Mohamed Salah's decision to join Trabzonspor for the next two seasons has revived memories of Liverpool's long and often uneasy relationship with the Black Sea club, a connection stretching back nearly half a century.
This October marks 50 years since Liverpool and Trabzonspor first met, in the second round of the 1976 European Cup. That trip left a lasting impression on the Liverpool contingent, though not a favourable one. Bob Paisley, then the Liverpool manager, was famously unimpressed by the conditions, describing the team hotel as a "doss house" and comparing the food unfavourably to rations he received during his time in the Western Desert with Montgomery's Eighth Army. He was equally scathing about the match ball, joking that even amateur leagues back home would have refused to play with it.
The travel arrangements added to the frustration. Liverpool had sent a representative to inspect a hotel ahead of the trip, only for the booking to be switched to an unvetted property elsewhere in the city once the club had departed. Forward David Fairclough later recalled that the new hotel sat beside a mosque whose loudspeaker system blared the call to prayer through the night, seemingly unaffected by the frequent power cuts that struck everywhere else. Goalkeeper Ray Clemence went as far as to call it the worst trip of his European career, remembering a pitch strewn with rocks and being woken at dawn by farm animals near the hotel.
Despite the difficult surroundings, Liverpool lost that first leg only 1-0 and went on to win the tie back at Anfield before lifting the European Cup the following May against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Trabzon has since transformed considerably, now billed by travel guides as one of the more cosmopolitan cities in the region, and the arrival of Salah has been treated as a major event by supporters. Fans reportedly gathered in large numbers at the airport to welcome the Egyptian forward, a reception reminiscent of the crowds that once greeted striker Paul Onuachu when he arrived on loan from Southampton.
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan addressed the media following confirmation of the deal, praising Salah's stature in the game. "He's a global superstar," Dogan said. "We needed a player like him. Trabzonspor's recent success is the talk of Türkiye and of Europe. We are trying to send a message to everyone that Trabzonspor can bring whoever it wants to Trabzon."
The club's recent form—finishing third in last season's Süper Lig behind Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, while also winning the Turkish Cup—may have contributed to Salah's willingness to make the move, alongside reported financial terms including an annual salary in the region of €17m plus additional arrangements tied to image rights and merchandise sales.
Local reaction has been enthusiastic. Regional newspaper Karadeniz Gazetesi spoke to fans outside the stadium, with one supporter admitting excitement had kept them up at night. "I know there are millions of fans like me around the world. He is a footballer and a global brand. I believe he can add much more to Trabzon's brand value," the fan said. Another described the transfer's significance succinctly: "This is a huge transfer. The whole world will be talking about us. I immediately went and bought a jersey."
While the full footballing impact of Salah's switch remains to be seen, the reaction from supporters suggests the club and city are already reaping commercial and reputational benefits from a deal that has once again linked Trabzonspor's fortunes with Liverpool folklore.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football (Football Daily).