Jose Mourinho’s time at Fenerbahce has come to an end after a disappointing Champions League playoff loss against Benfica, a team he originally started his coaching journey with. The announcement was made by the Turkish club on Friday, just days after their 1-0 defeat in the second leg.

Mourinho joined Fenerbahce in the summer of 2024 and led the team to a second-place finish in the 2024-25 season, falling short against rivals Galatasaray and facing elimination in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 against Rangers via penalties. After only two matches in the new league season, with a record of one win and one draw, his departure was confirmed following the Champions League setback.

A statement from the club reads:

KAMUOYUNUN BİLGİSİNE
Profesyonel Futbol A Takımımızın 2024-2025 sezonundan itibaren teknik direktörlük görevini yürüten Jose Mourinho ile yollarımız ayrılmıştır. Kendisine bugüne kadar takımımız için verdiği emekler için teşekkür eder, gelecek kariyerinde başarılar dileriz.…
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) August 29, 2025

Mourinho’s Fenerbahce tenure will be noted not just for the outcomes on the pitch but also for several controversies off it. For instance, he was involved in an incident with Galatasaray’s coach, Okan Buruk, and faced accusations of racial comments concerning the opposing team’s bench. After previously taking the reins at prestigious clubs including Real Madrid, Inter, Chelsea, and AS Roma, this latest chapter in his career has ended after just one season.

Looking ahead, it is speculated that Mourinho may return to a top European league, potentially in summer 2026. Although he had expressed interest in managing clubs in the future, the opportunity to lead the Portuguese national team could arise depending on the outcomes of the next World Cup.