Turkish club makes history as they appoint glamorous former women’s footballer, 22, as their new manager

TURKISH football club Turgutluspor has made history by signing Zeynep Mestan as their new manager. The glamorous 22-year-old has been charged with bringing the club into a new era. Turgutluspor manager Zeynep Mestan poses for a photo on a rooftop Credit: Instagram @zeynepmestn Mestan sits for a photo inside a restaurant Credit: Instagram @zeynepmestn Former women’s footballer Mestan has become the first woman to lead the Turkish club’s senior men’s squad. Her appointment was confirmed by Turgutluspor with a statement on social media on Tuesday. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! The club said on Instagram: “Our club has reached an agreement with Zeynep Mestan for the role of coach in accordance with the structure and goals of the new season. “We wish success to Zeynep Mestan, who will take the lead of the new formation and technical work initiated in our club under our red-black armor; we hope this new era will be good for our community, club and all of our fans.” The newly-appointed manager has gained a massive following from her own playing career, with 21,300 followers on Instagram. She has played for several women’s clubs across the Izmir and Manisa regions of the country, starting her playing career at Karsiyaka BES Spor in 2019. Mestan most recently played for Bornova Genc Yildizlar Spor in 2025. Her step into management comes just six weeks after Mestan celebrated her 22nd birthday. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Turgutluspor manager Mestan takes a photo at the beach Credit: Instagram @zeynepmestn Turgutluspor are looking to bounce back after being relegated to the sixth tier of Turkish football, having finished tenth in the Bolgesel Amator Lig last season. It is the second relegation in as many years for the club after finishing the 2024–25 season ranked 16th in the fourth-level TFF 3. Lig. This is the first time that the club will have played in the Manisa Super Amateur League, after previously playing in the second tier as recently as 2001. The club’s historic first campaign under Mestan’s management is expected to start in October. Comment now