Fenerbahce Sack Mourinho After Champions League Exit

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Fenerbahce after the Turkish club failed to qualify for the Champions League phase.

The Turkish club were eliminated from the Champions League at the play-off stage after losing 1-0 on aggregate to Benfica, and their board have taken swift and decisive action.

In a statement, Fenerbahce said Mourinho had “parted ways” with the club, before thanking the 62-year-old for his efforts.

“We wish him success in his future career,” the statement added.

Mourinho, who has managed 10 clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, guided Fenerbahce to second in the league during his sole season in charge, but his tenure was punctuated by controversy.

Champions Galatasaray said they would “initiate criminal proceedings” against Mourinho, after accusing him of making “racist statements” following a 0-0 draw in February.

Mourinho denied the allegations, saying he was the “opposite” of racist, and filed a lawsuit against the club seeking damages worth 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (£41,000).

Mourinho was a frequent critic of the standard of officiating in Turkey, and was handed a four-match ban which was later reduced to two matches for his comments about referees after the match against Galatasaray.

Following a 1-1 Europa League draw with United in October where Mourinho was sent off, he said he wanted to manage a team “at the bottom of the table in England” after leaving Fenerbahce so that he does not have to play in UEFA competitions.

Mourinho joined Fenerbahce following a three-year spell at Roma, where he won the club’s only European trophy – Conference League in 2022.