Jose Mourinho is the manager of Fenerbahce
Jose Mourinho launched another stinging attack on Turkish football and the local press after Fenerbahce’s shock 4-2 defeat to already-relegated Hatayspor on Monday, May 26, 2025.
The loss leaves Fenerbahce eleven points behind champions Galatasaray with one game left in the season, sealing a fourth consecutive second-place finish for the Istanbul giants.
But Mourinho was in no mood for self-reflection after the match. Instead, he turned his fire on reporters and Turkish football’s continental record.
When asked why he hasn’t featured in the Champions League over the past seven years, the two-time winner fired back, claiming his record in Europe during that period is still better than anything Turkish football has achieved.
“In the last seven years, I have played in two European finals. That means I have played in more finals in Europe over the last seven years than Turkish football has seen in its entire history,” he said.
Only Galatasaray have ever reached a European final, lifting the UEFA Cup in 2000. In contrast, Mourinho has won six European trophies, including the 2022 Europa Conference League with Roma and the 2017 Europa League with Manchester United.
The 62-year-old’s debut season in Turkey has been anything but quiet. He’s clashed with the media, drawn bans, including one for pinching Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk’s nose, and mocked journalists with sarcastic and theatrical responses.
Just weeks ago, Mourinho claimed he picked his starting lineup by throwing coins in the air, joking he spends most of his week partying in Istanbul nightclubs.
Despite the controversies and a trophyless campaign, Fenerbahce president Ali Koç has expressed a desire to keep Mourinho at the helm, citing stability ahead of next season’s Champions League qualifiers.
FKA/MA
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