Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed he will remain with the club for the second year of his contract, despite a season that saw the team finish second in the Süper Lig and a controversial farewell for star players Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic.
In an unusual turn of events, veteran forwards Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic were notably absent from Fenerbahçe’s final Super Lig match against Konyaspor on Sunday. The pair, who are set to depart the club this summer, reportedly opted against playing in the “dead-rubber” fixture and instead received their commemorative plaques from the club in the stadium’s kitchen.
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The decision stemmed from concerns about potential fan unrest, following a season where Fenerbahçe finished 11 points behind champions Galatasaray, extending their domestic trophy drought. Tadic, formerly of Southampton and Ajax, later confirmed the joint decision on social media.
“It was a decision we made together with Dzeko not to play in the last match. We didn’t want to damage Fenerbahçe’s image,” Tadic stated. “The fans have always supported us. The way we said goodbye is not a problem for me. I would have preferred it to be in the stadium, but the ambience is not very good at the moment. That’s why it’s better to be that way.”
The absence of two key figures from the farewell on the pitch highlights the palpable frustration within the Fenerbahçe fanbase after another season without major silverware. Despite being competitive, the club has struggled to convert strong league performances into titles.
Amidst speculation regarding his own future, Jose Mourinho addressed the media on Monday, confirming his commitment to the club. “If you ask me if I’m going to be here next season, I refer to the last [Fenerbahçe] president’s appearance on TV a couple of weeks ago, where the president said that he wants me to stay and he is counting on me to stay for the next season,” Mourinho stated, referencing comments by club president Ali Koç.
“That is public. That’s it. I think he was clear. If anything changes from that day, I was not told. I can confirm that these words were exactly the same words that I was told when we met. So that for me is a very clear situation.”
Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç had previously expressed his desire for Mourinho to continue “for stability,” suggesting that the club believes his continued presence is vital as they aim to finally break their long wait for a Super Lig title.
The confirmation of Mourinho’s stay provides some clarity for Fenerbahçe as they look to regroup for the next season, though the unusual departures of Dzeko and Tadic underscore the challenges and pressures facing the club.
