Fenerbahce head coach, Ismail Kartal, has resigned from his position following the Turkish club’s 1-1 draw against Roma in the UEFA Champions League on Thursday.
Kartal announced his decision shortly after the final whistle during his post-match press conference, saying he had stepped down to create a better path for the club and would not return to the managerial position.
The 65-year-old returned for his fourth spell in charge of Fenerbahce in June 2026, with the club making its first Champions League appearance in 18 years.
However, his departure comes after just one Champions League fixture, with Fenerbahce currently ninth in the Turkish Super Lig after recording two wins and two defeats.
Kartal said, “As of this evening, I congratulate my players and resign from my position. I made this decision to pave the way for my club. We made this decision together as a team.”
He added, “From now on, to help Fenerbahce, my players and future coaches, I have resigned from my position, with the intention of never returning.”
However, Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim rejected Kartal’s resignation and insisted that the coach remains in charge of the team.
Yildirim said the club must support Kartal and confirmed that the coach had cited the pressure surrounding the job and an incident in which a bottle thrown from the stands struck him during the match.
Fenerbahce also announced that the spectator responsible for the bottle incident had been identified and banned from the stadium.
Yildirim criticised the constant criticism from supporters and the media, urging greater respect for Kartal.
The coach’s resignation announcement also caught the players by surprise, with defender Archie Brown admitting after the match that he had no idea Kartal had stepped down.
Kartal previously guided Fenerbahce to the Turkish Super Cup in 2014.
During his playing career, he made more than 250 appearances for the club and won two league titles among six trophies.
