Former Harambee Stars head coach Engin Fırat has died at the age of 55 after reportedly suffering a heart attack while travelling through Istanbul Airport.
Fırat had recently been coaching Lebanese side Nejmeh SC, which confirmed his passing. Reports indicate he collapsed at the airport while en route from Beirut to Adana.
The Turkish tactician stepped down from his role with Kenya’s national team in December 2024 following the country’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He had taken charge of the team in 2021, leading Harambee Stars for about three years.
During his tenure, Fırat’s leadership often drew mixed reactions from football stakeholders, particularly over squad selection and tactical decisions during major qualifiers and competitions.
Off the pitch, he frequently highlighted the structural challenges affecting Kenyan football, including the lack of internationally approved stadiums and persistent administrative wrangles within the sport. His candid remarks also extended to media briefings, where he regularly defended his tactical choices with detailed analysis and statistics.
Before leaving the national team job, Fırat also raised concerns over unpaid wages, saying he had gone nearly 11 months without receiving his dues, which he claimed amounted to more than KSh80 million.
