Mohamed Salah has wasted little time making an impression at Trabzonspor following his departure from Liverpool at the end of last season

Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah has only been a Trabzonspor player for a number of months, but he's already achieved icon status at the Turkish Super Lig club.

The winger called time on a nine-year stint with the Reds at the end of last season, during which he firmly established himself among the club's greatest-ever players. His decision to leave Anfield, midway through the two-year contract extension he agreed to the summer prior, came after a tumultuous season in which his relationship with former head coach Arne Slot broke down.

Slot was ultimately relieved of his duties after the campaign came to a close, but Salah's decision was already made. While he spent most of the summer focused on the World Cup with Egypt, there was the underlying question of where his next step would be, especially amid widespread reported interest from the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer.

Late in the window, news emerged that Salah could be headed for Turkiye, and Trabzonspor was the frontrunner for his signature. According to a recent report from BBC Sport, Salah is well-compensated at his new club, but the ability to focus entirely on his football was said to be the driving force behind his decision.

Other Turkish clubs were interested, including giants Besiktas, but the 34-year-old is believed to have preferred a quieter life away from the intensity of a major city like Istanbul. Still, as soon as Salah's move to Trabzonspor was in motion, he was already welcomed like a hero.

"Walking around Trabzon, it feels as though nine out of every 10 fans wearing a shirt have Salah's name on the back," Turkish football journalist Hasan Tunce told BBC Sport. "The 10th has their own."

The report notes that Salah fever has all but taken over the port city in northern Turkiye. Whether it's his face plastered everywhere or the renaming of a rock in the Trabzon highlands as "Salah's Rock" after he shared a picture on a hike in the region, Liverpool's former talisman is worshipped at his new club.

Some supporters still pinch themselves when they see Salah donning the Turkish side's colors. "I went to the airport to see him in Istanbul and it was surreal," Nisa Dumangoz told BBC. "I still can't believe that he is one of us."

Salah made his debut for Trabzonspor back in August as he came off the bench in the second half of the club's opening league game against Kasımpasa. On that occasion, the teams drew 1-1 after Trabzonspor initially took the lead in the first half.

His first goals for the club came a week later when he scored twice in a home win against Basaksehir. He already has 11 goals and five assists in his 16 appearances across all competitions so far.

Salah scored in Trabzonspor's most recent league triumph over Alanyaspor on Sunday, when he netted the second goal in a 2-0 win. The club currently sits second in the league standings, three points behind leaders Galatasaray and two points clear of third-placed Amed SK.

Trabzonspor last won a Turkish Super Lig title in 2022, which was its first in almost 40 years. If Salah can help guide the club to another historic triumph this season, he will certainly go some distance toward establishing himself as a legend, and he could do so in his first season.