Turkish football coach Fatih Terim is set to take on a new challenge as he confirms his move to Greek club Panathinaikos.
This news has caused a commotion, as Terim has recently been embroiled in controversy surrounding a fraudulent investment scheme involving well-known Turkish football stars.
According to Turkish media reports, Terim will sign a deal with Panathinaikos on Wednesday.
Terim, who has an impressive coaching history that includes successful spells with the Turkish national team and Galatasaray, has found himself at the center of a financial scandal known as the "Fatih Terim Fund." The scheme allegedly involved Seçil Erzan, a former branch manager at Denizbank Levent, orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme. Erzan, who managed Terim's financial affairs, allegedly enticed investors, including former football stars like Arda Turan and Selçuk İnan, with promises of extremely high returns, as much as 40 percent per month, using Terim's reputation to gain their trust. However, the victims were provided with little proof of their investments, such as handwritten notes or simple papers, deviating from standard banking practices.
Although the scandal is named after Terim and involves his family members and close associates, the coach was not a defendant in the trial that began on November 20. Furthermore, Terim and Denizbank CEO Hakan Ateş were not mentioned in the indictment, despite their names being used to facilitate the alleged fraud.
While Erzan admitted to knowing Terim and handling his financial transactions, she denied any wrongdoing in their dealings. Terim's reaction to the scandal and his statements suggest that he had prior knowledge of the unfolding events. However, there seems to be a lack of thorough investigation into his and Ateş's roles, despite numerous references to their involvement in the victims' statements.
Terim's move to Panathinaikos, therefore, raises questions and skepticism regarding his connection to the financial scandal. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact his new role in Greek football.
Despite recent controversy, Terim's coaching career has been filled with successes, including 16 titles, such as a UEFA Cup, various Süper Lig championships, and Turkish Cups. However, his involvement in the financial scandal has overshadowed his legacy.
If the deal with Panathinaikos goes through, it will mark Terim's return to coaching after a 24-month break. It will also position Turkish coaches at the helm of both major branches of Panathinaikos, as renowned basketball coach Ergin Ataman is already leading the basketball team.
This potential move to Panathinaikos signifies a significant shift for the 70-year-old coach, as it would be his third international coaching venture. He had previously worked abroad with Fiorentina and AC Milan following his successful tenure with Galatasaray.
Terim's appointment as the head coach of Panathinaikos comes at a turbulent time for Greek soccer, which has been marred by allegations of corruption, mafia influence, and match-fixing.
The Greek Football Federation (GFF) has faced intense scrutiny due to allegations of corruption and a lack of transparency in decision-making processes.
Speculation has arisen about Terim's possible involvement in Greece, particularly due to his close ties with Turkish government figures, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This speculation has grown in light of Erdoğan's recent visit to Greece, raising questions about mending ties between Athens and Ankara and whether Terim's potential venture into the country was discussed during this visit.
