Jose Mourinho has left his role as Fenerbahce head coach after just one season in charge.
The 62-year-old was appointed in 2024 and guided the Istanbul club to a runner-up finish in the Turkish Super Lig, finishing 11 points behind champions Galatasaray. Fenerbahce also reached the Turkish Cup quarter-finals but were eliminated, and their Europa League campaign ended in the round of 16 at the hands of Rangers. The departure comes days after the club failed to reach the Champions League group stage following a playoff defeat to Benfica, meaning they will compete in the Europa League this season.
The club posted a public notice confirming the split, thanking Mourinho for his efforts and wishing him success in his future career.
In the current campaign, Fenerbahce have collected four points from their opening two league matches and head into a Sunday fixture against Genclerbirligi. The move comes a day after Istanbul rivals Besiktas terminated the contract of head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Fenerbahce have not won the Turkish Super Lig since 2014, with a Turkish Cup title in 2023 marking their sole major trophy in the past decade. Mourinho’s time at the helm saw 37 wins from 62 matches, a win rate of 59.7 percent.
Across a managerial career spanning more than two decades, Mourinho has won 26 trophies. He lifted the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan and has claimed league titles with Chelsea and Real Madrid. He also had spells at Manchester United—where he won the EFL Cup and Europa League in 2017—and Tottenham Hotspur. His prior stint at Roma culminated in Europe’s first major trophy for the club since 1961, the Europa Conference League in 2022, and the following season they finished as Europa League runners-up to Sevilla on penalties.
Mourinho has previously indicated he would be ready to return to the Premier League when his time at Fenerbahce concluded, a stance he voiced in October 2024.
What this means for Fenerbahce going forward is a reset of leadership as the club aims to reassert itself in domestic and European competition. The departure also keeps Mourinho in the global spotlight as he contemplates his next move, with his track record suggesting he remains a high-profile option for clubs seeking a proven winner.
Summary: Mourinho’s one-season tenure at Fenerbahce ends after a season that yielded a strong league finish but disappointing European runs, alongside a broader context of the club’s recent trophy history and lack of league titles in the past decade. The move leaves Fenerbahce at a crossroads as they plan their next steps in pursuit of domestic resurgence and European progress, while Mourinho remains a significant figure in world football with a storied trophy-rich career.
Overall, the departure sets up a fresh chapter for both the coach and the club, with potential for a positive turnaround as new leadership grapples with the ambitions of one of Turkey’s biggest clubs.