ISTANBUL – Fenerbahçe President Ali koç publicly acknowledged the dismissal of José Mourinho as a mutual miscalculation,speaking on 2025/09/19 following the Portuguese manager’s return to Benfica. The statement marks the first official response from the Turkish club regarding a separation that occurred after a disappointing start to the season.
Mourinho’s Benfica appointment, confirmed under a contract extending to 2027, arrives less than a week after his exit from Fenerbahçe. Koç indicated the pairing proved ill-suited, despite initial optimism, resulting in a record of two wins, two draws, and two losses across six official matches. The situation unfolded amidst transfer activity involving both clubs, notably Fenerbahçe’s sale of Kerem Akturkoglu to Benfica for an initial €22.5 million-a fee potentially rising to €25 million contingent on performance-based objectives.
Former Benfica striker Carlitos, who worked with Mourinho 25 years ago, expressed surprise at the developments in an interview with Turca TRT spor television, stating, “I learned of the news of josé Mourinho’s arrival at Benfica this morning, but I don’t know if they are true. If so, I can call this a strange coincidence of life,” referencing the established professional connection.
The transfer of Akturkoglu concluded during the final days of the summer transfer window. Benfica subsequently announced Mourinho’s arrival, a move documented in his first social media post on the club’s platform, as reported by Notícias ao Minuto.
