Mourinho’s Tenure with Fenerbahce Concludes Abruptly

ISTANBUL: Fenerbahce and head coach Jose Mourinho have officially separated, cutting short his time with the team after their exit from the UEFA Champions League against Benfica, the Turkish club declared on Friday.

The 62-year-old Portuguese manager had commenced his role in July 2024, subsequent to his departure from AS Roma.

His arrival sparked considerable enthusiasm among Fenerbahce’s supporters, who anticipated he would bring an end to Galatasaray’s recent dominance in domestic competitions. Last summer, thousands greeted him upon his arrival in Istanbul.

The club released a statement confirming Mourinho’s departure and expressing appreciation for his contributions.

“We have concluded our association with Jose Mourinho, who has been the head coach of our primary professional team since the 2024–2025 season. We extend our thanks for his commitment and wish him continued success in his future endeavors,” Fenerbahce stated.

Despite initial high hopes, Fenerbahce experienced an inconsistent start to the season, with early setbacks in European play adding to the strain on Mourinho.

His time with the team was further marked by controversy earlier in the year, following accusations from Galatasaray that he made racially insensitive comments during a tense derby match, leading to threats of legal action.

Mourinho frequently expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s deficiencies and seemed increasingly pessimistic in recent press briefings.

During his leadership, Fenerbahce achieved 37 victories, 14 draws, and 11 losses across all competitions.