Former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho was appointed Fenerbahce manager in June 2024 – for his latest footballing venture in what is an illustrious career.
Having started out as an assistant to the likes of Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, Mourinho’s name first hit the headlines when he won an unlikely Champions League with FC Porto.
The Portuguese boss would go on to join Chelsea before hopping around Europe winning titles in both Italy and Spain, eventually returning to English shores in 2013 with the Blues.
After a drama-filled spell with Manchester United, Mourinho made the surprising switch to Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, lasting only 18 months in North London before being sacked.
Skip to the summer of 2024, and Mourinho now finds himself in the Turkish capital of Istanbul managing Turkish giants Fenerbahce, where things haven’t exactly got off to the smoothest of starts.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce crash out of the Champions League
Mourinho has already hit a bump in the road for his new side – with the Super Lig outfit already eliminated from the Champions League.
The ‘Special One’ failed to even qualify for the group stages, with Fenerbahce falling victim to a 3-2 aggregate defeat against Lille in the qualifiers.
Tuesday night’s game was packed full of drama, but it was the French side who prevailed during extra-time – in controversial fashion.
The Turkish side were defeated by a 118th-minute penalty after Jayden Oosterwolde was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box – a decision which ultimately enraged the former Spurs boss.
In typical Mourinho fashion, his post-match press conference was TV gold – repeating his famous “if I say it, I will get into trouble” line when questioned about the referee’s decision.
Mourinho had of course already caught the headlines before the clash by throwing a dig at his former employers Spurs, telling reporters he “forgot” about Tottenham when asked whether he managed a European qualifier before.
Tottenham face possible Mourinho reunion
Fenerbache’s failure to qualify for the Champions League means the Turkish outfit will enter this year’s Europa League alongside Tottenham, who qualified for the competition following their fifth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Ange Postecoglou and his side will view the competition as an amp opportunity to get some silverware under their belt, following 16 years without a trophy.
Tottenham’s last shot at silverware came back in 2021, losing out to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final.
Mourinho was controversially sacked as Spurs boss just days before the Wembley final – a decision the 61-year-old later labelled as ‘ridiculous’.
The Portuguese boss was a very divisive figure during his 18-month spell in N17 and has since not been very complimentary of the club following his dismissal – telling reporters in May 2023, that Spurs were one the clubs he doesn’t have a ‘deep connection’ with.
Mourinho’s lack of love for Tottenham will undoubtedly heat things up if the two are to meet in this year’s Europa League… get the popcorn ready.
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