José Mourinho sacked by Fenerbahce after Champions League elimination
Fenerbahce of Istanbul announced this Friday the dismissal of Portuguese coach José Mourinho, just hours after being eliminated from the Champions League. The 1-0 defeat to Benfica in the last qualifying round was the trigger for this decision.Mourinho’s time in Turkey lasted a year, after arriving last summer with the aim of taking Fenerbahce to the top European competition, something he did not achieve.Our time with José Mourinho is over, who served as the head coach of our first football team since the 2024-2025 season. We thank him for his work with our club until today and wish him success in his future career.
Fenerbahce Statement
Mourinho’s Career
Mourinho, known for managing elite clubs such as Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Manchester United, won the Champions League with Porto (2004) and Inter (2010). The 62-year-old coach was appointed Fenerbahçe manager in June 2024 with a two-season contract. His dismissal comes after six matchdays of the new season of the Turkish Super League.Statistics at Fenerbahçe
During his time at Fenerbahçe, Mourinho managed 62 matches, with a record of 37 wins, 14 draws and 11 losses, achieving an average of 2.02 points per game. According to reports, Mourinho could receive compensation from the Turkish club, estimated at 15 million euros, regardless of whether he signs with another team. For the moment, the details of the termination have not been revealed and Mourinho has not made any statements.The match in Lisbon
The defeat at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon precipitated his departure, marked by controversies. Mourinho’s relationship with the board had become strained during the transfer market, with criticisms of the lack of signings.These statements, along with previous criticisms, were key in the directive’s decision. The elimination from the Champions League is a hard sporting and economic blow for the club. Had they qualified, the club would have earned almost 19 million euros in bonuses, in addition to income from coefficient and television rights. The loss of this income could force the sale of players. Fenerbahce finished second in the 2024/25 league, behind Galatasaray, with whom Mourinho had clashes, accusing the referees of favoring the rival team. In a Cup match, after the 2-1 defeat against Galatasaray, Mourinho had an altercation with the rival coach, Okan Buruk.If the Champions League was vital for my club, something would have been done in the transfer market.
José Mourinho
