İlhan Palut

İlhan Palut (Turkish pronunciation: [ilˈhan ˈpaɫut] (born 12 November 1976) is a Turkish football manager and former professional player who is currently serving as the head coach of Konyaspor. Primarily deployed as a midfielder during his playing career, Palut made a total of 338 professional appearances across four clubs, scoring 32 goals, and also gained experience representing Turkey at youth levels. Known for his preference for a 4–2–3–1 tactical structure, Palut has built a reputation for developing dynamic, high-pressing sides and promoting young domestic talent.

Palut first came to prominence in the Turkish football community through his successful spell with Hatayspor, guiding the club to the Süper Lig for the first time in its history. His work subsequently earned him his top-flight managerial debut with Göztepe, where his attacking approach and player development were widely praised. Over the following years, Palut established himself as one of the leading modern coaches in Turkey’s managerial landscape.

After concluding his playing career with Çorumspor, Palut transitioned into coaching as an assistant at Kırıkhanspor, beginning a steady rise through the Turkish football pyramid. His managerial career has included roles across the TFF First League and the Süper Lig, where he became known for stabilizing mid-table clubs and achieving competitive performances despite limited budgets.

Most recently, Palut was appointed head coach of Çaykur Rizespor in June 2023, leading the team through two consecutive 9th-place finishes in the Süper Lig before resigning in November 2025 following a series of poor results.