The ‘Special One’ is on the move again! Jose Mourinho’s time in Turkey with Fenerbahce has come to an abrupt end after a disappointing Champions League exit. What’s next for the legendary manager – a new club challenge or perhaps the national team?
The illustrious managerial career of Jose Mourinho has once again taken an unexpected turn, as the Portuguese tactician has officially departed from Turkish club Fenerbahce. This seismic announcement comes just two days after the Istanbul giants suffered a crucial 1-0 defeat in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff against Benfica, the very club where Mourinho commenced his storied coaching journey. The failure to secure a coveted spot in the Champions League group stage proved to be the decisive factor, ending a tenure that promised much but delivered little on Europe’s grandest stage.
Mourinho, often dubbed “The Special One,” assumed control of Fenerbahce in the summer of 2024, arriving with immense expectations from the passionate Turkish fanbase. During his relatively brief stint, he guided the team to a respectable second-place finish in the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig season, narrowly missing out on the title to their fierce rivals Galatasaray. The club also faced an early exit from the UEFA Europa League, succumbing to Rangers in the Round of 16 after a penalty shootout, adding to the growing pressure.
The immediate catalyst for this managerial change appears to be the club’s disappointing start to the new league season, coupled with the critical Champions League elimination. With only two games played in the domestic campaign, yielding a solitary win and a draw, Fenerbahce found themselves at a crossroads. The club’s hierarchy and the veteran football manager mutually agreed to part ways, leaving the Turkish side scrambling for a new leader just days before the summer transfer window concludes.
Beyond the results on the pitch, Mourinho’s time at Fenerbahce was, predictably, punctuated by his characteristic flair for controversy. One notable incident occurred on April 2, when he engaged in a heated confrontation with Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk after Fenerbahce were knocked out of the Turkish Cup in a bitter 2-1 defeat. Such spectacles often overshadowed the team’s performance, embedding themselves in the narrative of his spell.
A few weeks prior to that Turkish Cup incident, Mourinho faced accusations from Galatasaray for allegedly using offensive language, specifically the word “monkeys,” to describe their bench. He also repeatedly accused referees and Galatasaray of fraud and corruption within the league, intensifying the already ferocious rivalry. These provocative statements even led the Turkish Football Association to appoint a foreign referee for a high-stakes derby later in February, a match that required an unprecedented deployment of 30,000 police officers at RAMS Park to maintain order.
The overarching disappointment of failing to qualify for the Champions League group stage, a competition Mourinho has famously conquered with other European giants like Real Madrid and Inter, ultimately proved untenable. Despite his illustrious resume, which also includes managing AS Roma from 2021 to 2024 and securing a UEFA Conference League title, the inability to navigate the crucial playoff rounds led to the premature termination of his contract after just one season.
Speculation now mounts regarding the next chapter for the iconic football manager. While an immediate return to a top-five European league seems unlikely given the early stage of the season and recent managerial changes, whispers of a potential comeback at Manchester United are already circulating. This comes amidst a less-than-ideal start to the season for the English club under Ruben Amorim, rekindling discussions about Mourinho’s unpredictable future, a trait consistently demonstrated by his choices to join AS Roma and then Fenerbahce.
Another significant possibility lies with the Portuguese national team. Mourinho was previously offered the role in January 2023 following the 2022 World Cup but opted to remain with AS Roma. With Portugal, under Roberto Martinez, having recently won the 2025 UEFA Nations League, an immediate change is improbable. However, should their campaign at the 2026 World Cup falter, Mourinho’s name will undoubtedly re-emerge as a strong contender to lead the national side into a new cycle, potentially culminating in the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Portugal.
