Before Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho will be introduced as the new coach of the Turkish Super Lig team Fenerbahce later on Sunday, the club said.
After days of strong signs that Mourinho will take charge, the Istanbul club said in a post on X early Sunday morning that the Portuguese coach would attend a ceremony at their Sukru Saracoglu ground.
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“Saracoglu is waiting for new coach Jose Mourinho and their passionate fans at 7pm!” read article.
On Saturday night, Fenerbahce posted a video message from Mourinho, 61, in which he told Fenerbahce fans he would “see you tomorrow in Kadikoy and let’s start the journey together ”.
The Turkish club celebrated Mourinho’s signing at Fenerbahce’s Ulker Stadium in Istanbul as thousands of supporters cheered and sang the Portuguese coach’s name.
“Usually a coach is loved after victories, in this case I feel that love before victories. And for me it is a great responsibility that I feel and I promise you that from this moment I belong to this family, this shirt is my skin,” Mourinho said in his speech to the fans while waving the Fenerbahce shirt.
“From the moment I met president Ali Koc and understood his ideas and projects, I wanted to play for you, I wanted to be a coach for all of you. From the moment I signed contract, your dream is now my dream.”
“I welcome our coach Mourinho on behalf of the fans. He is one of the best coaches in the history of world football. I am sure he will be a winning coach here , as he has been at other clubs in the past,” the club said. Chairman Ali Koc said.
Special person 😉 pic.twitter.com/siTZzaCnmj
— Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN) June 2, 2024
Mourinho will replace Turkish coach Ismail Kartal, with whom Fenerbahce parted ways on Friday after just one league defeat last season.
This is Mourinho’s first job since he left Rome in January after two and a half years marked by winning the Europa Conference League in 2022 and a series of disputes with the referee.
The Portuguese has not worked outside Europe’s top five leagues since 2004, when he left Porto after winning the Champions League and joined Chelseawas on the rise under then-owner Roman Abramovich.
Since then he has also coached Inter MilanMadrid, Manchester United And Tottenham in a career full of trophies and off-field controversies.
Fenerbahce finished second behind a formidable opponent Galatasaray in the Turkish Super League this season and clashed with Turkish football authorities, including taking their team off the field during the Turkish Super Cup in protest.
Details of Mourinho’s contract with Fenerbahce have not yet been revealed.
