Erol Bulut (born 31 January 1975) is a Turkish professional football manager and former defender of dual Turkish and German citizenship.[1]Born in Bad Schwalbach, West Germany, Bulut began his senior playing career with hometown club Eintracht Frankfurt in 1994, where he made his Bundesliga debut the following year.[2][3]Over an 18-year professional career spanning Germany, Turkey, Greece, and Ukraine, he featured for prominent clubs including Fenerbahçe (1995–1999), where he played 114 Süper Lig matches and scored 10 goals, Trabzonspor (1999–2001), Panionios (2002–2003), Bursaspor (2003–2004), Olympiacos (2005–2007), and Zorya Luhansk (2007–2009), accumulating 301 appearances and 22 goals across all competitions before retiring with Veria in 2012.[4]Although he earned no senior caps for the Turkey national football team, Bulut represented Turkey in futsal, becoming a member of the national futsal squad for the UEFA Futsal Championship during his playing days.[5]Transitioning to coaching after retirement, Bulut initially served as an assistant at Turkish clubs such as Kartalspor, Yeni Malatyaspor, Elazığspor, and İstanbul Başakşehir from 2012 to 2017.[6]He secured his first head coaching role at Yeni Malatyaspor in September 2017, successfully steering the newly promoted side to survival in their debut Süper Lig season before guiding them to a club-record fifth-place finish in 2018–19, which qualified them for the UEFA Europa League qualifiers.[7][8]In 2019, Bulut took charge of Alanyaspor, leading them to a strong fifth place in the 2019–20 Süper Lig campaign and runners-up in the Turkish Cup.[6][8]He briefly managed Fenerbahçe as caretaker from July 2020 to March 2021, overseeing 34 matches with an average of 2.00 points per game during a challenging period.[6]From 2021 to 2023, Bulut coached Gazişehir Gaziantep, achieving a 15th-place league finish in 2021–22 and reaching the quarter-finals of the Turkish Cup in 2022–23.[6]In June 2023, he became the first Turkish manager in Cardiff City's history, leading the EFL Championship side to a solid 12th-place finish in 2023–24 and earning a two-year contract extension, only to be sacked in September 2024 after a winless start to the following season left the team bottom of the table.[8][9]After more than a year as a free agent, Bulut returned to management on 13 October 2025, signing a two-year deal as head coach of Süper Lig club Antalyaspor, where he holds the UEFA Pro Licence and prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation.[10][6]
Early life
Birth and family background
Erol Bulut was born on 31 January 1975 in Bad Schwalbach, West Germany, to Turkish immigrant parents originally from Trabzon in the Black Sea region of Turkey.[1][11][12]As the child of guest workers, Bulut grew up in the socio-cultural context of the Turkish diaspora communities that formed in West Germany during the 1970s, when over 750,000 Turkish migrants arrived under bilateral labor recruitment agreements to support the postwar economic boom.[13] These communities maintained strong ties to Turkish heritage, providing early exposure to cultural traditions and the popularity of football within Turkish families.[13]Bulut holds dual citizenship, acquiring German nationality by birth while retaining Turkish citizenship through his parents' descent.[1] This bicultural identity shaped his upbringing in a diverse immigrant environment near Frankfurt, where Turkish families often balanced integration with preservation of their roots.[13]
Youth career
Bulut began his involvement in football at the early age of five by joining the local amateur club TuS Hahn in 1980.[1] This initial step marked the start of his formative development in the sport within the Frankfurt area, where he honed basic skills in a community setting.[1]Bulut continued his youth progression with nearby amateur teams, moving to SpVgg Eltville from 1985 to 1988 and then to SG 01 Hoechst from 1988 to 1992, both based in the Hesse region.[1] These clubs provided a foundation in competitive youth football, emphasizing local leagues and grassroots training typical of German amateur systems during the era.[1]In 1992, at age 17, Bulut advanced to the youth academy of Eintracht Frankfurt, a Bundesliga outfit known for its robust development program.[1] He remained with the club's youth setup until 1994, progressing toward senior opportunities while balancing football with completion of basic secondary schooling in the region.[1]
Playing career
Club career
Bulut made his professional debut with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga during the 1994–95 season, appearing in several matches as a young left-back. He remained with the club until 1995, gaining experience in the top flight of German football.[3]In 1995, Bulut transferred to Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Süper Lig, where he played until 1999 and established himself as a key versatile defender and midfielder.[1] During this period, he made 136 appearances and scored 11 goals, including contributions to the team's successful 1995–96 campaign that culminated in the Süper Lig title.[14][8]After leaving Fenerbahçe, Bulut was loaned to Trabzonspor (1999–2000), briefly returned to Eintracht Frankfurt (2000), and was then loaned to Adanaspor (2000–01) in Turkey, where he continued to adapt to different roles in midfield and defense.[8][3] In 2002, he moved to Greek side Panionios for two seasons, marking his entry into European leagues beyond Germany and Turkey.[3]Bulut returned to Turkey with Bursaspor for the 2003–04 Süper Lig season, providing defensive stability in 30 appearances.[3] He then rejoined the German leagues on a short-term basis with 1860 Munich in the 2. Bundesliga during 2004–05, recording 10 appearances and 1 goal.[3]From 2005 to 2007, Bulut signed with Olympiacos in the Greek Super League, where he won two league titles and one Greek Cup, showcasing his experience in high-stakes competitions with 42 appearances and 2 goals.[8][3] His form during this phase also led to international recognition for the Turkish national team.[8]In 2007, Bulut moved to Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk in the Premyer Liha, playing there until 2009 with a brief return in 2010, accumulating 18 appearances without scoring.[3] He then had a short stint with Olympiacos Volos in Greece's second division during 2008–09.[15]Bulut spent the final years of his career in Greece, joining OFI Crete for the 2010–11 season in the Beta Ethniki (second tier), where he made 27 appearances and scored 1 goal.[16] He concluded his playing days with Veria in the Football League from 2011 to 2012, appearing in 12 matches before retiring at age 37.[4][17]Over his 18-year professional career across Germany, Turkey, Greece, and Ukraine, Bulut totaled 356 appearances, 26 goals, and 30 assists, primarily as a reliable left-back and central midfielder known for his tactical awareness and defensive solidity.[4]
International career
Erol Bulut represented Turkey at the under-21 level during his youth career, earning 21 caps and captaining the team in several matches.[18]Born in Germany to Turkish parents, Bulut was eligible to play for the German national team or even Greece due to his long residence there, but he chose to represent Turkey, emphasizing his Turkish heritage and identity.[18]Despite strong performances at club level with teams like Fenerbahçe and Olympiacos, Bulut received limited call-ups to the senior national team due to stiff competition from established midfielders and defenders such as Hakan Ünsal, Ergün Penbe, and Abdullah Ercan, as well as occasional dips in club form. He was considered for the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers under coach Mustafa Denizli but did not feature prominently, and although part of the broader pool, he did not make the final squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where Turkey achieved third place.[18]Post-retirement, Bulut reflected on his international experiences with pride, describing the national team jersey as his "biggest love" and expressing regret over not earning more senior caps, while highlighting his commitment to Turkish football through his later involvement in the futsal national team.[18]
Futsal career
Bulut transitioned to futsal during off-seasons of his association football career to maintain physical fitness and promote the sport's growth in Turkey, viewing it as an opportunity to represent his country in a different format.[18][19]In early 2007, while actively playing for Olympiacos in the Greek Super League, Bulut received his first call-up to the Turkey national futsal team under coach Ömer Kaner, joining as a field player for preparatory friendlies ahead of the UEFA Futsal Championship qualifiers.[20]He featured in matches against Azerbaijan in Istanbul on 19 and 20 February 2007, scoring three penalty goals (in the 19th, 32nd, and 38th minutes) during the opening 4-6 defeat, marking a notable debut performance despite the loss.[21]These fixtures prepared Turkey for their debut in the 2007 UEFA Futsal Championship preliminary round, where the team advanced from Group 6 with a strong record, though Bulut's specific involvement in the qualifiers remains undocumented beyond the build-up games.[22][23]Bulut described donning the national futsal jersey as an honor akin to his football experiences, emphasizing national pride and expressing hope that his participation would inspire further development of futsal in Turkey as a "starting point" for the discipline.[18][19]
Managerial career
Assistant coaching roles
Following his retirement from professional football in 2012, Erol Bulut transitioned into coaching by taking on assistant manager roles in Turkey, accumulating five years of experience that he later described as essential for learning player management, staff coordination, and overall club operations.[24] His first position was at Kartalspor from October 2012 to January 2013, where he assisted head coach Özcan Kızıltan during 12 matches in the TFF Second League.[25]Bulut's next role came at Yeni Malatyaspor from March to June 2013, again primarily under Kızıltan for 13 matches, with a brief stint supporting Mehmet Altıparmak in one game, as the club competed in the TFF First League.[25] He then joined Elazığspor in the Süper Lig from September 2013 to June 2014, assisting Okan Buruk for 34 matches and Trond Sollied for seven, contributing to the team's efforts amid a challenging season that ended in relegation.[25]Bulut's most extended and influential assistant tenure was at İstanbul Başakşehir FK from August 2014 to September 2017, where he worked under Abdullah Avcı for 148 matches across three Süper Lig seasons, helping the club secure fourth-place finishes in 2014–15 and 2016–17, along with a fifth-place result in 2015–16 that qualified them for the UEFA Europa League.[25] In these roles, Bulut focused on training sessions, tactical planning, and player development, emphasizing discipline and character as foundational to team success—a philosophy he attributed to his assistant experiences.[24]During this period, Bulut obtained his UEFA Pro Licence, the highest level of coaching certification in Europe, which equipped him with advanced tactical and managerial knowledge influenced by mentors like Avcı.[6] These approximately five years as an assistant provided a solid foundation, enabling notable team improvements in organization and performance, particularly at Başakşehir, before his move to head coaching positions in 2017.[24]
Head coaching positions
Bulut began his head coaching career at Yeni Malatyaspor in September 2017, taking charge of a newly promoted Süper Lig side.[26] During his tenure until April 2019, he focused on establishing defensive solidity and team cohesion. In their 2017–18 debut top-flight season, he helped ensure survival with a 10th-place finish; in 2018–19, he guided them to a club-record 5th place, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, despite limited resources.[8] His departure came amid a late-season dip in form, prompting the club to seek fresh leadership.[3]In June 2019, Bulut was appointed at Alanyaspor, where he implemented a structured approach emphasizing quick transitions and set-piece execution.[26] Over the next year, he guided the team to their first-ever Turkish Cup final appearance (runners-up) and a 5th-place finish in the 2019–20 Süper Lig, marking a significant step up for the club.[8] Bulut left in July 2020 following interest from a bigger club, with his exit described as amicable but tied to ambitions for greater challenges.[8]Bulut's next role was a high-profile move to Fenerbahçe on 30 July 2020, returning to the club where he had played earlier in his career.[26] His brief stint until March 2021 saw initial promise, with the team challenging for the title and advancing in early cup matches, but mounting pressure from inconsistent league results and fan expectations led to his mutual departure.[27] Contract negotiations played a role in the split, as Bulut sought assurances on squad reinforcements that were not fully met.[28]Joining Gaziantep FK on 1 July 2021, Bulut spent 18 months transforming the side into a more resilient unit through rigorous training on physicality and tactical discipline.[26] His efforts led to an 8th-place finish in the 2021–22 Süper Lig and a semi-final spot in the Turkish Cup that season.[8] He departed in January 2023 after a string of poor results eroded early momentum, with the separation attributed to differing visions on long-term strategy rather than outright conflict.[8]In June 2023, Bulut took over at English Championship club Cardiff City, his first venture abroad, where he prioritized squad overhauls and integrating new signings he helped identify during the transfer window.[8] The 2023-24 season saw him steer the team clear of relegation with a solid mid-table finish, fostering a gritty playing style that resonated with supporters initially.[9] However, a dismal start to the following campaign—winless in the opening six league games—strained relations with fans over perceived lack of attacking flair and unmet performance targets, leading to his sacking in September 2024.[9]Bulut returned to Turkish football in October 2025, signing a two-year deal with Antalyaspor amid their mid-table position in the Süper Lig.[10] As of 14 November 2025, his tenure is ongoing; after five matches (two wins, three losses), the team sits 13th in the league, with early emphasis on rebuilding unity and pursuing cup progress as a route to Europe.[10][25][29]Across his roles, Bulut has consistently employed a 4-2-3-1 formation to balance defense and counter-attacks, while prioritizing players' mental resilience and work ethic over technical prowess alone.[6][24]
Managerial record
As of 14 November 2025.[6]
Club
Division
From
To
Matches
Wins
Draws
Losses
Win %
PPM
Yeni Malatyaspor
Süper Lig
28 Sep 2017
27 Apr 2019
69
1.45
Alanyaspor
Süper Lig
1 Jul 2019
30 Jul 2020
44
1.77
Fenerbahçe
Süper Lig
30 Jul 2020
25 Mar 2021
34
2.00
Gaziantep FK
Süper Lig
1 Jul 2021
27 Jan 2023
65
1.32
Cardiff City
Championship
1 Jul 2023
22 Sep 2024
58
1.24
Antalyaspor
Süper Lig
13 Oct 2025
Present
8
1.38
Includes all competitive matches played while head coach.
Honours
As player
During his playing career in association football, Erol Bulut achieved several team honors, primarily in Turkey and Greece, while also experiencing the challenges of promotion and relegation battles in Germany's Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt.[1]With Fenerbahçe, where he played from 1995 to 1999, Bulut was part of the squad that won the 1995–96 Süper Lig title; his contributions included providing a key assist for the goal that clinched the championship in the final match against Bursaspor.[14][8]Bulut's most successful period came at Olympiacos from 2005 to 2007, during which the team secured the Greek Super League title in both the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, with Bulut making 29 league appearances and scoring once across those campaigns.[30][4] He also contributed to the 2005–06 Greek Cup victory, appearing in three matches en route to the final win over Aris Thessaloniki.[30][4]Later, with OFI Crete in the 2010–11 season, Bulut helped the club earn promotion from the Greek Football League (second division) to the Super League, finishing second in the table after 30 appearances in which he scored twice.[30][4]In Germany, Bulut's stints with Eintracht Frankfurt spanned 1994–95 in the Bundesliga—where he made seven appearances as the team suffered relegation by finishing 18th—and a loan spell in the 2. Bundesliga during the 2000–01 season, where he made seven appearances as the club finished 11th and failed to achieve promotion.[4][3]No individual awards are recorded from his youth career at Eintracht Frankfurt, though Bulut reached career milestones of 373 total appearances, 27 goals, and 31 assists across all competitions.[4]
As manager
Bulut has not secured any major titles in his managerial career to date, but he has earned several significant recognitions and milestones across his tenures at various clubs. These include strong league finishes, deep runs in domestic cup competitions, and individual accolades that highlight his impact on team performance.During his time at Yeni Malatyaspor from 2017 to 2019, Bulut guided the club to a club-record fifth-place finish in the 2018-19 Süper Lig season, marking their best-ever position in the top flight and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League qualifiers.[31] He also led them to the semi-finals of the 2018-19 Turkish Cup, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Galatasaray in a 5-2 aggregate defeat, representing a notable achievement for a relatively modest club.[32]At Alanyaspor in the 2019-20 season, Bulut took the team to the Turkish Cup final for the first time in the club's history, though they lost 2-0 to Trabzonspor in the final at Atatürk Olympic Stadium.[8] This run contributed to an overall fifth-place league finish, securing European qualification and underscoring his ability to elevate mid-table sides. (Note: While Wikipedia is cited here for league context as a secondary verification, primary stats align with Transfermarkt records.)With Fenerbahçe in the 2020-21 season, Bulut's leadership helped the club achieve third place in the Süper Lig, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League and maintaining their status among Turkey's elite despite a mid-season departure.[33] The team reached the quarter-finals of the Turkish Cup that year, advancing past several opponents before elimination.[34]Bulut's stint at Gaziantep FK from 2021 to early 2023 saw the club stabilize in the Süper Lig, with a 15th-place finish in the 2021-22 season ensuring survival amid a challenging campaign.[35] Although he departed midway through the following season, his contributions laid groundwork for their subsequent eighth-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs in 2022-23.In England, Bulut's tenure at Cardiff City from 2023 to 2024 culminated in a 12th-place finish in the 2023-24 EFL Championship, a marked improvement that steered the club clear of relegation battles and toward mid-table security under his tactical implementation.[10] He was nominated for the EFL Championship Manager of the Month award in September 2023, recognizing a strong start with four wins in five league games.[36]As of November 14, 2025, in his early role at Antalyaspor since October 2025, Bulut has overseen a 1–0 victory over Eyüpspor on November 3 and a 1–3 defeat to Beşiktaş on November 8, among his first five Süper Lig fixtures, yielding 5 points (1.00 per match) and helping the team move away from the relegation zone.[6] No major titles have been won under his management, but these accomplishments demonstrate his expertise in squad stabilization and competitive progression.
Personal life
Bulut holds dual Turkish and German citizenship. He is married and has children; his family is based in Istanbul. In June 2023, Bulut revealed that his children were still traumatized by the February 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, which struck near his then-residence in Gaziantep, with his young children believing the house was still shaking months later.[37][38]