Turgutluspor appoints 22-year-old Zeynep Mestan as men's head coach

Turkish amateur football club Turgutluspor, which competes in the country's sixth division, has appointed 22-year-old Zeynep Mestan as the head coach of its men's team. The appointment, announced this week, has garnered significant attention due to Mestan's age and gender in a traditionally male-dominated field. Mestan, who celebrated her 22nd birthday only six weeks ago, has been an amateur football player herself since 2019.

The club stated that Mestan will be responsible for leading the new organizational and technical structure currently being implemented within the organization. While the move is unconventional for the division, the team expressed optimism regarding the new era, hoping the appointment will benefit the club, its community, and its fans. The official announcement on Instagram went viral, exceeding 60,000 likes, a figure substantially higher than the club's typical social media engagement metrics. The club currently looks to stabilize its operations under this new management structure as they continue their season.