Jose Mourinho has stepped down as Fenerbahce manager after just over a year in charge, the Turkish club announced, following their elimination from the Champions League play-offs by Benfica.
In a brief statement, Fenerbahce confirmed that Mourinho had “parted ways” with the club and expressed gratitude for his contributions. “We wish him success in his future career,” the statement added.
The 62-year-old Portuguese coach, who has managed ten clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham, led Fenerbahce to a second-place finish in the league during his sole season. However, his tenure was marked by several controversies.
Galatasaray, Turkey’s reigning champions, said they would “initiate criminal proceedings” against Mourinho, accusing him of making “racist statements” following a goalless draw in February. Mourinho denied the claims, asserting he is the “opposite” of racist, and filed a lawsuit against the club seeking damages of 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (£41,000).
Mourinho was also a vocal critic of officiating in Turkey. After remarks about referees following the match against Galatasaray, he received a four-match ban, later reduced to two games.
In October, after a 1-1 Europa League draw with Manchester United that saw him sent off, Mourinho said he hoped to manage a team “at the bottom of the table in England” after leaving Fenerbahce so he could avoid UEFA competitions.
Mourinho had joined Fenerbahce following a three-year stint at Roma, where he led the club to the 2022 Conference League title, their first and only European trophy.
His previous achievements include two spells at Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles, and Champions League victories with Inter Milan and Porto. At Manchester United in 2017, he guided the team to Europa League success, marking both their first triumph in the competition and their most recent European trophy.
