Mourinho’s Champions League return CONFIRMED as ex-Chelsea boss finds new job

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 31 May 2024 10:09 BST
• 4 min read

Jose Mourinho will make a return to the Champions League next season after reaching an agreement with Fenerbahce over a two-year deal.

Sky Sport Italia first reported the news via Gianluca Di Marzio, though Mourinho has been in talks with the Super Lig outfit for some time.

Mourinho’s goal for Fenerbahce will be to regain the Turkish title after they missed out by three points to Galatasaray on the final day of the season. Fener fell just short having picked up a massive 99 points, three short of their rivals.

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This effort was not enough to save Ismail Kartal, who is set to leave after just a year in charge.

Once the initial news had broken, Fabrizio Romano added more detail to the report on X.

“Jose Mourinho’s verbal agreement with Fenerbahce is on two-year contract valid until June 2026,” he reports.

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“It will also include an option for further season.

“Jorge Mendes has been negotiating the deal and now time to review, sign all formal documents.

“Here we go soon!”

Mourinho is one of the most storied managers of the modern era, having coached Porto and Inter to Champions League glory, while he has also enjoyed successful spells at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

He was most recently with Roma in Serie A, where he won the 2021/22 Europa Conference League.

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Mourinho rejects rivals

The news is a major boost to president Ali Koc, who had been under pressure following the loss of the league title.

This is particularly the case given his recent rival in the race for the presidency, Aziz Yildirim, had promised to bring Mourinho to the club if he was installed in that position.

“I met Jose Mourinho face to face last week. I told him: 'Fenerbahce needs you and you need Fenerbahce.' He listened to me sincerely. My friends are talking to his agents. If we win, I will bring Jose Mourinho,” Yildirim told the media.

Fellow Super Lig club Besiktas were also interested in Mourinho, but the former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United manager has chosen Fenerbahce, who will offer him that precious route back into the Champions League.