Soccer-Mourinho unveiled as new Fenerbahce manager (updated)
02/06/2024 18:35
(Updates with signing ceremony)
ISTANBUL, June 2 (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho was unveiled
as the new manager of Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce in front
of thousands of enthusiastic fans on Sunday.
Mourinho, 61, has been out of a job since he was sacked by
Serie A side AS Roma in January.
The Turkish club held a signing ceremony for Mourinho in
Fenerbahce's Ulker Stadium in Istanbul as thousands of
supporters cheered the Portuguese coach's name and sang songs.
"Normally a coach is loved after victories, in this case
I feel that love before victories. And that for me is a big
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 address to the fans, waving a Fenerbahce jersey.
"Since the moment I met president Ali Koc and understood
his ideas and projects, I wanted to play for you, I want to be
the coach of all of you... From the moment I signed my contract,
your dreams are now my dreams," Mourinho added.
"I welcome our coach Mourinho on behalf of our fans. He
is one of the best coaches of world football history. I'm sure
he'll be the winner coach here, as he had been in other clubs in
the past," club chairman Ali Koc said.
Mourinho will replace Turkish boss Ismail Kartal, who
Fenerbahce parted ways with on Friday after only one loss in the
league last season.
The team were involved in a tight title race with
Galatasaray but six draws proved costly as their Istanbul rivals
won the league by three points.
Mourinho, who has won trophies with clubs such as 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.
Details of Mourinho's contract with Fenerbahce have not been
revealed.
(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever in Ankara and Rohith Nair in
Bengaluru;
Editing by Christian Radnedge and Toby Davis)
((Rohith.Nair@thomsonreuters.com | Twitter: @RohithNair;))