Jose Mourinho has been unveiled as Fenerbahce’s new head coach.
The Turkish Super Lig club confirmed on Saturday that they had opened discussions with the former Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid coach.
Fenerbahce then posted a video of Mourinho on their social media, in which he said: “Merhaba (hello) Fenerbahce fans. Let’s meet tomorrow in Kadikoy and let’s start our journey together.
More than 200,000 people watched his presentation on YouTube after Fenerbahce broadcast the event online.
Mourinho said: “I want to thank you for your love. Normally, a coach is loved after victories. In this case, I feel that I am loved before the victories. This is a great responsibility for me that I feel.
“I promise you, from this moment on, I belong to your family. This shirt is my skin. Football is a passion and there is no better place to feel that passion.
“From the moment I met the president, I wanted to play for you because you are the soul of the football club. I want to be the coach of all of you.
“I want to work in Turkish football. I want to help the Turkish league. But the most important thing for me is Fenerbahce.
“From the moment I sign my contract, your dreams are now my dreams. »
(Ali Atmaca/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The 61-year-old has been away from football since being sacked as Roma head coach in January. He replaces Ismail Kartal, who was in his third term as Fenerbahce head coach.
Fenerbahce missed out on the title this season to rivals Galatasaray, although they lost just one of their 38 league matches and finished with 99 points.
They have not won the Turkish Super Lig since 2014 with a Turkish Cup in 2023 their only major success in the last decade.
Mourinho won 26 trophies in a managerial career that spanned more than two decades. He won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, as well as league titles with Chelsea and Real Madrid.
His last job, at Rome, saw him guide the Italian club to a first European title since 1961 with the Europa Conference League in 2022.
The following season, they lost the Europa League final to Sevilla on penalties.
The job will be Mourinho’s first outside of Europe’s top five leagues since his tenure as Porto coach between 2002 and 2004.
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(Hakan Akgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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