FENERBAHÇE SACK JOSE MOURINHO AFTER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION FAILURE
Turkish giants part ways with legendary Portuguese coach following elimination from UEFA Champions League qualifiers by Benfica.
Turkish Super Lig powerhouse Fenerbahçe has terminated the contract of legendary coach Jose Mourinho following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League group stages.
The club announced the decision on their official social media platforms on Wednesday, ending Mourinho’s brief tenure that began on June 2, 2024. The Portuguese manager’s departure comes after Fenerbahçe were eliminated by Benfica in the final qualifying round, drawing goalless at home and losing 1-0 in Portugal.
In a succinct statement, the club said: “We have parted ways with Jose Mourinho, who has been the manager of our Professional Football A Team since the 2024-2025 season. We thank him for his efforts for our team and wish him success in his future career.”
The 62-year-old manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in football history, replaced İsmail Kartal who had guided Fenerbahçe to a second-place finish in the 2023/2024 league season. Mourinho’s appointment was met with great excitement among the club’s supporters, but his inability to secure Champions League football has prompted the abrupt dismissal.
Mourinho’s departure after just over a year continues a pattern of short-term appointments for the veteran manager, who has previously coached top European clubs including Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.
The search for a new manager begins immediately for Fenerbahçe as they look to regroup ahead of their domestic league campaign and Europa League participation.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
