Jose Mourinho has parted ways with Fenerbahce, just days after the club’s failure to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League. The 62-year-old coach’s departure, confirmed on Friday, August 29, 2025, came after the Turkish side was knocked out of the Champions League qualifying playoffs by Benfica, losing 1-0 in the second leg on Wednesday.
Fenerbahçe officially announced the end of Mourinho’s tenure through a post on his social media handles. The statement expressed gratitude for his contributions but also wished him success in his future endeavours.
Mourinho’s stint with Fenerbahce
Mourinho had been in charge of Fenerbahçe since June 2024, but his time at the club was marked by controversy. In April, he found himself at the center of a heated incident during the Istanbul derby, where he was seen grabbing the nose of Galatasaray’s manager, Okan Buruk, leading to a three-match suspension and a fine.
Earlier this year, he was also banned for four games following inflammatory remarks made after a Turkish league match against Galatasaray.
Once regarded as one of the top football managers in the world, Mourinho’s star has dimmed in recent years. His illustrious career includes successful stints at clubs like Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, but it has been six years since he last managed a team in the Champions League’s group stage.
For Fenerbahce, this marks another season without a Champions League appearance, extending their drought to 17 years. Under Mourinho’s leadership, the team finished as runners-up in the Turkish Süper Lig, behind their fierce rivals, Galatasaray.
The reunion can be on the cards absolutely!
Soon after the announcement, fans shared their thoughts on the departure. Many want him to move back to Manchester United. He was the manager of the team from 2016 to 2018. A user wrote, “Jose Mourinho to Manchester United, here we go! The reunion can be on the cards absolutely! Manchester United fans would you like to see him back at the club.”
Another added, “Now if there was ever one man to bring back to Manchester to whip that sorry squad into shape, it’s Jose.”
“No matter what they do, Mourinho will still be one of the best coaches that has ever graced the sports. It’s quite unfortunate he might have lost his touch, but that doesn’t take anything away from his achievements,” wrote a user.
“Manchester United needs to hire him back with immediate effect,” tweeted a user.