Fenerbahçe sacked José Mourinho after the club failed to secure UEFA Champions League qualification following loss to Benfica..
2025-08-30 01:04
Fenerbahçe announced on its official website on Friday that the club's Portuguese head coach José Mourinho had been sacked effective immediately.
While Fenerbahçe did not provide an official statement explaining Mourinho's dismissal, media outlets widely believe it was closely related to the club's 1-0 loss to Benfica on Thursday (August 26), which cost them their Champions League qualification.
Benfica broke the deadlock in the match with a goal from Kerem Aktürkoğlu in the 35th minute.
However, Sarı Kanaryalar were forced to finish the game with 10-men after Talisca's red card in the second half, effectively ending their chances of equalizing and forcing the As Ãguias into a penalty shootout.
As one of the Turkish Süper Lig's top clubs, Fenerbahçe had long prioritized UEFA Champions League qualification. Mourinho's failure to achieve this goal made the club's decision to part ways with him unsurprising.
In fact, speculation had long circulated that the former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Roma manager will be sacked in this year was a matter of time.
Mourinho's feud with the often fiery Fenerbahçe president, Ali Koç, and board member, Acun Ilıcalı, who is also the Hull City chairman, was well known.
The three parties had engaged in numerous verbal clashes over transfer funding and differing philosophies. Furthermore, Mourinho's numerous clashes with the Turkish Football Association, referees, and arch-rivals Galatasaray, along with his inconsistent coaching record, exacerbated his unpopularity at the Istanbul club.
Since leaving Manchester United, Mourinho has rarely been accepted by the top five European leagues due to his frequent sackings. Following his departure from Fenerbahçe, it's unclear what his future will be.
During his one-year spell as head coach of Fenerbahçe, Mourinho has coached the Turkish Süper Lig giants in 62 games in all competitions, amassing 37 wins, 14 draws and 11 losses, with a win percentage of 59.68%.
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