Fatih Tekke celebrated his first match as the head coach of Trabzonspor with a notable 3-0 victory against RAMS Başakşehir during the Trendyol Süper Lig, bringing to an end the team’s almost 10-month drought of winning away games. After the match, which took place on March 13, 2025, Tekke expressed his happiness over the win and acknowledged the expectations from the fans.
“Galip geldiğimiz için çok mutluyuz. Taraftarın bir beklentisi ve isteği buydu. Trabzonspor'a yakışan da bu ama şimdi de gerçekçi tarafı var...,” Fatih Tekke stated, reflecting on the team’s performance. He particularly thanked goalkeeper Uğurcan for saving a penalty and managing to secure the team’s victory during a turning point of the match.
Throughout the game, several players stood out, including Simon, John Lundstram, and Ozan. Tekke emphasized the importance of each player’s contribution, stating, “Ama başta Uğurcan'a teşekkür etmek lazım. Oyunun o bölümünde penaltının kurtarılması, çift sarı kartın kırmızı kartı olması oyunu bizim lehimize döndürdü.” His gratitude extended to the whole team but recognized specific moments where pivotal plays shifted the match's momentum.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Tekke maintained realism about the team's performance, saying “Trabzonspor böyle oynamamalı açıkçası. Bunu taraftarımızın, sevenlerimizin duası diyelim.” He recognized the need for changes within the team structure and philosophy, admitting there’s room for improvement as the players continue to adapt to his coaching style.
Tekke emphasized the importance of players enjoying the game and working collectively as part of the club’s long-term objectives. “Duygu bize bunu kazandırdı. Bizim oyun gücüne de ihtiyacımız var,” he commented, expressing his hopes for fostering team unity and morale. He compared his situation to well-known coaches, citing Jurgen Klopp, and asked the fans for time to implement his vision for the team: “Zamana ihtiyacımız var.”
On the financial side, Trabzonspor announced signing Tekke and his coaching staff on the same day, confirming their 4.5-year deal with annual salary guarantees. The club revealed through its statement to Borsa İstanbul, “Tekke ve ekibine, yıllık 30 milyon lira garanti ücret ödenecektir. Her sezon için garanti ücret artışı, bir önceki sezondaki tutarın yüzde 20 oranında arttırılması suretiyle uygulanacaktır.”
From the start of the season, Trabzonspor struggled significantly away, posting disappointing statistics with just one win, five draws, and seven losses across their previous 13 away matches. The club failed to secure any away victories under the management of previous coaches Abdullah Avcı, İhsan Derelioğlu, and Şenol Güneş, with the latter team managing only three points from ten away matches.
With the win against Başakşehir, Fatih Tekke now holds the distinction of being the team’s fourth coach this season and achieving his first victory on his debut match. It signifies not just relief from past performance troubles but also marks the passing of pressure and weight off the players' shoulders, nudging them toward the recovery path for the season.
Coming from this success, Tekke insists on moving forward with caution, stating, “Herkesi tebrik ediyorum ama abartmaya gerek yok. Maç maç gideceğiz. Yeni oyun inşa etmeye çalışıyoruz.” His perspective highlights the roadmap he envisions for the club; fostering growth through perseverance and gradual improvement, calling on the team's fans for their support and prayer as they press on.
With the players and coaching staff hopeful, they move toward the season's challenges, building on this victory as they aim to improve their standing and delight their devoted supporters. “Bir nebze hayattan keyif alın, oyundan keyif alın...,” was Tekke’s poignant reminder to his squad, urging them to bring happiness from their training and work together for success.