Istanbul, Turkey, August 29, 2025
Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho has been dismissed by Fenerbahce, his dismissal coming after the club’s Champions League playoff exit that ended their hopes of returning to Europe’s top-tier competition. The decision was announced by the Turkish giants in a brief statement, bringing an end to the high-profile manager’s tumultuous and short-lived tenure in Istanbul, which lasted just over a year. The elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Benfica was the final straw for the club’s board, who had invested heavily in the hope of European and domestic success.
Headlines
* European Exit Proves Costly: The 1-0 aggregate loss to Benfica in the Champions League playoffs is cited as the primary reason for Mourinho’s dismissal.
* Tumultuous Tenure Ends: The “Special One’s” reign in Turkey was marked by on-field disappointments and off-field controversies, including public criticisms of the club and referees.
* Failure to End Title Drought: Despite a second-place finish in the league last season, Mourinho was unable to end Fenerbahce’s 11-year domestic title drought.
* Future at a Crossroads: The dismissal marks another setback for Mourinho, raising questions about his future in top-flight European football.
Mourinho, who arrived at Fenerbahce in June 2024 to much fanfare, was tasked with ending the club’s long wait for a Turkish Süper Lig title and securing a place in the Champions League. While he led the team to a second-place finish in the league, falling short of their arch-rivals Galatasaray, the true measure of success was to be found in Europe. After a narrow 1-0 aggregate loss to Benfica in the playoff round, the club’s Champions League hopes were dashed, and the board acted swiftly to part ways with the manager.
The dismissal comes as the latest blow to a managerial career that has seen a recent string of short-lived stints. Since his trophy-laden days with Inter Milan and Real Madrid, Mourinho has struggled to replicate that success at Tottenham, Roma, and now Fenerbahce. His time in Istanbul was characterized not only by the team’s struggles but also by his public feuds with rival coaches and his frequent criticism of the Turkish Super Lig’s officiating.
For Fenerbahce, the pressure to succeed is immense. The club has not won a domestic title since 2014 and has consistently failed to qualify for the Champions League group stage since the 2008-2009 season. With Mourinho’s departure, the club is now left searching for a new direction to rebuild and challenge for titles on both the domestic and European fronts. The severance package to terminate Mourinho’s contract is reportedly substantial, adding to the cost of the failed venture. The football world now awaits to see where the 62-year-old manager will land next, as his reputation appears to be at a critical juncture.
