Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has confirmed that the club have offered veteran Nigerian winger Anthony Nwakaeme a position within their scouting structure following his retirement from playing, with a focus on identifying African talent.
The offer came days after Nwakaeme rounded off his playing career at the Turkish club by helping Trabzonspor beat Konyaspor 2-1 in the 2026 Turkish Cup final on Friday, a result the 37-year-old had earlier described as his final mission.
“We met and spoke with Nwakaeme. We want him to stay with us in our scouting efforts in Africa,” Dogan 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 the club as one of the most cherished foreign players in Trabzonspor’s history. Across two spells — from 2018 to 2022 and again from 2024 to 2026 — the Nigerian scored 50 goals in 193 appearances and lifted every major domestic trophy available in Turkish football, including the Turkish league, the Turkish Cup twice, and the Turkish Super Cup. He remains the highest-scoring Nigerian in the history of the Black Sea Storm.
His most celebrated contribution came during the 2021-22 season when he produced 13 goals and 10 assists as Trabzonspor ended a 38-year wait for the Turkish league title. The bond between him and the supporters grew so strong that fans erected a bronze statue in his honour near the club’s stadium — a rare tribute for a foreign footballer in Turkey.
Reports suggest Nwakaeme has already turned down lucrative offers from clubs in the United Arab Emirates because he wants to remain in Trabzon. Club management reportedly believe his influence extends well beyond the pitch, having served as a major dressing-room figure under coach Fatih Tekke during his second stint, with younger players regularly seeking his counsel.
The proposed role would see the former Super Eagles winger serve as a bridge between players and the club hierarchy while contributing to the identification of emerging African talent.
Nwakaeme’s path to Trabzonspor was an unconventional one. He spent years building his reputation in Romania and Israel before a breakthrough at Hapoel Be’er Sheva, where he won three consecutive Israeli league titles between 2016 and 2018, scoring 43 goals and adding 24 assists while also shining in the UEFA Europa League against opposition including Inter Milan.
Despite his club success, Nwakaeme’s international career never truly blossomed. He earned his first Super Eagles call-up from Gernot Rohr in 2017 but made only one appearance for Nigeria — a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against Algeria in November that year.
Read the full article here
