[REVISION HISTORY]

Emre Belözoğlu appointed as Fenerbahçe head coach

7 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-11-04 08:35 UTC → 2026-11-04 11:37 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Fenerbahçe management has finalized the appointment of Emre Belözoğlu as the new head coach. This decision follows the departure of Ismail Kartal and a period of poor performance where the club secured only one victory in five matches. The search for a replacement initially focused on foreign candidates, including Julian Nagelsmann, Ernesto Valverde, Roberto Martínez, and José Luis Mendilibar. A primary pursuit of Portuguese manager Sergio Conceição reportedly stalled due to disagreements regarding salary expectations and specific conditions for his coaching staff. New reports indicate Conceição requested a salary increase from 7 million to 8 million Euros during negotiations. Belözoğlu, 46, joins the club from Kasımpaşa on a 1.5-year contract. He has a prior history with Fenerbahçe, having served as both a player and a sporting ~~director.~~ director, as well as an interim manager in 2021. Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım reportedly personally convinced Belözoğlu to take the role. With this appointment, interim coach Dirk Kuyt, who managed the side for one match following Kartal’s resignation, is expected to step aside. Kuyt’s brief tenure concluded following a 2:1 home defeat against Göztepe. While Kuyt has expressed a desire to remain with the club, his future role within the technical staff remains undecided. Former coach Ersun Yanal has commented on the appointment, urging the club and fans to support Belözoğlu ~~is slated~~ and provide him with the necessary space to work. It remains unclear if Belözoğlu will be ready to lead the team in their upcoming UEFA Champions League fixture against Liverpool.

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