Sport

Fenerbahçe coach Ismail Kartal announces resignation but remains in charge

After a draw against AS Roma, Ismail Kartal announced his departure, but the club confirmed he will stay on as coach.

11 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Fenerbahçe coach Ismail Kartal announces resignation but remains in charge — Archive photoPhoto: etyek · Flickr · BY

Fenerbahçe coach Ismail Kartal unexpectedly announced his resignation during a press conference following the Champions League match against AS Roma, which ended in a 1-1 draw. These statements were met with surprise by players and the media.

At the press conference, Kartal stated that he decided to leave 'while everything is still possible', indicating he had no intention of returning. Despite this announcement, the Turkish club later confirmed in a statement that Kartal will continue as coach.

Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yildirim promptly reacted to the situation, stating that Kartal would still lead the team in training on Saturday. This created confusion regarding the coach's actual status.

Earlier in the week, news surrounding the coach had already sparked much discussion, particularly given the club's current performance in the Champions League.

In a separate development, Dirk Kuyt, a club icon and former international, has temporarily taken over the management of the team, which will face Gaziantep FK in the Süper Lig this coming Monday.

The events surrounding Kartal are not yet over, and it remains remarkable how quickly the situation has evolved, with sudden changes in Fenerbahçe's coaching staff.

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