Mourinho’s Future at Fenerbahce in Doubt After Derby Defeat
Adriana Garcia
May 5, 2025, 05:57 AM ET
In the world of football, few names carry as much weight as José Mourinho. Known for his tactical acumen and charismatic presence, Mourinho has been a central figure in the sport for decades. However, his current tenure as the coach of Fenerbahce is shrouded in uncertainty following a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Besiktas. This defeat has left Fenerbahce second in the standings, trailing Super Lig leaders Galatasaray by eight points with only four games remaining.
Mourinho, who joined Fenerbahce on a two-year contract last summer, was brought in with the ambitious goal of securing the club’s first league title in a decade. Yet, as the season draws to a close, the gap between Fenerbahce and the top spot seems insurmountable. When asked about his plans for the next season, Mourinho remained tight-lipped. “I’m not speaking about next season,” he stated post-match. “These are things to speak internally and not with the media. If there is something where I’ve been absolutely perfect is on my respect towards my [club] president, my board, not to bring to the public domain internal things.”
Despite the pressure, Mourinho has consistently refused to comment on Galatasaray, who are on track to clinch their third consecutive league title. The former Chelsea manager has been vocal throughout the season about what he perceives as a “toxic” environment in the Super Lig, alleging that Fenerbahce’s main rivals receive preferential treatment from referees. “I don’t speak about them,” he reiterated when questioned about Galatasaray. “I speak about the championship and I’ve done it during the season.”
Mourinho has previously expressed concern over what he describes as “a system” within the domestic league that is deeply entrenched. “I don’t change one single word about what I’ve said during the season,” he emphasized. “One of the problems that Fenerbahce has is exactly the difficulty to cope mentally with the power of the system. It is something that is stronger than the quality…it is something really powerful. Players do feel it and they know it’s completely impossible to reach what they want to reach.”
In a twist of fate, Mourinho was asked to offer advice to former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who took the reins at Besiktas in January. “Ole has already been here for a few months,” Mourinho remarked. “He is experienced enough and intelligent enough to learn what he has to learn. I’m nobody to give him any kind of advice. We are experienced enough for him not to be on the moon because he won a derby and for me not to be in hell because I’ve lost a derby. We respect each other well. I think we like each other, too.”
Despite the camaraderie with Solskjær, Mourinho acknowledged the criticism from Fenerbahce fans following yet another derby defeat. Fenerbahce has struggled to secure victories against their two major city rivals, Galatasaray and Besiktas, this season. “It’s normal in this culture when results are not the results that people expect for there to be reactions,” Mourinho conceded. “I will never be critical of that. I’m open to critics, it’s part of my life.”
- Fenerbahce is second in the standings, eight points behind Galatasaray.
- Mourinho joined Fenerbahce on a two-year contract last summer.
- Galatasaray is on course to win their third straight league title.
- Mourinho has criticized the “toxic” environment in the Super Lig.
- Fenerbahce has not beaten Galatasaray or Besiktas this season.
As the season winds down, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Mourinho will stay on to see out his contract or if this chapter in his storied career will come to an abrupt end. Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the world of football will be watching closely.
Originally Written by: Adriana Garcia
