Since Mohamed Salah signed with Trabzonspor in August following his departure from Liverpool, his presence has sparked a cultural phenomenon across Turkey. The 34-year-old’s arrival has not only invigorated the club but has turned the northeastern city of Trabzon into a focal point for international fan adoration. The stands roared every time Salah touched the ball. 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.
The fervor is perhaps best illustrated by a remote boulder in the highlands.
After the Egyptian star posted a photo of himself sitting on the rock last month, it became a must-visit destination for supporters. Journalists recently observed 46 visitors making the trek in just two hours to replicate the image. For local fans like 44-year-old Mustafa Bektas, who traveled from Sakarya, the star’s willingness to visit such a remote area holds significant meaning for the community. 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.
This excitement provides a vital lift to Turkish football spirits, which suffered a major blow after the national team exited its first World Cup in 24 years without 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.
As Trabzonspor prepared for a high-profile match against Besiktas—a club that previously failed to sign Salah due to disputes over his agent’s commission fees—the atmosphere was electric. According to Besiktas President Serdar Adalı, salah’s talks with Besiktas collapsed over disagreements about his agent’s commission fee.
Fan Sinan Mor, dressed in team colors with custom sunglasses bearing the player’s name, expressed deep optimism, noting, “God willing, we will win the championship title with him this year.” Mor wore a traditional thobe and a shemagh head wrap in the team’s colours with sunglasses that had “MO SALAH” written on them.
The impact of his signing extends well beyond the pitch. Trabzonspor’s social media footprint reportedly jumped by a million new followers, and the city saw a surge in tourism, prompting the launch of direct flights between Cairo and Trabzon. Local travel agents are now bundling packages that include match tickets, tours of the famous rock, and official merchandise.
In the city, Salah’s influence is visible in murals and art, with some businesses requesting depictions of the star in his Trabzonspor kit. Fans have even jokingly renamed the local stadium to the Mohamed Salah Camii, or mosque, in a reflection of their intense, almost religious devotion. Even rival supporters recognize his impact; Muhammed Mert Murat, a 22-year-old Besiktas fan, admitted that despite his team rivalry, there is a “beautiful love” for Salah in the city. According to muralist Yildiray Yildirim, He’s received multiple requests for Salah-themed murals outside local businesses after he painted an image of him wearing his Trabzonspor jersey on a wall outside a park.
The transition from the English Premier League to the Turkish Super League has marked a resurgence for the forward. Despite a difficult final campaign at Liverpool that included 12 goals and a public disagreement with coach Arne Slot, Salah has rediscovered his form in Turkey. He currently leads the Super League in scoring, a feat underscored by his performance during Monday’s derby against Besiktas. Had a public falling out with coach Arne Slot, and in March announced he would leave, he scored only 12 goals.
With the 41,000-seat stadium at capacity, fans chanted his name throughout the match. In the 71st minute, Salah netted a goal that helped secure a victory for his side. His teammate, Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, praised the impact of his arrival, stating that the striker brings immense quality to the squad. With capacity for more than 41,000 people, were full on Monday, nearly all the seats in Trabzonspor’s stadium.
For dedicated followers, the journey to see him is worth the effort. Mustapha Sabbagh, a 73-year-old fan from Lebanon who has followed the player’s career for 15 years, flew in for the match and didn’t hesitate to wade through a river to reach the “Salah rock.” Smiling as he dried his clothes, he described the star as having a “magic touch.” 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.”.
While representatives for the athlete have not commented on the ongoing fervor, the reality of his influence is clear in the local economy and the renewed energy of the sport. Even as some local observers like Murat wonder why he didn’t choose other clubs, the consensus remains that his presence has become the crown jewel of the city. 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.
