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Former Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho left Istanbul on Saturday morning, with neither fans nor club officials present to see him off. The absence of the thousands who welcomed him upon his arrival last year was notable.
Mourinho, who was appointed at the start of last season with high expectations but fell short, had his contract terminated. Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce officially announced his sacking Friday, confirming the departure of the Portuguese manager who had joined the club earlier this year.
The move came two days after the Istanbul club was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League playoffs by Benfica.
“We have parted ways with Jose Mourinho, who has been the manager of our professional football team since the 2024-2025 season. We thank him for his efforts for our team and wish him success in his future career,” Fenerbahce said in a statement.
The 62-year-old arrived at Istanbul Airport in the morning hours and did not speak to the press before boarding a flight back to Portugal. He posed for photos with fans at the airport and was accompanied by some of his coaching staff.
Mourinho signed with Fenerbahce on July 1, 2024. During his tenure, he led the club in 62 matches, recording 37 wins, 14 draws, and 11 defeats, averaging 2.02 points per game.
In recent statements, Mourinho included veiled criticism of Fenerbahce’s management and squad, and he was accused of lowering team morale ahead of crucial games.
A world-renowned coach, Mourinho previously managed clubs such as Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Roma.
His appointment at Fenerbahce was seen as a major step for the club, competing in Türkiye’s top professional football division, the Turkish Super Lig, with hopes of achieving domestic and European success.
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