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Fenerbahce President Ali Koc has for the first time addressed the reasons behind Jose Mourinho’s departure from the Turkish club, offering a subtle hint about who might take over as head coach.
The comments came during a meeting with club members ahead of the upcoming elections this month.
Speaking about the Portuguese manager, Koc said: “Why did we let Mourinho go? I am explaining this publicly for the first time. It was a painful separation. Our chemistry didn’t fully match, though his achievements are undeniable. Bringing him here was already a significant success. Parting ways with someone I consider a friend was not easy.”
He added that the team had initially accepted Mourinho’s defensive style but later decided that a more dominant approach was necessary. “We knew he favored defensive football when we brought him in, but by the end of the season, we agreed we needed a more commanding style,” Koc explained.
Koc referenced past results to clarify the decision: “It’s in our DNA to score 99 goals and earn 99 points. Being eliminated by Benfica is not the problem; it’s the manner of elimination that is unacceptable. The level of football from last season indicated we could achieve better. We believe this squad can play superior football. European competition is one thing, but in Türkiye, we need to dominate most matches. Every game, we struggle to come from behind and regain the lead.”
Ali Koc’s mention of “99 goals and 99 points” recalled the recent success of former coach Ismail Kartal, who led Fenerbahce to 99 points and a second-place finish behind Galatasaray. Observers have interpreted this statement as a potential hint that Kartal could be considered for the head coach position once again.
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