Fenerbahce have parted ways with manager José Mourinho, just days after the club was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League play-offs by Benfica.
In an official statement released on Friday, August 29, 2025, the Turkish side confirmed the 62-year-old’s departure, thanking him for his service and wishing him success in future endeavors. A club official later confirmed to the BBC that Mourinho was sacked.
Mourinho, one of the most decorated managers in modern football, took charge of Fenerbahce in 2024 and led them to a second-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig. However, his time at the club was marred by controversy and off-field tensions.
Earlier this year, arch-rivals Galatasaray announced plans to pursue legal action against Mourinho, accusing him of making racist comments following a goalless derby draw in February. Mourinho firmly denied the allegations, calling himself “the opposite of racist,” and responded by filing a defamation lawsuit seeking 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (approximately £41,000) in damages.
He was also outspoken about the standard of officiating in Turkish football, leading to a four-match suspension—later reduced to two—after criticizing referees following the Galatasaray match.
In October 2024, Mourinho was sent off during a 1-1 Europa League draw with Manchester United and controversially remarked that he would prefer to coach a struggling team in England to avoid the pressures of UEFA competition.
Before joining Fenerbahce, Mourinho spent three years at AS Roma, guiding the Italian club to their first European title with a UEFA Conference League victory in 2022.
His illustrious managerial career includes stints at Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles; Inter Milan and Porto, where he won the UEFA Champions League; and Manchester United, with whom he won the Europa League in 2017—their most recent European triumph.
Mourinho’s next move remains unclear, but his departure marks another high-profile chapter in a turbulent yet trophy-laden career.
