Jose Mourinho, newly appointed as head coach of Fenerbahce, expressed his ambition to win the Turkish Super Lig during a press conference on Monday. Addressing more than 80,000 online viewers, Mourinho emphasized his aspiration to secure the league title but made no firm promises.
“Obviously, the main target, the main dream is to win the Turkish Super Lig,” said the 61-year-old Portuguese manager. Last season, Fenerbahce narrowly missed out on the title, finishing three points behind arch-rivals Galatasaray despite accumulating 99 points in a 38-game season. The club last won the league in 2014.
Mourinho also highlighted the importance of qualifying for the new, expanded Champions League, stating, “Step-by-step we see, hopefully we are going to be in the new Champions League.” Fenerbahce will need to navigate second-round qualifying to secure their place in the prestigious competition.
Renowned for his success in European football, Mourinho boasts five European titles, including two Champions League victories with Inter Milan and Porto. He downplayed immediate expectations, saying, “People think immediately big, but I think we have to go step-by-step.”
Mourinho’s contract with Fenerbahce is for two years. He announced his new role via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday night, following his appearance as a television pundit at the Champions League final in Wembley. “Good evening Fenerbahce fans, see you tomorrow at Kadikoy and let’s start our journey together,” he wrote.
On Sunday, Mourinho was warmly welcomed by Fenerbahce supporters at the airport and later presented at the club’s stadium alongside club president Ali Koc. The fans, dressed in the club’s yellow and black colors, cheered their new coach.
Mourinho’s previous managerial stints include major successes at Chelsea and Real Madrid, and less fruitful periods at Manchester United and Tottenham. He was dismissed by Serie A side Roma in January after two-and-a-half years, with the club struggling in ninth place at the time.
