José Mourinho Dismissed by Fenerbahce
The recent dismissal of José Mourinho by Fenerbahce has been described by the club’s president, Alic Koç, as an emotionally charged decision, yet one that was deemed essential for the future of the team’s performance. Mourinho, 62, was let go on August 29 following a disappointing 1-0 aggregate defeat to Benfica in the Champions League qualification playoff round.
Koç’s Reflections on the Decision
In an interview with Fanatik, Koç expressed the difficulty of parting with Mourinho, who he regarded as a friend, stating:
“It was a painful dismissal. Ending the relationship with someone I considered a friend was tough. While being knocked out by Benfica wasn’t the main issue, the manner of our elimination was simply unacceptable. I feared that the level of play we exhibited last year would persist. We believed that separating from Mourinho would give us a chance to play more attractive football moving forward.”
Koç further highlighted his view that Mourinho’s approach was too defensive, mentioning that while they were aware of his defensive focus when he was brought on board, they had hoped to transition towards a more dominant style of play as the season approached. Referring to their impressive scoring record of 99 goals and finishing with 99 points in the Super Lig during the previous season, he remarked:
“That’s part of our identity.”
Looking Ahead
Despite Mourinho’s failure to secure any trophies during his tenure—resulting in Fenerbahce finishing as runners-up in the Super Lig, considerably behind rivals Galatasaray, and being eliminated from both the Turkish Cup and Europa League—Koç does not view hiring him as a misguided decision. He remarked:
“Hiring him was a significant success; we had a good rapport and saw some achievements.”
Moving forward, Fenerbahce is preparing to announce a new coach, with Koç indicating that the team is likely to appoint another foreign manager. He mentioned that former Italian national team head coach Luciano Spalletti was their preferred choice, but he opted not to coach this season. Considering the high number of foreign players currently at the club, Koç emphasized the need for a foreign coach with European experience, stating that they are in discussions with several candidates and will introduce their new coach shortly. Under Mourinho’s guidance, Fenerbahce initiated the current season with a mixed performance, gathering four points from their first two league matches.
