win Individual Plaudits

Frank Athlete's men were deserved champions this term, after a long and arduous campaign saw them clinch the title on the penultimate game of the season. In addition to the team winning their first trophy under Athlete's leadership, Trabzonspor also topped the charts with individual awards won this year.

Athlete himself bagged the Manager of the Season Award after significant improvement on his first season in charge. Club captain, Uğurcan Çakır, collected the honour of Süper Lig Goalkeeper of the Season Award after some impressive performances between the sticks, and not to mention his clean sheet record that was broken this year.

Elsewhere, Norwegian international Anders Trondsen collected the awards for the Süper Lig Midfielder of the Season, and Süper Lig Yılın Oyuncusu (Player of the Year), after playing some inspiring football this year.

Fond Farewell

Trondsen will be departing Trabzonpsor in January 2023, having agreed terms to join Chinese Super League outfit, Shanghai Greenland Shenua, for a reported ₺200M (£19.8M).

Athlete has wasted no time at all in identifying his replacement, with İrfan Kehvici picked out as the man to do the job. İrfan signs from this season's runners up, Baseksehir for a fee believed to be in the region of ₺110M (£10.9M). He has also already agreed personal terms with the club, and will link up with the team at the start of preseason on 1st July 2022.

Fans of the club will be hoping that İrfan can hit the ground running, and showcase some decent performances to rival Trondsen's sensational play this year.

Insider: Fans Eye Champions League Return

Trabzonspor make a hotly anticipated return to Champions League football next season, having qualified for the Group Stages after their title winning campaign. This is the first time the club will feature in the Champions League since the 2011/12 season. Owing to recent changes in the coefficient model, Turkey's top team now go straight through to the Group Stages, while the team in second place will begin in the Third Qualifying Round.

Black Sea Storm fans are understandably excited at the prospect of seeing their players line up against some of Europe's biggest teams, and will be eagerly anticipating the Group Stage draw which will take place in August. Among the other contenders are last seasons Champions League winners, Liverpool, along with Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, each of whom it is expected will reach the latter stages of the contest.

Despite their excitement, it would seem that most fans of the club are trying to be realistic with Trabzonspor's prospects in the competition. It's unlikely they will progress beyond the group, but none of that will matter to Frank Athlete, who will be seeing this as an opportunity to build a solid foundation for his team's success in the future.

Asked about his side's return to Champions League action, Athlete said, "it's a fantastic achievement for the club, but it's just the start of what I think this team can do. It won't matter to me if we exit the competition at the group stage because I know we'll be back. I want to build long lasting success here, and prove to the doubters that last season's title win wasn't just a flash in the pan." Fans will no doubt be delighted at Athlete's comments, and what many believe could be the start of an exciting time at the club.

Memory Lane: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

Previously, this column looked at the Roman and Byzantine occupations of Trabzon, taking us up to the turn of the 12th Century, and the establishment of the Empire of Trebizond (Trabzon). In terms of geography, the Trebizond Empire was made up of nothing more than a thin strip of land along the southern coast of the Black Sea. With the Pontic mountains to the South of the province, it was largely protected from challengers from elsewhere, and as a result of this and it's thriving trade route, it's wealth and importance far surpassed its size and population.

In the mid-13th Century, the Mongol's capture of Baghdad meant increased trade for Trebizond. Many travelled here, including Italian ships from Genoa and Venice, but no travellers were more famous than Marco Polo, who ended his overland journey along the Silk Road in city in the latter part of the 13th Century.

In 1347, the Black Death arrived at the city and, alongside the Empire's engagement in the Trapezuntine Civil War, this would lead to the eventual demise of the Empire itself over the next 100 years, as the Ottoman's would stake their eventual claim on the region in the centuries to come. At that time, Constantinople remained the Byzantine capital and it was here that the Ottoman's struck first, taking the city in 1453 before moving along the coast to conquer Trebizond 8 years later, after Emperor David surrendered.

By now, the city's population of around 4,000 people was very diverse, with large communities of Greek, Laz and Armenian people calling Trabzon their home, and with multiple faiths practiced throughout the city as well. This demographic would survive for several centuries under Ottoman rule, despite many Turkish settlers sent into the region shortly after taking control.

Academy Gets Overdue Upgrade

Trabzonspor's youth facilities will receive a long overdue upgrade this Autumn, when works at the Academy are concluded in October. Athlete submitted his request back in December of last year, and with the Board of Directors keen to keep progressing the club forward, they were quick to accept his request.

A recent survey of the club's youth facilities labelled them as "Average", which is in stark contrast to divisional rivals Başakşehir and Fenerbahçe whose facilities have been described as "Great" and "Good" in the past.

The work began in May 2022 and is expected to take 6 months to complete. At a total outlay of ₺1.9M (£190K), it's evident that the Trabzonspor Board of Directors are intent on investing some of the transfer revenue generated last season into the club's future prospects, which will no doubt be a welcome sentiment among the fan base.

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.

Junior Boss Sticks to Youth Development

From the Italian immigrants who formed ‘Juventus’ to the Spanish form of ‘Juventud Infantil’ in the early days of it history, through to ‘Juventud Junior’, ‘Atlético Junior’, ‘Junior de Barranquilla’, ‘Junior Club’ and simply ‘Junior’ in more modern years. One theme remains largely consistent in its names: Youth. Read more.

Early Transfer Business Key for La Dea

After last season's cautionary tale of not acting in the January transfer window, this time the Atalanta boss sought to have his incoming business completed early. Read more.

Royal Antwerp on Course for Success

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Sporting Cristal Boss Eyes Next Chapter

After several years in the job, Sporting Cristal's Head Coach is looking to his next challenge after enjoying relative success at the club, but can his final season in charge prove tp be his best yet? Read more.

Teixidó Shifts Club Philosophy

Football news and analysis website, theangrylinesmen, once referred to the Rayo Vallecano's approach to transfers as the “sustainable revolving door”, referring to the delicate and perilous financial balancing act of the club’s continuous recruitment cycle. Recent success and LaLiga stability under Fernando Teixidó over the last four years may have changed this for good. Read more.

Toulouse Look to Build for Future on Tight Budget

With the side destined to play Champions League football this term, Toulouse are faced with the prospect of strengthening the squad on a shoestring budget. The club's Director of Football has previously worked wonders in the transfer market, but will need to be at his best to ensure the club continue their on-field success. Read more.

SC Verl Boss Aims for Bundesliga 2 Survival

SC Verl have undergone a massive overhaul of their playing staff this term, bringing in no less than 13 players, but with the media predicting an immediate return to the 3. Liga, can they survive? Read more.

Trabzon Times | #3

January 22, 2021

TRABZONSPOR CASH IN ON TOP TALENT

Trabzonspor have raked in a club record of ₺440M (£43.5M) over the Summer transfer window, with the bulk of that coming from just two player sales as Frank Athlete sought to reshape his squad for the 2021/22 season.

Having ended last season's campaign strongly with a 4th placed finish and qualification into the Europa Conference League, it was expected that the club would come under pressure to sell some of their top talent.

After a number of impressive performances for the Black Sea Storm, local lad and talisman, Abdülkadir Ömür, was the first to come under offer with a number of Premier League clubs chasing his signature. London-based Fulham made the first formal bid, which was instantly refused by Athlete, much to the joy of the fans.

Fulham were not deterred however, submitting subsequent bids and attracting the interest of fellow Premier League side Newcastle United in the process. Newcastle's first bid was a reported ₺260M (£25.7M), a staggering sum and evidently too much for Trabzonspor President, Ahmet Ali Ağaoğlu, to pass up.

An insider at the club revealed Athlete's fury at having the decision taken out of his hands, but in the end Ömür agreed terms with the Tyneside club and Trabzonspor's financial troubles were swiftly righted in the process.

Unfortunately for Athlete there would be more transfer drama to deal with before the window closed with last season's eventual "Gol Kralı" (Goal King) winner, Djaniny being the subject of much speculation.

Djaniny bagged a total of 32 league goals last term, one shy of the Trabzonspor record for a season, but still plenty to attract many European clubs to his talents.

FC Porto submitted a decent offer and with Djaniny's head turned, a source at the club told us that this time Athlete took control of the situation, identifying a suitable replacement before accepting the bid of around ₺140M (£13.9M).

With the fan base understandably disappointed at having shipped off two of it's best performers from last season, Athlete set about replenishing the squad with suitable replacements. Igor Coranado joins from UAE club Sharjah for ₺20M (£2M) to take Ömür's place as an Advanced Playmaker, while young Brazilian, Peglow, signs from Brazilian outfit Internacional for ₺150M (£14.8M) and will replace the departing Djaniny up front.

Athlete also took the opportunity to strengthen the squad in depth, with left wing back Umut Meraş signing from Le Havre and West Ham legend Mark Noble joining as well, both for a mere ₺10M (£1M) each.

Elsewhere, Vukasin Jovanovic signed for Trabzonspor on a free transfer from Bordeaux, while a number of young prospects have also joined the club and will be hoping to push for a first team place. Chief among them is 18 year old Metehan Altunbaş who signs from Eskişehirspor who were recently relegated from the 1. Lig.

Squad rule changes

This year sees a further restructuring to the Süper Lig with the number of teams reduced to 20, one less than last year but still two more than what we have become accustomed to in to the top flight of Turkish football.

Additional restrictions on foreign player have also been introduced with each club permitted a maximum of 14 non-Turkish players with just 8 of them allowed in the playing XI at one time. The Turkish FA hopes these new restrictions will encourage home grown talent to develop to a higher standard, and therefore will help the National team to compete in the years ahead.

Next season these restrictions will go one step further, reducing the total number of foreign players to 13 and only 7 permitted in the playing XI at one time.

With that in mind, many would say that the Trabzonpor manager has had these rule changes in mind this year as he has brought in a number of highly rated young Turkish players who will no doubt play a significant role in the club in the years ahead.

Athlete has already built a reputation for favouring younger players and as the new season has gotten underway, we've seen no less than ten players under the age of 23 who have made an appearance this season. The fans will hope that approach remains the same as the club continue to produce excellent academy prospects.

Analysis: Can Trabzonspor Remain Unbeaten This Season?

Trabzonspor's 2021/22 campaign has gotten off to a flyer, with the side remaining unbeaten in the league this term, after twelve matches played.

Sitting atop the Süper Lig on an incredible 34 points, the team also have the best attack with 32 goals and the tightest defence having conceded just three so far.

2019/20 Süper Lig winners Başakşehir remain level on points, but their inferior goal difference keeps them in 2nd place.

Many had predicted another fairly average campaign for Frank Athlete's men, especially following the departure of two of last season's top performers in Abdülkadir Ömür and Djaniny. The media had predicted the side would finish in 5th place with the bookies putting them at 9-1 odds to win the championship.

Now however, as we head into December, the team are in red-hot form, their last defeat coming on the 21st of April to last year's eventual winners, Galatasaray.

Trabzonspor took their revenge against them in their opening game this season though, with a convincing 2-0 win against the current holders, and have been in scintillating form ever since, only dropping points away at Konyaspor and beating the likes of Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş in the process.

Key Performers

With a change in playing personnel this year, it's been a mix of the old guard and some of the Summer's new signings who have lined up to appease the fans with attractive and exciting football.

Notable performances include that of club captain Uğurcan Çakır with 9 clean sheets, Tony Nwakaeme, who has 9 goals and an assist from his 11 appearances, and his youthful understudy, Metehan Altunbaş, who has collected 5 goals and 3 assists from his 11 appearances this season.

Perhaps the most exciting action to witness though, has come in the form of the sides more creative players, with Igor Coranado and Anders Trondsen both supplying 6 assists each, as well as another 7 goals between them.

One thing is certain, the future is bright.

Opinion: Shock Exit in Europe Needs Addressing

Trabzonspor's exceptional form in the league has masked their failings in Europe, but many won't have forgotten the disappointment of an early exit from the Europa Conference League back in August.

Entering the competition at the Third Qualifying Round, Trabzonspor's first challenge came in the form of Cypriot side AEK Larnakas, who they comfortably dispatched 2-0 over the two legs, setting up a Fourth Qualifying Round tie against Greek Super League outfit, AEK, who had just finished their season in third place.

With qualification to the group stages predicted to be a fairly straightforward affair, it came as quite a shock when in the first leg, AEK held Trabzonspor to a draw at home, setting up a highly competitive match in the reverse fixture.

Trabzonspor's 100% record in the league after their opening two games was evident when they kicked off against AEK, bagging an early goal in the 6th minute.

AEK equalised a short while later but as the sides reemerged for the second half, it looked certain that Trabzonspor would be taking home the points as their excellent play deserved another goal.

AEK had other plans however and were more than happy to spoil the party with the winner in the 69th minute.

The expected goals statistic for the match (pictured above) tells another story though, with Trabzonspor registering 2.7 xG against AEK's 0.43 xG.

Ultimately what matters though, is the number of goals scored, and perhaps this upset will serve as a lesson for the Black Sea Storm players that no match should be considered a walk in the park.

Insider: Cup Final is Minimum Expectation

As we reach the end of November, Trabzonspor will take a break from Süper Lig action this week as their Türkiye Kupası camapign gets under way. Last season's Semi-Final defeat to eventual winners Başakşehir is still a painful memory, particualrly as the performance was very disapponting on the day.

This year, fans are optimistic once again of attaining some silverware, and will no doubt expect a place in the Final as a minimum. Trabzonspor enter the competition in the Fifth Round and have been drawn against 1.Lig side Samsunspor. Samsunspor have already progressed a step further than last year's effort of the Fourth Round, where they went out to recently relegated Altınordu. Fans of the seaside club will no doubt be hoping for a giant killing this Wednesday evening, especially given their dramatic fall from grace over the past 15 years.

Once a stable Süper Lig side, Samsunspor were relegated from the top flight in 2006 and have stayed there for the most part, with the exception of a single season back in the Süper Lig in 2011/12, and even a dip into the 2. Lig for two seasons. Their first season back in 1. Lig earnt them a mid-table finish last year, and their current form has them doing well in 3rd place.

Frank Athlete will need to ensure his team guard against complacency this week, while Samsunspor will be hoping to catch the Black Sea Storm players on an off-day. 5,000 Samsunspor fans are reported to be making the 325 Km journey along the coast to Trabzon for the first leg this week, with 35,500 tickets sold in total.

Memory Lane: A Glance at Trabzon’s Ancient History

In our previous edition, this column looked at how Roman occupation changed the city of Trabzon, setting it up to become the thriving trade route we know it for today. It was during Diocletian's reign towards the end of the third century that the city began to recover from the previously mentioned civil war and pillaging. Christianity also arrived at this time, and the faith grew in prominence after Diocletian ordered the death of the martyr Eugenius after he demolished the Mithras statue.

Over the course of the next few hundred years, the region would become part of the Byzantine Empire and under the Roman ruler Justinian, Trabzon's stature and wealth grew substantially, owing to it's strategic significance during the 6th Century Persian Wars. Later, the renewed importance placed on Trabzon as a trading post on the Silk Road, led to further prosperity being bestowed upon the city, and to it being named the capital of Chaldea, the 8th newly created theme (administrative division) in the region.

The seaport became a major hub connecting Europe and Asia, with Italian maritime republics and other seafarers able to buy goods from trade caravans travelling the Silk Road, and take them back to Europe. The city of Trabzon greatly benefited in return through revenue generated in customs duty. In 1071, the Byzantine were defeated at the Battle of Manzikert and Trabzon fell initially under Seljuk rule, before being taken back and "saved" by Theodore Gabras, a local leader who ruled until his death in 1098. His family continued his independent rule into the next century.

Backroom Restructure at Trabzonspor

A number of the club's coaching staff have not had their contracts renewed as Frank Athlete took the opportunity to freshen up his backroom team.

Chief among the changes was the replacement of outgoing Assistant Manager, Orhan Ak, with Athlete opting to appoint Özhan Pulat in his place. Pulat moves to the club from previous employer Hatayspor and his eye for judging player's ability and potential will no doubt be a welcome addition to the team.

Elsewhere, Selçuk Erdoğan, Nicola Legrottaglie and John Metgod join Athlete and Pulat on the coaching staff, while Ardit Haxha takes on the role of Head of Youth Development.

While many questioned Athlete's move to overhaul his coaching staff in such a radical fashion, the decision is clearly paying dividends for the club, with Trabzonspor currently sat in 1st place in the Süper Lig with 11 wins and a draw from their opening 12 games.

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.

Future's Bright for Cash-Strapped SC Verl

The German side's form has been impressive this season, despite originally being billed as favourites for relegation. The question remains, can success on the pitch bring the financial backing needed off of it? Read more.

Rayo Vallecano Out to Cause Upset

Football news and analysis website, theangrylinesmen, have been tracking the progress of Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in their bid to cause an upset in La Liga this year. Read more.

GAIS Impress in Rensie's First Season

Despite early predictions of a mid-table finish, Göteburgs AIS have surpassed all expectation this year, finishing strongly in the Swedish Superettan and demonstrating impressive defensive work throughout the season. Read more.

Dinamo Bucaresti Add to Silverware Haul

Dinamo Bucaresti remain dominant in Romania's Liga I as the manager continues to build on their 2019/20 narrow escape from relegation. Read more.

BC Madeira Boss Looks to Youth

Having had 11 players from the U23s out on loan last season, this year BC Madeira would give them a chance in the first team with the aim of them proving their worth and strengthening the depth of the squad. Read more.

Nothing Toulouse

The French side continue their drive toward European football next term with talk of a possible trophy on the cards as well. Read more.

Got a story to share? Contact us with a link to it here.

Trabzon Times | #2

January 12, 2021

JURY STILL OUT FOR TRABZONSPOR BOSS

Frank Athlete's position as Trabzonspor manager may yet be under threat just nine months into his tenure. The manager began a 2 year contract with the club last Summer, but after a tricky start to his first campaign in Turkish football, many are left wondering whether the Board's patience will last much longer, with some factions of the fan base already calling for a change.

Trabzonspor finished last season in 2nd place after an impressive title chase saw them fall just short to eventual winners Başakşehir. Despite a few departures of key players over the Summer, many fans had expected the team to challenge again but it's been a very different experience with Athlete at the helm this term.

After a long and arduous pre-season, Athlete oversaw back to back defeats in the club's opening two games, first at home to bitter rivals Fehnerbache before an away trip to surprise outfit Goztepe. Following this disappointing start, we saw glimmers of what we had hoped the new man would bring to the club, with a 10 game unbeaten streak that saw the Black Sea Storm rapidly climb the table to sit 2nd after the first 12 games.

This relative success was short-lived however, as another run ensued, this time a 5 game streak without a win, including three back to back home defeats to Sivasspor, Rizespor and Yeni Malatyaspor. This left the team outside of the top 6 and struggling for form with just the league's top scorer Djaniny seemingly the only one capable of finding the back of the net.

The catalyst for a recovery proved to be a 6th Round Turkish Cup win against lower league side Adana D.S. in mid-January. Trabzonspor would then manage a further five wins and two draws in the league, seeing them climb to 5th, just inside the European places, after twenty-five games.

The latest twist in the tale has seen the side's form slump once again, this time with a disappointing defeat to Hatayaspor before a damning draw against Konyaspor at home. This blip has at least been recovered somewhat through the back to back wins against Gaziantep and Antalyaspor in recent weeks.

This leaves the side in 5th place, but with every chance of the chasing pack catching them if their inconsistent form continues. Athlete will have his work cut out if he's to ensure his side stay in the European places after the final 10 games of the season.

Among those final fixtures are home ties against Başakşehir and Galatasaray, as well as an away fixture against Yeni Malatyaspor. Trabzonspor managed 4 points from those games in the reverse fixtures.

The manager will be looking for the likes of Marlon, Flavio and Djaniny to continue their good form right through to the end of the season, and bring his side some much needed stability and a few more goals.

If they can keep their place at 5th then they'll have got the job done, but barely. Black Sea fans will show patience for a short while, but they'll be fully expecting their team to be much more competitive next year, and Athlete will be fully aware of the expectation resting on his shoulders.

European qualification awaits all the teams in top five, with the top two reserved for Champions League, 3rd for the Europa League, and 4th and 5th place for qualification to the Europa Conference League.

One thing is certain, Athlete has left a lot to be desired and will need a strong finish to appease the fans, let alone the Board of Directors, who will be expecting a Süper Lig title within the next three years.

Analysis: Djaniny set to Eclipse Burak Yilmaz's Süper Lig Goals Record

Nomadic striker Djaniny is set to break the Trabzonspor league goals record as his current haul of 27 goals this season sits just 6 short of the club record of 33, held by Burak Yilmaz.

Stat Attack

With 10 games remaining of the season, Cape Verde international Djaniny will need to find an average of 0.6 goals per game. His current return is 0.87 goals per 90 minutes against an expected 0.67 goals (xG) per 90 minutes, making him odds on favourite to achieve the feat.

Djaniny arrived at Trabazonspor on a free transfer this season, joining from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli. His impressive form in front of goal has been a welcome addition to the side, after the likes of Alexander Sørloth left the club for RB Leipzig last term.

Sørloth's return of 24 goals last season was enough to earn him his move to the German Bundesliga, as well as the Süper Lig's Gol Kralı (Goal King) Award.

Djaniny is on track to win the Gol Krali himself, as he also hunts down the Trabzonspor goals record which has been in place since the close of the 2011/12 season, prior to Yilmaz's move to divisional rivals Galatasaray.

What we really want is trophies.
Djaniny

Frank Athlete should certainly take some credit for Djaniny's form this season. Abandoning the side's tried and tested 4-3-3, Athlete has favoured a 5-3-2 approach with Djaniny just one player enjoying the spoils of the new system.

Athlete was full of praise for the front man, saying "Djaniny has really hit the ground running this year. He's been a consistent performer for us and I expect to see more of the same."

Asked about his prospects of breaking the record, Djanany said "I'm just delighted to have made an impact. The gaffer's tactics have helped me massively, and i'm just focussed on scoring goals for the team. The records are nice but what we really want is trophies."

Djaniny, who turned 30 last week, has two years left to run on a 3-year deal and will hope that this season's form would be enough to earn him a contract extension through to the end of his career.

Insider: Trabzonspor U19 Set for Elite League Group A Title Win

While all eyes have been on the first team's performances this season, the U19 side have been quietly going about their business, and look good value to secure the Elite League Group A title this year.

Despite having a relatively depleted squad, many of Trabzonspor's academy players have found fine form this season and will give first team manager Frank Athlete something to think about when he looks ahead to plan for the next campaign.

Their season didn't start quite as well as it looks to be finishing though. Taking just 5 points from their opening 5 games, many presumed there would be little to cheer this year back in September.

However, a run of 14 games without losing was enough to see the team climb swiftly up the table, and despite a momentary blip with a home defeat to Kayserispor, they quickly got their season back on course with a further run of 7 games without defeat.

Now, with just 7 games remaining, and despite competition from Galatasaray U19 and Bursaspor U19, Trabzonspor U19 find themselves heavy favourites to win the division.

Among the young players that are making a name for themselves this year is 19 year old striker Salih Kavrazli, who's attacking prowess has already bagged him 6 goals in the league this season.

His eye for the target has been a joy to watch and has highlighted the team's positive style that has become a staple throughout the club's entire structure under Athlete's tenure.

Opinion: Cup Slip Highlights Athlete’s Shortcomings

Few have forgotten the celebrations of last Summer as Trabzonspor ran out Turkish Cup winners on a warm evening in the capital.

They looked good money to win it again this year too, after early victories against lower league sides Hekimoğlu Trabzon and Adana D.S. saw them through to the Quarter Finals.

Ankaragücü were the opponents and while the game was far from being a classic, an emphatic 3-0 win was enough to see them through to the next round.

Fast forward another few weeks and the team found themselves just one win away from their second consecutive cup final, with old nemesis Başakşehir the only team in their way.

Once again Athlete set up in the now familiar 5-3-2 formation, but his men hardly got going, conceding within the first 30 minutes and never looking like they were in the game.

A disappointing exit all things considered, and the side may well be made to rue a missed opportunity if they can't recover some decent form in their remaining league fixtures.

As for hopes of reclaiming the cup, that will have to wait until next season.

Memory Lane: A Glance at Trabzon’s Ancient History

In our previous edition, this column looked at the early establishment of Trabzon, right up to the arrival of the Roman's in 64 BC.

Roman occupation in this region was unlike any other, in fact it was almost non-existent in the traditional sense, and the city was eventually granted the status of civitus liberas (a free city), even gaining the right to mint its own coins.

Trabzon's stock grew through it's access to major roads that led through the Zigana Pass into Armenia and the upper Euphrates Valley. From here, new roads were then constructed out of Trabzon and into Persia and Mesopotamia, leading to it becoming a major trade route.

In the early part of the 2nd Century AD, the Roman emperor Hadrian commissioned further work to be carried out in the city, this time giving the city a more structured harbour.

Over the course of the next 200 years, Trabzon fell victim to a Roman civil war between Septimius Severus and Pescennius Niger that saw parts of the city reduced to rubble.

In 257 AD, further misfortune befell the city as it was pillaged by Goths, and a year later the Persians took a turn as well. Despite the city undergoing several rebuilds, it's recovery did not begin until the reign of Diocletian towards the end of the 3rd century...

Tactical Analysis

Athlete's famed 5-3-2 setup has now been used across 34 games in all competitions this season, with a record of 19 wins, 8 draws and 7 losses. His unique playing style has already earned the nickname "Athlete-ball" from sections of the press as he strives to reinvent Turkey's reputation for attractive football.

His wing backs are constantly finding themselves in acres of space when they receive the ball, giving them time to whip in a cross for the punchy 3-man attack to nod in. The team have netted 65 times already this season.

Defensively, the set up is fairly solid, with both wing backs and the defensive central midfielder able to get back behind the ball when needed. Trabzonspor have conceded just 26 times so far this season.

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 Trabzon in recent days.

BC Madeira Boss Blames Injuries for Poor Form

After a fairly successful first season in the second tier of Portuguese football, the small band of BC Madeira fans were looking ahead to the 2022/2023 season with a lot of optimism. The club had lost a few key players but by retaining Yakubu, Yago and Penetra on loan deals, the future looked fairly solid. Read more.

Velez Sarsfield Continue March on Silverware

Velez Sarsfield boss, Callum Curtis, takes the plaudits for his possession based style of football with continued success seemingly on the cards as his side look to progress in the Copa Libertadores. Read more.

Ojeda Gets Junior Firing

On 17 July 2021, the Football (Manager) Gods decided that El Toque would come home to Hugo Ojeda’s Junior Club. It signalled the start of a good domestic run for Barranquilla‘s best club side. But was it enough to earn some silverware? Read more.

Tactical Overhaul Sends Cristal Clear

Sporting Cristal boss has injected an air of calm into his side this season with his renewed tactical approach proving too much for many opponents. The big question on everyone's lips though, is whether or not the search for the next Nobby Solano is at an end. Read more.

Pellissard Key to Future Success at US Concarneau

Club record signing Jessim Pellissard (signed for 475K€) joined two seasons ago when still in Ligue 2 but rarely got a look in because of Rutter's fine form. Now with Rutter no longer first choice, Pellissard is his natural successor as Concarneau's number one striker. Read more.

January Window Shows Promise for Toulouse

Under studious management, the purple demons have defied their own expectations, and sit in 2nd place in Ligue Un. Another January, another set of fixtures to navigate, and an attempt to ensure the manager has enough depth and quality for the remainder of the season, to keep this overachievement going. Read more.

Trabzon Times | #1

December 9, 2020

ATHLETE IS NEW TRABZONSPOR BOSS

Trabzonspor announced Frank Athlete as their new manager this week, after the dismissal of fellow Englishman, Eddie Newton, left the side without a head coach. Newton's departure was considered premature among some of the fanbase after he led the team to a Turkish Cup win in the Summer, Trabzonspor's first piece of silverware in 7 years.

Athlete is the club's fourth managerial appointment in less than 12 months, and follows the announcement of the Super Lig side's 1-year ban from European football due to financial irregularities and FFP breaches in 2016.

Club President, Ahmet Ali Ağaoğlu, was all smiles as he unveiled his latest selection for the head coach role, citing Athlete's ability to" work within tight financial constraints" and his capacity for "motivating an abject playing staff and fan-base".

Many Black Sea Storm fans can be forgiven for not having heard of Frank Athlete before. His impact on the footballing landscape has been relatively low key, holding positions in the lower divisions of Romania's Liga 1 and Bulgaria's First League prior to arriving in Turkey.

It's widely reported that he makes up for his relative lack of experience with his impressive knowledge and understanding of the technical side of the game, proclaiming himself as a student of how statistical analysis can prove to be the key ingredient in modern success.

Ambition

Athlete's ambition looks to at least match, if not surpass, that of the club, with European football a short-term target once the ban is lifted for the 2021/22 campaign.

Perhaps more excitingly is the renewed focus on young players. For many, it's pleasing to see that both the manager and the club are committed to bringing new talent through the academy system, with the aim of having some of those graduate to the first team.

The combination of raw, youthful talent with some of the wiser, more experienced heads in the squad is considered a mouth-watering prospect by large sections of the fan base, and bodes well for the future of the club.

Challenging Season

The mood around the Trabzonspor camp is one of great optimism, with many citing their forced absence from European football as a potential blessing in disguise.

A season where the focus is purely on domestic competitions, could mean a free hit in terms of bedding in new players, and bringing through any hot youth prospects.

The challenge will undoubtedly be at the other end of the scale where holding on to the best players is going to be tougher than ever, especially without the promise of testing yourself against the world's best players in continental competition.

As with any other year, the pre-season optimism among the fans is rife, but perhaps this year, the Trabzonspor faithful have some genuine cause to be hopeful of what could become a very successful period of the club's history.

Under the stewardship of Frank Athlete and this crop of young, hungry players, are we to witness the return if consistent silverware to the Black Sea coast? Maybe. Just maybe.

Analysis: Can Black Sea Storm retrace past success?

It's been over 30 years since Trabzonspor, known locally as the Black Sea Storm, last lifted a domestic title back in 1984. Club legends Ahmet Suat Ozyazici and Ozkan Sumer oversaw six title winning campaigns, three Turkish Cups and five Super Cups between them during their tenure at the club, that spanned a relatively short 11 seasons.

Since then, Trabzonspor's accolades on the pitch have seldom held the same significance, scooping up 6 more Turkish Cups and and another two Super Cups in the 36-years that have followed.

Newly appointed manager Frank Athlete knows he has his work cut out if he's to see his side return to their former glory.

"It starts today, now, in this very moment." Frank offered. " Every conversation, every interaction, every facial expression will affect the culture at this club. We have to begin immediately, retraining and reenergizing the minds of our players, and proving to them that inside each one of them is a born winner."

Football matches are won in the mind
- Frank Athlete

He continued, "Football is a simple game, and yet too often we get swept along by the hype of who the best players are, or who the best team is. We need to realise that they are just men like we are, they have the same physical limitations we do. But football matches are won in the mind, and we have to be mentally stronger to win."

To many Trabzonspor fans, that sentiment will be music to their ears. For too long now Trabzon has had to watch from the sidelines as other cities like Istanbul and Bursa have dominated our national sport. Now they will be eagerly watching to see if Athlete can restore the club to the upper echelons of Turkish fame.

Opinion: Silverware Essential to Winning Fan’s Hearts

Last season's Turkish Cup win is still fresh in the minds of fans across the region, and many will be hoping it's the start of a new era of success. They'll have to start that new era under Frank Athlete without any aspirations for European success after the club were banned from continental football for the 2020/21 season. Instead, attention will be turned to domestic activities, with the Turkish Cup and the Süper Lig both being top of the priority list.

Trabzonspor won't enter the cup until the Fifth Round, scheduled to take place in mid-December, so the more pressing focus will be on the league initially, with the opening fixtures coming against Kasımpaşa, Alanyaspor and Denizlispor. Alanyaspor are probably the more dangerous opponent in those opening games, but Black Sea Storm fans will be hoping to net all 9 points on offer, especially after last season's impressive showing at 2nd place.

Athlete will believe they can do it and will be looking to club captain Uğurcan Çakır to rally the troops as well. Çakır's calm demeanor and presence between the sticks has been an ever-present influence on the side in recent years.

Insider: Ömür Offers Hope for Next Generation Rebuild

New manager, Frank Athlete, will begin the arduous task of assessing his squad ahead of pre-season this week as he looks to identify his sides strengths and weaknesses. One thing he'll no doubt already be aware of is the abundant talent of attacking midfielder Abdülkadir Ömür.

Academy graduate Ömür has already bagged 74 appearances at the club since breaking into the first team in 2017, and added 4 international caps to his name following his debut against Greece in May 2019. But what makes those statistics even more remarkable is that Ömür only turned 21 in June of this year, leaving many to argue that his best years are still ahead of him.

Athlete will be hoping to hold on to such a prospective talent for as long as possible and will no doubt be assessing how he can rebuild what many perceive to be an aging squad around this impressive young man. The real question though, is whether other academy starlets can step up to the plate as well. Athlete has assured them they'll get their chance to impress, but we'll just have to wait and see with bated breath as to who can make a significant impact.

Memory Lane: A Glance at Trabzon’s Ancient History

The city of Trabzon as we know it today has endured a fascinating history that stretches back over 2,750 years to it's early foundation as an Eastern settlement of the ancient Greeks. For centuries it has remained a significant and important trade post and port, offering a gateway from Europe into Persia, and now the Middle East and Asia.

Despite it's recorded establishment in the middle of the 7th Century BC, there were indigenous people from the Persian Empire in the region before that time. No evidence remains of these early settlements unfortunately, with the Black Sea having risen several metres since that time, meaning the foundations are likely buried and lost beneath the modern day city forever.

The Trabzon region in those formative years then referred to as East Pontos. It had remained too remote to have been conquered, and even Alexander the Great didn't bother to march north of Ankara when he defeated the Persian King Darius III.

So, in 302 BC, following Alexander's death, Mithradites I would declare the region as the Kingdom of Pontos and it remained so until 64 BC when the Roman's started to arrive. We'll continue from there next time...

Facilities Fact File

Stadium Name: Senol Günes Stadium
Opened: 2016
Capacity: 40,782
Record Attendance: 38,477 (vs. Fenerbahçe, Jan 2018)
Training Facilities: Great training facilities
Youth Set-up: Average facilities / Basic recruitment

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 Trabzon in recent days.

Vålerenga Boss Claims Title Win Was Accidental

Kristoffer Samstrøm took over Vålerenga on the 18th of May 2020. Around 200 days later, they were crowned champions of Norway for the first time since 2005. Read more.

"Allez Les Thoniers"

US Concarneaus look forward to their first season in Ligue 2 following last year's promotion to the division. Read more.

BC Madeira Get Baptism of Fire

It is one year since the conglomerate ‘Black Crow’ swooped into the Island of Madeira and claimed that here is where they would take their next step into the world of football ownership but with odds of 10,000/1 to win the league, it would be a tough road ahead. Read more.

Dinamo Bucaresti "Complete" Romania

Dinamo Bucaresti's new charismatic boss says he's focussed on training more than ever before, with a particular view to developing youth. Read more.

Huber Aims High with Hamburg

With the first target being a return to the Bundesliga, Huber could be pleased with his side's opening games going in their favour. Read more.

Rensie Eyes Swedish Return

Swedish Second Division outfit's search for a new manager is over as Gais hire Rensie to take the club forward. Read more.

Major Rebuild Underway at A.S. Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne Head Coach set his team up to sit deep, be direct and get bodies forward on the counter, but what started well for the side, turned sour quickly with the team unable to take their chances. Read more.

Statistics and Analytics Will be Key to Success

Toulouse are considered strong favourites for an immediate return to Ligue 1 with the French Club's board expecting promotion. The new man in the hot seat believes his side could be lacking in some areas though and will look to utilise statistical analysis as he begins to reshape his team. Read more.

Velez Sarsfield Chase Continental Success

Despite significant financial constraints, Velez Sarsfield boss is building a team for the future, capable of challenging for continental honours. Read more.

Former Podcast Star Tries Hand at Football Management

After a rollercoaster of a first season in charge of a title winning Bodø/Glimt side, would his second season in charge be more straightforward or tougher than expected? Read more.

Atalanta Seek Attacking Style

The Atalanta board have outlined high-tempo pressing and attacking football as their preferred playing style, alongside the vague description of ‘entertaining’ as a favoured importance. Read more.

Got a story to share? Contact us with a link to it here.

Trabzon Times | Save Reveal

November 9, 2020

Hello and welcome along to my save reveal post. I'm very excited to start sharing my plans for FM21!

As I mentioned in my previous update, I am trying something a bit different (for me at least) this year and will be embarking upon a one-club save, setting aside my usual temptation to begin as an unemployed journeyman. By my count, this is the first time in 12 years I'll be doing a save like this so let's hope it turns out to be an enjoyable experience, and not one where I end up unemployed after all.

A bit of background

I've really enjoyed exploring some new leagues in recent versions of FM. My Nordic Nights and Dutch Days save from FM19, along with my journey Down the Danube (which was really up the Danube) in FM20, gave me the chance to manage in Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Scotland, Romania and Bulgaria - all leagues I had yet to dabble in. That experience of researching and finding out about each of those nations, along with their leagues, teams and players, is one that I've found immensely enjoyable and so it got me thinking about where else I am yet to go exploring.

The team I've selected for FM21 currently play in a league that I've never managed in before, and in a nation that I know very little about. I've enjoyed conducting some research into the club and the country and, having been inspired by FM Grasshopper's save reveal last week, I've also looked into what the nation's footballing identity and playing style look like.

Drum roll please...

So without further ado, allow me to reveal that for FM21, I'll be taking charge of none other than Trabzonspor in Turkey's Süper Lig.

Why Turkey?

Let's start with this. I came upon the idea to manage in Turkey earlier this year, as I looked at some of the countries that were dotted around my Down the Danube save, and tried to find something that would offer a different experience to the likes of Romania and Bulgaria.

Greece and Turkey immediately jumped out as fitting the bill, but since I have family in Greece IRL, it didn't feel like this would be enough of a learning experience for me, which is what I was looking for. Turkey on the other hand, is a country I know very little about, and is one steeped in history that I am eager to explore.

In a footballing sense, there's actually been a fair amount of English influence on the Turkish game over the years. It was English residents who brought football to the region, and eventually to Istanbul in 1895, but it was another few years before Turks started getting in on the fun, with the Ottoman Empire prohibiting the sport until around 1904. In fact, legend has it that the first official match to be played in 1901 was broken up by a police raid as the officers attempted to arrest as many players as they could catch.

Fast forward a few decades and you'll see plenty of international imports coming to Turkey to play football, and many of whom have been English or come from English leagues. This has given Turkey a reputation for bringing in players past their best, but I'll explore that in a bit more detail later on.

More recently, Turkey enjoyed a relatively successful period on the international stage during the noughties, with semi-final appearances at the 2002 World Cup and at the 2008 European Championships. Since then, the last decade has proven to be a bit of a struggle, with Turkey's FIFA ranking having slipped from three top 10 appearances in 2002 (9th), 2003 (8th) and 2008 (10th), to a fairly average 33rd place in 2020.

I like the idea that a successful spell with Trabzonspor might in turn help the national side rise back to the heights they reached not so long ago.

So why the Süper Lig?

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm a big fan of lower league management (LLM) and enjoy taking managers through a career that starts at the bottom and hopefully ends up at the top. However, since I'm not trying to do a journeyman save this time, I've opted to start a little higher up in the pyramid, in the hope I'll enjoy a different experience to one that I'm used to.

The Süper Lig is highly competitive, featuring 18 teams each season and has only ever had 6 winners in it's history. The league itself wasn't established until 1959, with it's predecessors being a series of smaller, regional leagues, with the Istanbul League probably being the most significant one.

In 1924, The Turkish Football Championship was established whereby each of the regional winners would contest a knockout competition to crown a Turkish Champion. This ran until 1951, and eventually was played alongside a newly established National Division between 1937 and 1950, where the three strongest regional leagues from Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir had merged together to create one joint league.

Over the next decade, the top tier of Turkish football would go through a few more iterations, including a Federation Cup that gave passage to the European Cup, before they eventually landed with the Süper Lig format at the end of the 1950's that we see today.

And so why Trabzonspor?

I wanted to take charge of a club that had perhaps fallen away from their glory days, or possibly were even yet to enjoy any meaningful success. Trabzonspor certainly met this criteria since, while they are considered to be one of the bigger teams in the country nowadays, they had not won the title since 1984.

Trabzonspor almost put that record to bed last year, after a successful 2019/20 campaign where they sat top of the league for long periods of the season, were very nearly crowned champions, but for an impressive run for eventual, and first time winners, İstanbul Başakşehir.

In fact, Trabzonspor missing out on the title last year wouldn't be the worst thing that happened to them as they were then handed a 1 year ban from continental competition owing to some irregularities with Financial Fair Play (FFP) in 2016. In many ways, this disappointment for the club plays into my hands a little from a Football Manager perspective, since they will not be able to rely on any revenue generated form European football next year. Their 2020/21 season has gotten off to a rocky start as well, which suggests they're feeling the strain of not having the Europa League as a means to entice players to the club.

As for other reasons that justify my selection, look no further than the fact that the club play in the world's favourite colour combination of claret and blue! Add to that the fact that Trabzon is a major port on the Black Sea, which adds a romantic note to the story as the River Danube empties into these waters and I can quite imagine Frank Athlete's eventual journey across the sea to the shoreline on the opposite side.

Trabzon's historical significance is quite remarkable and another reason for wanting to take over this club. I'll delve into this and the club's history in a bit more detail in a future post.

Gotta have a goal

I feel like this year more than ever, I'll be needing some goals and objectives to keep me inspired and on the path to success.

1/ Consolidate. By way of a short-term objective, I'll be looking to ensure we qualify for the Europa League by finishing in the top 5 in my first year. We'll take full advantage of not having as many games to play in the absence of European football for the first season, but will also look to provide a solid financial footing as we plan to work without that added revenue stream.

2/ Win the league (a lot). Beyond the first season, naturally I want us to win the league but I'm also keen to establish Trabzonspor as the biggest club in Turkey. Unsurprisingly, Istanbul's clubs have dominated for decades and so this will be no mean feat, but I'm confident we can string together some regular silverware and ensure we become the envy of the nation's greats.

3/ Identify an identity. FM Grasshopper's save reveal last week had me researching what Turkey's footballing DNA was made up of, and I was hopeful of working out a way to emulate that as well. In fact, what I really learnt is that they don't have one. Turkey's Süper Lig seems to be one of those footballing destinations that is tarnished with a reputation that it's where players go to retire, and as a result of so many foreign imports, their own football identity is lost in a mix of cultures and playing styles. Turkish football fans often cite a Brazilian style as what they like to see from their local teams, however from what I can gather, it's hard to see too many similarities. My goal here is to give the people what they want, with skillful, attacking play and resilient, smart defending that the fans can get excited about.

4/ Compete in Europe. This will most likely be the hardest thing to achieve, but there's no point in playing this game if you're not going to aim high! There's a distinct absence of success in Europe from Turkish clubs over the years. Galatasaray are the only club to have made a Europa League or Champions League final, and you'd have to go back to 2000 to find their penalty shootout win over Arsenal. I plan to remedy that by taking Trabzonspor out of the group stages on a regular basis, and to an eventual win of either competition within 10 years. Easy right?

5/ Raise the profile. As discussed earlier in the post, Turkey as a footballing nation are a world away from their success of the early 00's and it's my hope that by placing an emphasis on developing local talent, we can eventually see some more Trabzonspor academy graduates breaking into the national team. This, coupled with our ambitions in Europe at club level and our quest to develop a distinctive playing style, should help raise the profile and reputation of Turkish football the world over.

Tune in next time for a more comprehensive overview of the club and the great and historic trade city of Trabzon.

And that's it for another update from me. Thanks so much for reading down this far, I hope you enjoyed it. As ever your feedback is always welcome either here in the comments, on Twitter or on my Slack channel. If you're not already on Slack then you're missing out. It's free to join, there's no pressure to post anything, and you'll find there are some excellent people who you can chat to if you want.