Since Mohamed Salah signed with Trabzonspor in August, the Egyptian star has achieved rockstar status across Turkey. The mania began after he shared a photograph of himself resting on a small boulder in a remote highland region, located over an hour from Trabzon. Since then, fans have flocked to the site to replicate the pose; journalists recently documented 46 visitors at the “Salah rock” in just two hours. Ahead of the match, Associated Press journalists who visited the “Salah rock” counted 46 visitors within two hours. According to if you can bring a global superstar to one of the most remote highland villages in Trabzon, that means something to us,”, Mustafa Bektas, a 44-year-old Trabzon supporter who travelled from Sakarya in western Turkey for the game and made the trek to pose on the boulder. Fans and commentators say Salah rediscovered his scoring touch, with teammates who bolster his strengths and an entire city that is turning into a fan club, since his transfer to Trabzonspor. Representatives of Salah did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
His arrival has provided a significant emotional lift for Turkish supporters, whose enthusiasm had waned after the national team’s disappointing exit from the World Cup earlier this year without scoring a single goal. Which had been dashed months earlier when Turkey’s national team played in its first World Cup in 24 years only to exit the tournament without scoring any goals, his arrival came as a much-needed boost to Turkish soccer fans’ spirits. But his latest campaign was disappointing, salah made a name as the third-highest goal scorer in Liverpool’s history and the world record holder for the most left-footed Premier League goals.
Now, the atmosphere at the 41,000-seat Trabzonspor stadium has been transformed. During Monday’s match against Besiktas, the stands were nearly at capacity, with chants of “Allah Allah Allah, Mohamed Salah” echoing throughout the arena. According to god willing, we will win the championship title with him this year,”, Sinan Mor, who attended a match hosted by Trabzonspor on Monday against Besiktas, one of Turkey’s most popular football clubs, which was in talks to sign Salah before he went to Trabzonspor. Mor wore a traditional thobe and a shemagh head wrap in the team’s colours with sunglasses that had “MO SALAH” written on them. With capacity for more than 41,000 people, were full on Monday, nearly all the seats in Trabzonspor’s stadium. The stands roared every time Salah touched the ball. Still, he acknowledged, “There is a beautiful love for him here.”. Trabzon, a city of nearly a million people on Turkey’s Black Sea coast, is known for its green valleys, steep hills, a Byzantine-era monastery and locals with punchy accents. And its team, where Istanbul’s jailed Mayor Ekrem İmamoglu was a board member before stepping into politics, is the city’s crown jewel, the local economy runs on agriculture and tourism. According to Besiktas President Serdar Adalı, salah’s talks with Besiktas collapsed over disagreements about his agent’s commission fee. And dreams about asking him why he didn’t choose Besiktas, murat works in a tea shop next to a housing complex where locals believe Salah lives.
The impact of his presence on the pitch is clear. During the recent derby victory, Salah scored in the 71st minute, securing his position as the current leading scorer in the Turkish Super League. His teammate, Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, noted that the star brings immense quality to the squad and is a positive presence in the locker room. He is a top player and a very good guy,” Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, Trabzonspor’s centre-back, told reporters. “He brings a lot of quality to the team.”.
Beyond the stadium, Salah has influenced the city’s culture. In the city, Salah-themed merchandise and art have popped up everywhere.
Muralist Yildiray Yildirim has been commissioned for multiple artworks featuring the forward in his Trabzonspor kit.
Furthermore, Google Maps has seen the club stadium nicknamed “Mohamed Salah Camii” by fans.
Trabzonspor’s social media channels also reportedly gained a million new followers following his arrival, and new direct flights were established between Cairo and Trabzon to accommodate increased interest.
Local business owners are capitalizing on the trend. Travel agent Ibrahim Eyupoglu now offers tourism packages that include match tickets, trips to the “Salah rock,” and team gear. Among those who booked such a trip was 73-year-old Mustapha Sabbagh, who traveled from Lebanon to pose on the boulder. Despite getting wet while crossing a river to reach the spot, he described the experience as worth it, calling Salah his heart’s love. Mustapha Sabbagh has been following Salah for 15 years from Lebanon. According to he has the magic touch,” Sabbagh, As he looked at his soaking-wet shoes and trousers with a big smile. “It’s worth it.”.
For the 34-year-old athlete, the move to Turkey represents a fresh chapter following a difficult final season at Liverpool, where he netted 12 goals and experienced a public disagreement with coach Arne Slot. Had a public falling out with coach Arne Slot, and in March announced he would leave, he scored only 12 goals.
While transferring to a lower-tier league might typically signal the end of a career, supporters see this as a revival.
Even opposing fans acknowledge his impact; Muhammed Mert Murat, a 22-year-old Besiktas supporter living in Trabzon, admitted, “The man is a star.”
