Cardiff City have parted ways with manager Erol Bulut following a winless start to the 2024-25 Championship season.
The Bluebirds currently find themselves at the bottom of the league table, having secured just one point from their first six matches. Cardiff’s poor run of form began with a 2-0 defeat to Sunderland on the opening day of the season, and the team has struggled to recover ever since.
A statement from Cardiff City Football Club read: “Cardiff City Football Club can confirm First Team Manager Erol Bulut has been relieved of his duties and will leave the Club with immediate effect. The Board of Directors wish to thank Erol for all of his hard work and wish him well for the future.”
First Team Coach Nikolaos Karydas will also depart, with the club extending their best wishes to him. The Bluebirds have announced that Omer Riza will take charge of the first team on an interim basis while they search for a new permanent manager. Further updates on backroom staff changes will follow in due course.
Who is Erol Bulut?
Bulut began his football career at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he came through their academy. He made his debut in professional football in the early 1990s. Bulut later joined Fenerbahçe in 1995, where he won the Turkish Süper Lig title during the 1995-96 season. His playing career included successful stints at Olympiacos, where he won two Greek Super League titles (2005-06, 2006-07), and several other clubs across Europe, including a notable period at Malatyaspor in Turkey before his retirement.
Transitioning to management, Bulut started his coaching career with Yeni Malatyaspor in 2017, guiding the club to an impressive fifth-place finish in the Turkish Süper Lig, which was their highest-ever finish at the time. This success earned them a spot in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. He continued to enhance his reputation with Alanyaspor, where he led the team to a domestic cup final and another Europa League qualification in 2020. His achievements caught the eye of his former club Fenerbahçe, who appointed him as manager in 2020. Despite winning 21 out of 34 games and securing a strong away record, his tenure there was short-lived.
In May 2021, Bulut took over Gaziantep, where he remained until January 2023. His managerial career then took a significant step when he was appointed Cardiff City’s head coach in June 2023. Tasked with rebuilding the Championship side, Bulut’s tenure at Cardiff was marked by mixed results.
Under Bulut this season, the Bluebirds have picked up just one point from their six league games, having scored only one goal and conceded 13. Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Leeds left the Bluebirds rooted to the foot of the table, prompting the club’s reaction.
Writer’s View
Bulut’s tenure saw some highlights, including a handful of standout performances, but overall, the team struggled to establish a consistent identity under his leadership. Criticism grew as Cardiff faltered against key rivals, and with the board feeling the pressure, they were left with little choice but to seek a new direction. The decision to part ways, however, underlines the growing urgency at Cardiff to avoid becoming embroiled in a relegation battle. The interim appointment of Omer Riza suggests that Cardiff are keen on stabilizing the squad while they search for a permanent successor, with fans and pundits alike questioning what kind of leadership can now get Cardiff back on track.
Looking ahead, Cardiff City faces a pivotal moment in choosing Bulut’s successor. Early frontrunners for the role include former Plymouth Argyle boss Stephen Schumacher, whose stock has risen after guiding his side to promotion from League One, and Rob Page, the former Wales national team manager, who has been linked with a return to club management.
Both candidates offer differing styles: Schumacher with his tactical innovation and Page with his deep knowledge of Welsh football. Whoever the board chooses, they will need to instil confidence quickly, as Cardiff’s Championship survival may depend on swift and decisive action.
