Former Harambee Stars Coach Engin Firat Dies After Sudden Heart Attack
Former Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has died after suffering a sudden heart attack, his current club confirmed on Monday, marking a tragic end to the career of a coach who played a significant role in Kenyan football in recent years.
Firat, who was serving as head coach of Nejmeh SC, passed away on March 9 while at Istanbul Airport, where he had been transiting on his way to Adana after departing Beirut earlier in the day.
His club confirmed the news in an emotional statement mourning the sudden loss of the coach, who had only recently taken charge of the Lebanese side.
“With great sadness and sorrow, Star Athletic Club mourns first team coach captain Engin Firat, who passed away following a sudden heart attack while at Istanbul airport on his way to Adana a few hours after leaving Beirut for his country,” the club said.
Nejmeh SC described Firat as a dedicated professional who quickly earned the respect of players, management and supporters during his brief stint with the club.
“Coach Engin Firat was a committed professional who carried himself with high ethics and left a positive impression on everyone within the team and the wider club community,” the statement added.
Firat had been appointed head coach of Nejmeh SC on February 8, 2026, marking a new chapter in his international coaching career. During his short tenure, he reunited with several Kenyan players he had previously coached, including Anthony Akumu, Masud Juma, and Austin Odhiambo.
Under his leadership, the club maintained an unbeaten start in its early matches and successfully progressed to a domestic cup final, a promising beginning that had raised hopes among supporters.
Firat was widely known in Kenya for his three-year stint as head coach of the Harambee Stars between 2021 and 2024. During that period, he oversaw a challenging but significant phase for the national team as it sought to rebuild and compete at continental level.
Over the course of his tenure, Firat managed 24 matches for Kenya, recording seven wins, eight draws and nine losses. His time with the team included difficult moments, among them a heavy 5–0 defeat against Mali national football team.
His contract with the national team ended in December 2024 after Kenya failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a development that ultimately brought his tenure with the Harambee Stars to a close.
Firat’s departure from the national team was also marked by a legal dispute over delayed salary payments. The coach had publicly claimed that he had gone more than eleven months without receiving his wages, sparking tensions between him and Kenyan sports authorities.
During that period, he also had public disagreements with then Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who had warned that failure to secure qualification for the AFCON tournament could lead to major changes within the national football setup.
Following news of his death, tributes began pouring in from Kenyan football officials and players who had worked with him during his time with the national team.
Hussein Mohammed, president of the Football Kenya Federation, expressed condolences to Firat’s family and praised his contributions to the country’s football development.
“Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of former Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat. His contribution to Kenyan football will be fondly remembered. May his soul find eternal peace,” Hussein said in a statement.
Before his tenure in Kenya, Firat had built an extensive international coaching career. He previously served as head coach of the Moldova national football team and worked as an assistant coach for several prominent clubs, including Fenerbahçe, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Samsunspor.
His sudden passing has shocked the football community across multiple countries, with colleagues remembering him as a passionate tactician and a respected figure in international football coaching circles.
ALSO READ: Opposition Vows Legal Action Against Kindiki After Meru Church Standoff
Former Harambee Stars Coach Engin Firat Dies After Sudden Heart Attack
