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Ismail Kartal, the experienced Turkish football coach who led Fenerbahce before Jose Mourinho’s appointment, has mutually agreed to part ways with Iran’s Persepolis football club.
In a statement to Anadolu Agency on Thursday, Kartal confirmed the decision to part ways with the club by mutual agreement.
Kartal joined Persepolis in January 2024 and concluded the 2024-2025 Iran Pro League season in 3d place with 60 points.
Persepolis is one of the most prominent football clubs in Iran, known for its passionate fan base and historic success in the Persian Gulf Pro League. The club claimed its most recent championship in the 2023-2024 season, securing its 16th league title.
Before taking the reins at Persepolis, Kartal was at the helm of one of Türkiye’s biggest clubs, Fenerbahce.
The experienced coach managed to collect 99 points, securing 2nd place just behind archrival Galatasaray by a narrow margin of 3 points, thereby extending the club’s championship drought to 11 years.
His last term with Fenerbahce preceded the arrival of Jose Mourinho, the high-profile Portuguese manager known worldwide.
The successful coach, known as "The Special One," also could not end Fenerbahce's title drought, as the Yellow Canaries finished the Turkish Super League in 2nd place once again, behind Galatasaray, which claimed its 25th league title.
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