Jose Mourinho has been sacked as Fenerbahce manager after failing to guide the club to the Champions League group stage. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also been dismissed by Besiktas after Conference League play-off defeat. Both managers succumbed to the pressure of high expectations in Turkish football.
Jose Mourinho's tenure as Fenerbahce head coach has come to an abrupt end following the Turkish club's failure to qualify for the Champions League group stage. The Portuguese manager, who took the reins in Istanbul in June 2024, couldn't replicate his past European success, leading to his departure just months into his contract.
Mourinho's arrival at Fenerbahce was met with considerable excitement, but the weight of expectations ultimately proved too heavy. Despite guiding the team to a second-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig last season, a significant 11 points adrift of arch-rivals Galatasaray, it was the Champions League qualification that mattered most to the club's hierarchy and passionate fanbase. The team's quarter-final exit in the Turkish Cup, again at the hands of Galatasaray, and a Europa League last-16 defeat to Rangers further compounded Mourinho's woes.
The final nail in the coffin was Fenerbahce's defeat to Benfica in the Champions League play-off round. A narrow 1-0 aggregate loss meant that the club's long wait to reach the Champions League group stage, dating back to 2008-09, would continue for another season. This latest setback proved to be the breaking point for Mourinho, as the club swiftly announced his departure.
"Our first team's technical director, Jose Mourinho, who has been carrying out his duties starting from the 2024-2025 season, has parted ways with us," a club statement read. "We thank him for his efforts for our team until today and wish him success in his future career."
The Fenerbahce stint marks a rare occasion in Mourinho's illustrious career where he failed to secure a major trophy. Since joining Porto in 2002, only Tottenham Hotspur shares the distinction of not winning silverware under his management. This further underscores the pressure Mourinho faced at Fenerbahce, where trophies are not merely desired but demanded.
FT | Benfica 1-0 Fenerbahçe pic.twitter.com/X4qafOj6E8
— Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN) August 27, 2025
Meanwhile, across Istanbul, another managerial casualty has occurred. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been relieved of his duties as Besiktas manager. The former Manchester United boss, who joined Besiktas in January, also fell victim to the high expectations and cutthroat nature of Turkish football.
Solskjaer guided Besiktas to a fourth-placed finish in the Turkish Super Lig last season, but failure to qualify for European competition this term proved fatal. A 2-1 aggregate loss to Swiss side Lausanne-Sport in the Conference League play-offs sealed Solskjaer's fate, with the club swiftly announcing his contract termination.
"Our contract with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been terminated following a decision made at a board meeting," Besiktas stated. "Following the meeting, our chairman, Serdal Adali, thanked Solskjaer for his services to date."
The simultaneous departures of Mourinho and Solskjaer highlight the intense pressure and short-termism prevalent in Turkish football management. Both managers, despite their pedigree, were unable to meet the lofty expectations of their respective clubs, leading to their swift exits. This underscores the challenges faced by even the most experienced coaches in a league where results are paramount and patience is in short supply.
For Fenerbahce, the search for a new manager begins immediately, with the club desperate to find someone who can finally deliver the elusive Champions League qualification and challenge Galatasaray's domestic dominance. As for Mourinho, his next destination remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: he will be eager to prove that his Fenerbahce experience was merely a blip in an otherwise glittering career. Similarly, Solskjaer will be looking to rebound and demonstrate his managerial capabilities after a disappointing spell in Turkey.
The dual sackings serve as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of football management and the relentless pursuit of success that drives the modern game. In Istanbul, the managerial merry-go-round continues, with both Fenerbahce and Besiktas seeking new leaders to guide them to glory.