{{Short description|Turkish football coach (1970–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Engin Fırat | image = Engin Firat.jpg | caption = Fırat in 2013 | full_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1970|6|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Istanbul, Turkey | death_date = {{Death date and age|2026|3|9|1970|6|11|df=y}} | death_place = Istanbul, Turkey | height = | position = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = | caps1 = | goals1 = | manageryears1 = 1997–1998 | managerclubs1 = Samsunspor (assistant) | manageryears2 = 1998–1999 | managerclubs2 = Antalyaspor (assistant) | manageryears3 = 2000–2002 | managerclubs3 = Eintracht Frankfurt (coach) | manageryears4 = 2002–2003 | managerclubs4 = Fenerbahçe (assistant) | manageryears5 = 2003–2004 | managerclubs5 = LR Ahlen (assistant) | manageryears6 = 2004 | managerclubs6 = LR Ahlen | manageryears7 = 2004–2005 | managerclubs7 = Incheon United (assistant) | manageryears8 = 2005 | managerclubs8 = Incheon United | manageryears9 = 2005–2006 | managerclubs9 = Sivasspor (assistant) | manageryears10 = 2006–2007 | managerclubs10 = Saipa (assistant) | manageryears11 = 2007–2008 | managerclubs11 = Iran (assistant) | manageryears12 = 2008 | managerclubs12 = Kayseri Erciyesspor | manageryears13 = 2008 | managerclubs13 = Sepahan | manageryears14 = 2011 | managerclubs14 = Gostaresh | manageryears15 = 2013–2014 | managerclubs15 = Saipa | manageryears16 = 2015–2017 | managerclubs16 = Kardemir Karabükspor (sporting director) | manageryears17 = 2017 | managerclubs17 = Dallas City FC (sporting director) | manageryears18 = 2018–2019 | managerclubs18 = Vllaznia Shkodër (sporting director) | manageryears19 = 2019–2021 | managerclubs19 = Moldova | manageryears20 = 2021 | managerclubs20 = Kenya | manageryears21 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs21 = Kenya | manageryears22 = 2026 | managerclubs22 = Nejmeh }}
'''Engin Fırat''' (11 June 1970 – 9 March 2026) was a Turkish footballer and manager.
==Coaching career== ===Sepahan=== After coming to an agreement with Ali Daei and the Iran football federation, Fırat signed a head coaching job with the previous season's runner up and Asian Champions League finalist Sepahan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/1277/west-asia/2008/06/28/754618/iran-sepahan-appoint-firat-as-coach|title=Iran: Sepahan Appoint Firat As Coach | Goal.com|website=Goal.com|access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref>
Fırat was among the candidates to become head coach of Nigeria to lead the team in 2010 FIFA World Cup, a job he rejected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newzimsituation.com/32710fg/zim_agency_in_turkish_connection.htm|title=【老品牌】信誉平台|website=Newzimsituation.com|access-date=4 December 2021|archive-date=3 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303233007/http://newzimsituation.com/32710fg/zim_agency_in_turkish_connection.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
Fırat was honoured with an award, as best Turkish coach abroad, by Celik Bilek Ödülleri in Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.safranbolubelediyesi.web.tr/portal/index.php?page=news&op=readNews&id=175 |title=Turkish Football Federation Awards Ceremony |access-date=19 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901150302/http://www.safranbolubelediyesi.web.tr/portal/index.php?page=news&op=readNews&id=175 |archive-date=1 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In the next years Fırat was active in the Coaching Education of Iranian Coaches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ajansspor.com/kategori/168/dunyadan-futbol|title=Dünya'dan Futbol Haberleri | Son Dakika Dünya'dan Futbol Haberi|website=Ajansspor.com|access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref>
===Gostaresh Foolad=== After Luka Bonačić resigned to become the head coach of Sepahan, Fırat was appointed the club head coach for 2011–12 season. Fırat led the team in the first twelve matches but resigned in October 2011. After he left Iran, he got offers from Galati (Romania), Rizespor and Konyaspor (Turkey), which he refused.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iha.com.tr/|title=İhlas Haber Ajansı|website=Iha.com.tr|access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.futbolunsesi.com/haberler/caykur-rizesporda-engin-firat-sesleri-h11019.html |title=Çaykur Rizespor'da Engin Fırat sesleri – Futbolun Sesi |access-date=24 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020138/http://www.futbolunsesi.com/haberler/caykur-rizesporda-engin-firat-sesleri-h11019.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Later careers=== In November 2014, Fırat was offered the assistant coach position by Galatasaray. He refused to work with head coach Cesare Prandelli.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sabah.com.tr/spor/futbol/2014/10/29/yardimcisi-firat-oluyor|title=Yardımcısı Fırat oluyor|website=Sabah.com.tr|access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref> At the time, newspapers in Bosnia and Herzegovina wrote that Fırat was a top candidate for the new head coach of Bosnian national team.<ref>[http://freshpress.info/index.php/sport/fudbal/item/1334-ekskluzivno-turcin-engin-firat-kandidata-za-papetovog-nasljednika#] {{Dead link|date=August 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
In 2016 Fırat was chosen as vice president of the TÜFAD Europe (European Turkish Coaches Association).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iha.com.tr/haber-tufad-avrupaya-onemli-ziyaret-604790/|title=TUFAD Avrupa'ya önemli ziyaret|website=Iha.com.tr|access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref>
===Moldova=== On 28 October 2019, Fırat was announced as the new manager of the Moldova national team.<ref>{{cite web|title=ENGIN FIRAT, NOUL SELECȚIONER AL MOLDOVEI|trans-title=Engin Fırat, the new coach of Moldova|url=https://fmf.md/ro/news/engin-firat-noul-selectioner-al-moldovei|website=fmf.md|publisher=Moldovan Football Federation|access-date=28 October 2019|language=ro|date=28 October 2019}}</ref>
===Kenya=== Fırat took charge of the Kenyan men's national team on 7 October 2021. In March 2024, Kenya won the 4 Nations Cup held in Malawi. Kenya beat hosts Malawi 4–0 and Zimbabwe 3–1 in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olunga on the hat-trick as Harambee Stars win Four Nations tourney |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sports/kenya-wins-four-nations-tournament-4570156 |website=The East African |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=27 March 2024}}</ref>
==Death== Fırat died on 9 March 2026, at the age of 55, after suffering a heart attack at Istanbul Airport.<ref>[https://www.mozzartsport.co.ke/football/news/breaking-former-harambee-stars-coach-dies/63248 "Former Harambee Stars coach dies"]. ''mozzartsport.co.ke'', 9 March 2026. Retrieved 9 March 2026.</ref>
==Honours== *Best Turkish Coach abroad: 2009<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.safranbolubelediyesi.web.tr/portal/index.php?page=news&op=readNews&id=175 |title=1. ??elik Bilek ??d羹lleri sahiplerini buldu | Haberler | SafranBolu Belediyesi Resmi Web Sitesi |access-date=19 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901150302/http://www.safranbolubelediyesi.web.tr/portal/index.php?page=news&op=readNews&id=175 |archive-date=1 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== * https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/football/story/firat-explains-logic-behind-harambee-stars-friendly-matches-against-big-nations-2023123110144621668 * https://iha.news/kenyas-football-rises-under-coach-engin-firat/
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110831151317/http://www.enginfirat.com/ Firat's website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100901224805/http://www.sporyolu.com/news_detail.php?id=15050 ENGİN FIRAT’A SÜRPRİZ TEKLİF haberi – 24.02.2010 10:25] * {{IMDb name|16250339}}
{{Incheon United managers}} {{Kayseri Erciyesspor managers}} {{Sepahan F.C. managers}} {{Saipa F.C. managers}} {{Moldova national football team managers}} {{Kenya national football team managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Firat, Engin}} Category:1970 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Footballers from Istanbul Category:Turkish football managers Category:German football managers Category:Association football coaches Category:German people of Turkish descent Category:Sportspeople of Turkish descent Category:Turkish emigrants to West Germany Category:Expatriate football managers in Iran Category:German expatriate football managers Category:Eintracht Frankfurt non-playing staff Category:Rot Weiss Ahlen managers Category:3. Liga managers Category:Incheon United FC managers Category:Kayseri Erciyesspor managers Category:Sepahan S.C. managers Category:Turkish expatriate football managers Category:Turkish expatriate sportspeople in Iran Category:Moldova national football team managers Category:Kenya national football team managers Category:Expatriate football managers in Moldova Category:Expatriate football managers in South Korea Category:German expatriate sportspeople in South Korea Category:Persian Gulf Pro League managers Category:Fenerbahçe S.K. (football) non-playing staff Category:Turkish expatriate sportspeople in South Korea Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Iran Category:People from Aurich Category:Sportspeople from Lower Saxony Category:Turkish expatriate sportspeople in Kenya Category:Expatriate football managers in Kenya Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Kenya Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Moldova Category:Turkish expatriate sportspeople in Moldova Category:Turkish expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Turkish expatriate sportspeople in Albania