Related Post
Anthony Nwakaeme’s long association with Trabzonspor may not be over despite the Nigerian bringing his playing career to an end after another trophy-winning night in Turkey, Footynaija reports.
The 37-year-old forward bowed out in style on Friday after helping Trabzonspor defeat Konyaspor 2-1 in the 2026 Turkish Cup final, completing what he had earlier described as his final mission for the club. But even before the celebrations settled, Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan revealed that the club had already opened talks with the former Super Eagles winger over a new off-field position.
“We met and spoke with Nwakaeme. We want him to stay with us in our scouting efforts in Africa,” Doğan said.
“He has incredible football knowledge and a strong character. I wanted him to stay with the team. The final decision is his. It’s up to the scouting team, not the technical staff. We’ve made our offer, and we’ll elaborate. We want him to be with us.”
Nwakaeme leaves Trabzonspor as one of the most admired foreign players in the club’s history. Across two spells between 2018 and 2022, and again from 2024 to 2026, he scored 50 goals in 193 appearances and won every major domestic honour available in Turkish football.
His greatest contribution came during the 2021-22 season when he inspired Trabzonspor to a first league title in 38 years with 13 goals and 10 assists in 30 league games. The Nigerian also won two Turkish Cups and a Turkish Super Cup, while supporters honoured him with a bronze statue near the club’s stadium, a rare recognition for a foreign player in Turkey.
Turkish outlets report that Nwakaeme has already rejected offers from clubs in the United Arab Emirates because he wants to remain in Trabzon. The proposed role would see him help identify African talent and work closely with the club’s sporting structure, extending a relationship that has already made him a cult hero on Turkey’s Black Sea coast.
