Four-word Jose Mourinho remark that finally led to Fenerbahce sacking

Jose Mourinho was sacked by Turkish giants Fenerbahce on Friday after just 14 months in charge, having failed to qualify for the Champions League for the second season in a row

Fenerbahce sacked Jose Mourinho after his four-word comment during an inflammatory press conference angered the club’s hierarchy. Mourinho, 62, was relieved of his duties on Friday, less than 48 hours after failing to qualify for the Champions League.

After holding Portuguese giants Benfica to a goalless draw in the first leg of their play-off, Fenerbahce were beaten 1-0 in Lisbon on Wednesday to condemn them to another season in the Europa League. The Turkish giants had fallen at the same hurdle in Mourinho’s first season and domestic results did little to encourage the club that he was the right man, having finished 11 points behind champions and bitter rivals Galatasaray.

To no one’s surprise, the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager also made headlines for the wrong reasons off the pitch. Mourinho was frequently criticised for not playing Turkish players, often leaving homegrown talents such as Ismail Yuksek and Irfan Can Kahveci on the bench.

The Portuguese regularly slammed the officiating in Turkey as well as the standard of football. In the wake of a 4-2 loss against Hatayspor in May, Mourinho said: “In the last seven years, I have reached more European finals than Turkish football has in its history.”

Before the second leg against Benfica, Mourinho used his press conference to criticise Fenerbahce’s summer transfer activity – or lack thereof. “If the Champions League was vital for my club, something would have been done during the time between Feyenoord (in the previous round) and Benfica,” he bemoaned. “I don’t think Fenerbahce has a transfer list.”

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But it his was comments regarding Fenerbahce’s vice-president, Hamdi Akin, which were seen as the straw that broke the camel’s back. Ahead of the tie, Akin suggested that getting past Benfica should be a straightforward assignment.

“It might be a statement that strengthens him within the club, but I don’t know him,” Mourinho responded when asked about Akin’s claim.

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‘I don’t know him’ didn’t go down well behind the scenes, the Athletic report. The decision to sack him just six games into his second season was taken by Fenerbahce president Ali Koc and the club’s newly-appointed 30-year-old sporting director, Devin Ozek.

As for what’s next for Mourinho, a return to the Premier League could be on the cards. The 62-year-old has been linked with Nottingham Forest amid Nuno Espirito Santo’s uncertain future while there may be a vacancy at West Ham if Graham Potter can’t change their fortunes.

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