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Fenerbahce has reached an agreement in principle on Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao and invited him to Istanbul, according to Turkish media reports, as President Aziz Yildirim seeks to resolve the club's coaching crisis after a series of damaging results.
The move comes after German coach Julian Nagelsmann emerged as Yildirim's preferred candidate, although the club reportedly failed to secure a positive response from him. Fenerbahce has now turned to Conceicao, who has received backing from former manager Jorge Jesus.
Fenerbahce's football committee contacted Jesus while assessing potential candidates and sought his opinion on his Portuguese compatriot, according to Turkish sports daily Fanatik.
Jesus reportedly gave Conceicao a strong endorsement, saying, "I see my younger self in him."
The 51-year-old coach most recently managed Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, leaving the club in June. He has been without a team for four months and had also been considered for the Fenerbahce job under former president Sadettin Saran.
According to Haberturk, Fenerbahce's management has reached an agreement on Conceicao's candidacy and invited him to Istanbul, where he is expected to arrive shortly. The club has yet to officially announce an appointment.
The club's earlier search also reportedly included former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde, Roberto Martinez and Jose Luis Mendilibar. With negotiations over Nagelsmann failing to advance, Conceicao has moved to the forefront of the search.
Fenerbahce's coaching search intensified after the team lost consecutive league matches against Galatasaray and Goztepe.
The 2-1 defeat away to Galatasaray left the club six points behind the league leaders and in fifth place in the standings. Ismail Kartal's departure was officially announced on Oct. 27 following a mutual agreement, ending his fourth spell in charge.
Kartal returned to the role on June 18, 2026, and oversaw 18 matches, recording nine wins, five draws and four defeats.
Assistant coach Dirk Kuyt took temporary charge while the club searched for a permanent successor. His first match ended in a 2-1 home defeat to Goztepe on Oct. 31, despite Fenerbahce taking the lead.
The latest setback added pressure on Yildirim and the board to resolve the coaching uncertainty quickly. If talks with foreign candidates fail, the club is expected to consider domestic alternatives.
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