Turkish football coach Engin Firat, who previously managed Kenya’s national team, has died after suffering a sudden heart attack while travelling through Istanbul Airport on Monday, March 9.
Firat, who had recently taken charge of Lebanese giants Nejmeh SC, was reportedly in transit on his way to Adana after departing Beirut when the fatal incident occurred. The club later confirmed the coach’s death in an official statement.
In a message of condolence, Nejmeh described Firat as a dedicated professional whose leadership and character had quickly earned the respect of players and officials at the club. The statement noted that he collapsed at the airport shortly after leaving Lebanon for his home country.
Firat had only recently been appointed head coach of Nejmeh on February 8, 2026. At the club, he reunited with Kenyan players Anthony Akumu, Masud Juma, and Austin Odhiambo, whom he previously coached during his time with the national team.
During his short stint in Lebanon, Firat made an immediate impact, guiding the team through several unbeaten matches and helping them reach a domestic cup final.
Before moving to Lebanon, Firat served as head coach of Kenya national football team between 2021 and 2024. His tenure came to an end in December 2024 after the team failed to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Across 24 matches in charge of Harambee Stars, Firat registered seven wins, eight draws and nine defeats, including a heavy 5–0 loss against Mali national football team.
His departure from the Kenyan role was also overshadowed by a dispute over delayed wages, with Firat claiming he had gone more than 11 months without pay. The situation also placed him at odds with then Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who had repeatedly warned that failure to qualify for AFCON could lead to his dismissal and reduced funding to Football Kenya Federation.