Jose Mourinho signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahce on Sunday as the club’s new coach. The Portuguese manager begins a new chapter of his career in the Turkish Super Lig, coaching in his first experience outside one of Europe’s five major leagues since leaving Porto in 2004. Mourinho, after parting ways with AS Roma last January, has been looking for a new job in recent weeks. The Special One landed in Istanbul on Sunday and signed the contract after being presented to his new fans at the stadium. Upon his arrival he was welcomed by thousands of fans.
Mourinho spoke after signing the contract.
Normally a coach is loved after wins, in this case I feel that love before wins. And that for me 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 From the moment I met President Ali Koc and understood his ideas and projects, I wanted for you play, I want to be the coach of all of you. From the moment I signed my contract, your dreams are now my dreams.
“I would like to welcome our coach Mourinho on behalf of our fans. He is one of the best coaches in world football history. I am sure he will be the winning coach here, just as he has been at other clubs in the past.” said chairman Ali Koc.
After coaching Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham and AS Roma, Mourinho will now coach in a new competition. The Special One has coached AS Roma for the past two and a half years, where he won the UEFA Conference League in 2022, reached the final of the UEFA Europa League last season and only lost to Sevilla on penalties. In a recent interview with Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho said he is ready to return to the sidelines in the summer of 2024.
Turkish side Besiktas were also interested in appointing Mourinho as the club’s owner vice president revealed in a recent interview, but ultimately it’s Fenerbahce who give their man the edge in what they hope is a promising spell.
