[REVISION HISTORY]

Fenerbahçe coaching staff transition

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What changed

2026-10-30 08:25 UTC → 2026-10-30 14:52 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Fenerbahçe officially announced the departure of technical director İsmail Kartal following a 2-1 defeat in the Galatasaray derby. The club stated the decision was reached through “mutual understanding and respect.” Kartal’s departure follows a period of inconsistent results in the Süper Lig and the UEFA Champions League, including a heavy 6-0 loss to Aston Villa. While he had previously attempted to resign in September after a match against AS Roma, he remained in his position at the request of President Aziz Yıldırım. The recent loss to Galatasaray, which left the team in fifth place and six points behind the league leaders, prompted the board to accept his final resignation. Assistant coach Dirk Kuyt has been appointed as the interim technical manager. Kuyt, a former Liverpool and Fenerbahçe player who joined the technical staff in June 2026, is expected to lead the team through upcoming fixtures, including a Champions League match against his former club, Liverpool, on November 4, as well as matches against Göztepe, Çorum, and Kocaelispor. The club has initiated a search for a permanent head coach. President Aziz Yıldırım has reportedly delegated authority to management to finalize a replacement, with a preference for foreign candidates before the upcoming international break. While various candidates have been evaluated, Vincenzo Montella remains linked to the role, though negotiations have reportedly faced hurdles regarding his request for a three-year contract. Among domestic options, Abdullah Avcı and Aykut Kocaman are prominent names, with reports suggesting Kocaman is a top priority for the administration. Other potential candidates mentioned include Emre Belözoğlu, Volkan Demirel, Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann, Stefano Pioli, and Sergio Conceição.

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