Jose Mourinho has stepped down as head coach of Fenerbahce just over a year after taking charge of the Turkish side.
The Portuguese tactician’s departure comes only two days after Fenerbahce were knocked out of the Champions League play-offs by Benfica. In a brief statement, the club confirmed that Mourinho had “parted ways” and thanked the 62-year-old for his service, wishing him well in his future endeavors.
Mourinho, who has managed top European clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham, led Fenerbahce to a second-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig during his sole season in charge. However, his time in Istanbul was marred by controversy.
In February, rivals Galatasaray announced plans to pursue legal action against Mourinho over alleged racist remarks following a goalless derby. Mourinho strongly denied the claims, describing himself as “the opposite of racist,” and counter-sued the club for damages of 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (£41,000).
He also clashed with match officials throughout the season, receiving a four-game suspension—later reduced to two—for his outspoken criticism of referees.
Mourinho was sent off during a Europa League draw against Manchester United in October and afterward hinted that he might prefer managing a struggling Premier League side in future to avoid the pressures of UEFA competitions.
Before arriving in Turkey, Mourinho spent three years at Roma, guiding the Italian club to their first-ever European trophy, the 2022 Europa Conference League. His glittering career also includes Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan, three Premier League titles with Chelsea, and a Europa League win with Manchester United in 2017—the English club’s last European silverware.