Mourinho Sacked by Fenerbahçe After Champions League Exit
By IDNN Sports Desk
Mourinho sacked by Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe have parted ways with Portuguese manager José Mourinho, just days after their Champions League hopes were dashed by a play-off defeat to Benfica.
The club announced the decision on Friday, stating that Mourinho had “parted ways” with immediate effect. A senior Fenerbahçe official later confirmed to the BBC that the 62-year-old had in fact been sacked.
Mourinho joined the Istanbul giants in the summer of 2024 after a three-year stint at Roma, where he delivered the Europa Conference League – the club’s only European title. His arrival was greeted with fanfare, but his tenure quickly descended into controversy.
In his only full season, he guided Fenerbahçe to a runners-up finish in the Turkish Süper Lig. However, his battles with referees and a four-match touchline ban – later reduced to two – overshadowed results. He was also embroiled in a heated dispute with rivals Galatasaray, who accused him of racist remarks during a fiery derby. Mourinho denied the allegations and filed a damages lawsuit worth ₺1.9m (£41,000).
His European record proved decisive. Eliminations in the Europa League to Rangers and in the Turkish Cup quarter-finals piled pressure, and this week’s failure to qualify for the Champions League group stage was the final blow.
In October 2024, Mourinho openly expressed fatigue with UEFA competitions after being sent off against Manchester United in the Europa League. He hinted he might prefer a role in England with a lower-table side to “escape constant European football”.
Despite his decorated career, which includes Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan, three Premier League titles with Chelsea, and a Europa League win with Manchester United in 2017, Fenerbahçe concluded his chapter without silverware.
An interim manager is expected to be announced in the coming days as the club attempts to stabilise ahead of a demanding season at home and abroad. Supporters, stunned by the abrupt end to Mourinho’s tenure, now face uncertainty as the board seeks a replacement capable of reviving European ambitions.
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