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Fenerbahce Manager Ismail Kartal Announces Resignation Minutes After Champions League Clash vs Roma

Kartal wasted no time addressing the media once the match had ended, delivering an emotional statement that made clear his decision was both final and immediate.

By Olumide Atiba, THEWILL
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Fenerbahce Manager Ismail Kartal Announces Resignation
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  • Fenerbahce manager Ismail Kartal announced his resignation to reporters just moments after his side’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Roma in Istanbul on Thursday, catching both the press and his own players completely off guard with the timing and suddenness of the decision.

  • The announcement came so quickly after full-time that Fenerbahce defender Archie Brown was informed of Kartal’s resignation live during his own post-match interview, visibly stunned and turning to his interpreter to ask for clarification before confirming he had no prior knowledge of the decision.

  • Kartal, who was appointed for his fourth spell in charge of Fenerbahce back in June, leaves the club with a mixed record of six wins, three draws and two defeats from 11 games, with mounting pressure following recent Super Lig results, where the club currently sits ninth in the table.

  • The resignation adds to a turbulent period for Fenerbahce in European competition, coming just weeks after Mason Greenwood and Matteo Guendouzi were both sanctioned by UEFA for separate “offensive gesture” incidents during the club’s Champions League play-off win over Lyon.

September 11, (THEWILL) – Fenerbahce were left reeling on Thursday night after manager Ismail Kartal announced his resignation with remarkable immediacy, stepping down within minutes of the final whistle following his side’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Roma in Istanbul.

Kartal wasted no time addressing the media once the match had ended, delivering an emotional statement that made clear his decision was both final and immediate.

“Throughout the season, during the training camps we held with our players, our president and managers tried to help us. Those were wonderful days,” he told reporters. “As of this evening, I congratulate my players and I am resigning. I thank the press, the fans, and my fellow players who have supported me until today.”

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He left no ambiguity about his intentions going forward. “I have left my post tonight,” Kartal added. “I made this decision to pave the way for my club. I have decided to resign from my position. I will never return. Good evening to everyone.”

The speed of the announcement meant the news hadn’t even reached Fenerbahce’s own players by the time post-match media duties began.

Defender Archie Brown, who had scored in the draw, was midway through his own interview alongside an interpreter when a reporter asked him directly about Kartal’s decision. “Ismail Kartal resigned from his position. Did he speak with you?” the reporter asked.

Visibly caught off guard, Brown turned to his interpreter in confusion. “What do you mean he resigned? He’s not the coach anymore? He said this just now? I didn’t know about this.” Footage of the exchange quickly circulated, capturing just how blindsided the squad appeared to be by the timing of their manager’s exit.

Kartal’s departure brings an end to his fourth spell in charge of Fenerbahce, having previously managed the club in 2014, 2022 and 2023 before returning again this past June. His latest stint produced a mixed record of six wins, three draws and two defeats across 11 matches in total, with pressure building in recent weeks following a run of Super Lig results that have left Fenerbahce down in ninth place domestically.

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The resignation caps off a difficult few weeks for the club on the European stage more broadly. Just last month, Fenerbahce progressed to the Champions League’s league phase with a 3-2 aggregate play-off win over Lyon, but the occasion was overshadowed by disciplinary issues involving two of the club’s players.

Matteo Guendouzi, a former Marseille player, was seen taunting Lyon supporters by shouting his allegiance to Marseille before making an obscene gesture toward the crowd.

Mason Greenwood, who joined Fenerbahce from Marseille over the summer, was also investigated by UEFA in connection with the incident. Greenwood was ultimately given a suspended one-match ban, subject to a one-year probationary period, along with a £26,000 fine for what UEFA described as violating the basic rules of decent conduct.

With Kartal’s immediate and seemingly permanent departure now confirmed, Fenerbahce face the task of appointing a new manager at short notice, just as they continue to navigate their return to the Champions League’s league phase and attempt to arrest a difficult run of domestic form.

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Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage

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