Fenerbahce have all but confirmed the appointment of Jose Mourinho as the club’s new manager, posting a video of the Portuguese coach welcoming fans to Sunday’s event.
“See you tomorrow in Kadıköy. Let’s start our journey together,” Mourinho said in a short video posted on X on Saturday. The club invited fans to attend an event at the stadium on Sunday night.
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Earlier on Saturday, Mourinho said he would like to become Fenerbahce’s new manager after the Turkish Super League club confirmed talks were ongoing.
Mourinho told Sky Sports: “Not yet. I’ve decided I want to go, but it’s not over yet. I can’t confirm it officially, but I want to go.”
A passionate fan of the world’s largest sports club!
If your plan has been cancelled, we are sharing a new plan with you. 😌🙃
See you at our stadium on Sunday, June 2nd at 19:00!💛💙 pic.twitter.com/jPOcSnzpZL
— Fenerbahce SK (@Fenerbahce) June 1, 2024
Mourinho, who has managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs, will take charge of the side that finished second in the Super Lig. That puts them three points behind champions and Istanbul rivals Galatasaray.
If Mourinho takes charge, he will replace Turkish coach Ismail Kartal, who had only one defeat in the league, but six draws in the title race have proven costly.
Mourinho said, “It will be difficult (to advance to the Champions League group stage) because there are three rounds left and in the case of Fenerbahce, eight players will participate in the Euros and will not appear in pre-season before the first round.” he said “It’s very difficult, but if I go, you know I love a challenge, so if I go, we will fight to get into the Champions League.”
Asked during TNT Sports’ broadcast of the Champions League final whether he had plans to coach in Istanbul, Mourinho replied: “I might travel tomorrow.”
On Saturday morning, Fenerbahce confirmed they were in talks to bring the Portuguese coach to the club.
“Negotiations have begun with Jose Mario dos Santos Mourinho Felix for the position of coach,” the club said in a statement sent to Public Disclosure Platform (KAP).
Mourinho, who has won titles with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United, will be tasked with helping Fenerbahce win their first league title since the 2013-14 season.
The 61-year-old also helped Roma win their first European trophy when they won the third-tier Europa Conference League in 2022, before leading them to the Europa League final the following year when they lost to Sevilla on penalties .
But he was sacked in January this year when Roma were ninth in Serie A. He was replaced by former Italian player Daniele De Rossi and Roma eventually finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League.
Information from Reuters contributed to this report
