Fenerbahce boss stuns club by quitting after Roma draw

Ismail Kartal, the head coach of Fenerbahce, has abruptly resigned just minutes after the Turkish side's 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League. The surprise announcement was made during Kartal's post-match news conference. Kartal, who also played for the club and served as an assistant coach, expressed his intention to never return to Fenerbahce, where he returned for a fourth spell as manager in June 2026.

The team is currently ninth in the Turkish Super Lig, with two wins and two defeats under his tenure, and has only played one Champions League match so far. In his resignation speech, Kartal praised the efforts of the club's president and the training sessions and camps held with the players. However, Fenerbahce's president, Aziz Yildirim, has rejected Kartal's resignation and stated that he remains the head coach of the club.

Yildirim cited the pressure of the role and a mid-match incident involving a thrown bottle as factors in Kartal's decision. The club has banned the spectator involved in the incident and criticized both the supporters and the media for the pressure they are putting on Kartal. Despite Kartal's announcement, players like English defender Archie Brown expressed shock at his resignation.