Former Engin Firat, the immediate former coach of Harambee Stars, has died after suffering a heart attack at the age of 55.
His Lebanese club Nejmeh SC confirmed the news in a statement shared through its social media platforms. According to the club, the Turkish tactician collapsed suddenly at Istanbul Airport in Turkey while travelling home.
Firat was reportedly on his way to Adana shortly after leaving Beirut when the fatal heart attack occurred.
“With great sadness and sorrow, Star Athletic Club mourns first team coach Captain Engin Firat,” read part of the statement from Nejmeh SC.
The club added: “During the time he spent with the club, the deceased was known for his professional commitment and high ethics, and he left a good impression among the team and the members of the Nejmeh family.”
Firat had only been in charge of Nejmeh SC for about a month, having been appointed on February 9, 2026.
Firat took charge of the Kenyan men’s national football team on October 7, 2021. His tenure with Harambee Stars ended in December 2024 shortly after the election of a new leadership at the Football Kenya Federation under president Hussein Mohammed.
His time with Kenya was marked by mixed results, although he recorded several notable wins. One of his biggest achievements came in March 2024 when Kenya won the Four Nations Tournament held in Malawi, beating hosts Malawi 4–0 before defeating Zimbabwe 3–1 in the final.
However, Firat failed to guide Kenya to qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations during his tenure. At the time, Kenya was also facing restrictions that forced the national team to play home matches outside the country due to the lack of FIFA-approved stadiums.
Overall, Firat oversaw about 23 matches for Harambee Stars, registering seven wins, seven draws and nine losses, with several of the victories coming in friendly matches.
Known for his blunt remarks, Firat occasionally courted controversy during his time in Kenya. In one instance, he angered many football fans after suggesting that football was not sufficiently respected in the country.
“Kenya is a country where they don’t know anything about football, so in that sense they don’t respect it enough,” Firat once remarked.
At the time of his death, Firat still had three Kenyan players in his Nejmeh SC squad: Austin Odhiambo, Masoud Juma and Anthony Akumu, with Akumu widely considered one of his most trusted players during his time with Harambee Stars. The three had been allowed to return home following the escalating tensions in the middle-east.
Following his departure from the Kenyan national team, reports also emerged that he was owed unpaid salaries by the Football Kenya Federation, although the exact figure remained unclear.
