Thomas Reis justifies Trabzonspor's signing of Jérôme Boateng

Thomas Reis, former Bundesliga professional, has been coaching the Süper Lig club Trabzonspor since September. Thomas Reis brought Jérôme Boateng in as a co‑trainer to the team. The 38‑year‑old world champion has been part of the coaching staff since October. He is to pass his experience specifically on to the defenders of the Turkish top‑flight club.

According to Reis, he is to pass his experience specifically on to the defenders of the Turkish top‑flight club. In a LinkedIn post, the former coach of Schalke 04 and VfL Bochum describes the collaboration with Boateng.

Boateng's duties in the coaching staff

Boateng analyses games from a defensive perspective and works directly with the defensive players in training, for example when shifting the line or pushing out. Reis wrote: “When he says something to the guys, it carries weight because he knows what he’s talking about.” Against the accusations against the 38‑year‑old, Reis remains silent.

Boateng ended his professional career in September 2025. His last club was Linzer ASK, where his contract was terminated.

In Germany, his entry into coaching was blocked because FC Bayern rejected a planned internship in Vincent Kompany’s coaching staff after massive protests. The reason was a conviction for bodily injury against a former partner. An overview from 2024 summarises these events.

In October, Boateng posted on Instagram in Turkish that he is proud and happy to be part of the coaching team and learns daily from Thomas Reis and his staff. A comment read: “That he still finds a job is unbelievable.”

According to Reis, the idea for the signing came from an internal analysis, without him having known Boateng personally beforehand. Reis called Boateng and explained his vision. He summarises: “I’m focused on the sporting side, having good people around me. He isn’t here to set up cones, but to make us better.”

After ten matchdays, Trabzonspor sit on 22 points in third place in the Süper Lig. All five home games have been won, conceding only one goal in their own stadium. Since Reis took over in September, the team has remained unbeaten.

With only eight goals conceded, Trabzonspor are the defensively strongest team in the league. On Thursday, the team will face SC Freiburg in the UEFA Conference League.