Jose Mourinho has left his role as Fenerbahce manager after just over a year in charge. The Portuguese’s departure comes two days after the Turkish club were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by Benfica.
In a short statement, Fenerbahçe confirmed the departure, thanking the 62-year-old for his efforts and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
Mourinho’s sole season in Istanbul was a mixed bag. On one hand, he guided Fenerbahçe to a second-place finish in the Süper Lig. On the other, his tenure was overshadowed by controversy—most notably his outspoken criticism of refereeing standards in Turkey, which earned him a ban.
The exit marks another twist in the storied career of one of football’s most celebrated managers. Mourinho arrived in Turkey after three years at Roma, where he delivered the club’s first-ever European trophy—the UEFA Conference League in 2022. His CV already boasted an illustrious list of triumphs: Champions League titles with Porto and Inter Milan, three Premier League crowns with Chelsea, and a Europa League win with Manchester United in 2017—the last European silverware the club has lifted.
Still, Mourinho’s time at Fenerbahçe highlighted the frustrations that have followed him in recent years. After being sent off in a Europa League clash with Manchester United in October, he quipped that he’d prefer managing a team “at the bottom of the table in England” next—just to avoid UEFA competitions altogether.
Whether those words were in jest or a sign of what’s next remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: wherever Mourinho goes, the headlines will follow.
