Fenerbahce president Alic Koc has shed light on the departure of Jose Mourinho, describing it as a "painful dismissal" stemming from a divergence in footballing philosophies. Mourinho's tenure, which lasted a mere six games into the season, concluded abruptly after the team's Champions League playoff exit at the hands of Benfica.
Despite Mourinho's impressive record of 23 wins and only two losses in 31 Turkish Super Lig matches, and guiding Fenerbahce to the Europa League round of 16 last season, Koc emphasized that the manner of their Champions League elimination proved decisive. The Turkish side's failure to score across both legs against Benfica, resulting in a 1-0 aggregate defeat, was a significant factor in the decision.
Koc clarified that the Benfica loss itself wasn't the primary concern, but rather the team's performance and style of play during those crucial matches. He articulated that the manner of elimination was “unacceptable”.
"Why did we fire Mourinho? I’ll say it for the first time, it was a painful dismissal,” Koc revealed to Fanatik. “Parting ways with someone who is above all a friend was tough. Being eliminated by Benfica wasn’t a problem, but the way we were eliminated was unacceptable.”
This dissatisfaction, Koc explained, triggered concerns that the previous season's style of football would persist. "This made me feel like last year’s football would continue. We parted ways because we believed this squad would be playing better football at this point,” he stated. The decision to part ways was rooted in the belief that the team possessed the potential to exhibit a more dominant and attacking style of play.
Koc acknowledged that Mourinho's emphasis on defensive solidity was understood upon his arrival. However, discussions had taken place regarding the need for a more assertive and attacking approach as the season progressed. The club's historical identity, characterized by scoring goals and accumulating points, played a crucial role in shaping their expectations.
“We knew our coach would put emphasis on defence when we brought him in, but we talked about the need to play more dominantly at the end of the season. Scoring 99 goals and getting 99 points [as Fenerbahce had done in the Super Lig in the 2023-24 season] is our genetic code.” Koc added.
Fenerbahce are actively searching for Mourinho's successor. Koc indicated that the new coach is likely to be of foreign origin, given the significant number of international players within the squad. The club is seeking a coach with European experience to effectively manage and lead the team.
“Luciano Spalletti was our first choice, but he decided not to work this season,” Koc added. “Due to the large number of foreign players in our team, we feel that the coach ought to be someone foreign with European experience. We’re in contact with several and will announce our new coach very soon.”
The next appointment will be crucial for Fenerbahce as they aim to move forward and implement a style of play that aligns with their traditions and ambitions.
