Super Eagles duo Paul Onuachu and Chibuike Nwaiwu will work under a new coach at Trabzonspor after the Turkish club officially appointed German tactician Thomas Reis.
A midfielder during his playing days, Reis was a teammate of Nigeria legend Austin Okocha at German club Eintracht Frankfurt, with the pair playing together in 10 games across all competitions.
Trabzonspor announced Reis’ appointment through the club’s official channels on Thursday, confirming the 52-year-old as the successor to Fatih Tekke.
Reis returns to Turkey after previously enjoying a successful spell with Samsunspor between 2024 and 2026.
He later left Samsunspor in February 2026 and subsequently took charge of Bulgarian side Ludogorets in July before returning to Turkey to become Trabzonspor’s new head coach.
The managerial change represents a fresh start for Onuachu and Nwaiwu, who remain important Nigerian players at the club.
Onuachu has established himself as a key attacking option since returning permanently to Trabzonspor, having initially joined the club on loan before completing a permanent move in 2025.
Nwaiwu, meanwhile, remains an important member of Trabzonspor’s squad and will now work under Reis following the club’s managerial change.
The timing of Reis’ arrival could also be significant for the two players at international level.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is preparing his squad for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau later this month.
Onuachu was recently dealing with an injury that raised concerns over his availability for the qualifiers after he was forced off against Gençlerbirliği, but the Super Eagles striker has since recovered and returned to action for Trabzonspor.
Their performances and fitness under Reis could therefore be relevant as Chelle finalises his plans for the upcoming international fixtures.
Wale Adejumo
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