Glamorous former footballer Zeynep Mestan has made history after the 22-year-old was appointed by Turgutluspor
A glamorous former footballer has made history after she was appointed by Turgutluspor – becoming the first woman to manage their senior men’s side.
Zeynep Mestan, 22, has turned heads on social media after the bombshell announcement by the Turkish side. In a statement, the club said: “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.”
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And Mestan has already seen her Instagram followers skyrocket to over 31,000 – with thanks to, what we can only presume, is her jaw-dropping looks.
She is a former footballer, playing across the Izmir and Manisa regions, but walked away due the state of the women’s game. After being appointed, Mestan explained: “As a woman who faced various challenges during her own playing career, I am taking the first step in this regard.
“I hope that the number of women involved in Turkish football will continue to grow after me. Coaching was a major goal for me; I would have liked to continue playing as well, but unfortunately. The value currently placed on women’s football in our country is very low.
“The Federation is doing good work, and I hope that we – as coaches and administrators – will also take the right steps to elevate women’s football in Turkey to European standards.”
She added: “There are insults and threats, but also very positive comments. I thank everyone who offers their support. We will focus entirely on the pitch and the success we aim to achieve at the end of the season.”
Over on her social media, there are hints of her former life as a footballer – but recent snaps show Mestan living a glam lifestyle as she dines out and soaks up the sun.
However, she will have to put that to the side in the hopes she can turn around Turgutluspor’s fortunes – who were 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 and it’s the first time they will play in the Manisa Super Amateur League, after previously playing in the second tier as recently as 2001.