Soccer-Turkish club Fenerbahce begin negotiations with coach Mourinho (updated)
01/06/2024 20:11
(Adds Mourinho quotes)
June 1 (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho has begun negotiations
with Fenerbahce over the head coach role, the Turkish Super Lig
club said on Saturday, as the Portuguese manager looks to return
to the touchline after being sacked by AS Roma earlier this
year.
"Negotiations have started with Jose Mario Dos Santos
Mourinho Felix for the position of coach," the club said in a
statement to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP).
The well-travelled Mourinho who has been in charge of some
of the biggest clubs in Europe is set to take over a team that
finished second in the Super Lig -- three points behind
champions and Istanbul rivals Galatasaray.
That runners-up spot has put Fenerbahce in the second
qualifying round of next season's Champions League.
"I decided I want to go (to Fenerbahce) but it's not done
yet, I cannot confirm it officially," Mourinho told Sky Sports.
"(For the Champions League) it's hard because we have
three rounds to go in qualification and eight players are in the
Euros and they are not coming for pre-season before the first
round.
"You know I like challenges so if I go we are going to
fight to be in the Champions League," he added.
If appointed, Mourinho would replace Turkish boss Ismail
Kartal, who Fenerbahce parted ways with on Friday after only one
loss in the league last season. The team's six draws proved
costly in the title race however.
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.
The 61-year-old also helped Roma clinch their first European
trophy when they won the third-tier Europa Conference League in
2022, while he also guided them to the Europa League final the
following year, losing to Sevilla on penalties.
But he was sacked in January this year when Roma were ninth
in Serie A. He was replaced by former Italy player Daniele De
Rossi and Roma finished sixth to qualify for the Europa League.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair and Huseyin Hayatsever; editing by
Clare Fallon and Ken Ferris)
((Rohith.Nair@thomsonreuters.com | Twitter: @RohithNair;))