Ismail Kartal has stepped down as the coach of Fenerbahce following the draw against Roma

Ismail Kartal has stepped down as the coach of Fenerbahce following the draw with Roma; however, club president Aziz Yildirim maintains that he is still in charge.

Ismail Kartal has stepped down as head coach of Fenerbahce shortly after the Turkish team's 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League.

Kartal announced his decision during his post-match news conference, expressing his intention to leave the club permanently.

The 65-year-old resumed his role as manager at Fenerbahce for a fourth time in June 2026, coinciding with the club's return to the Champions League after an 18-year absence.

However, Kartal departs with Fenerbahce positioned ninth in the Turkish Super Lig, having secured two wins and suffered two defeats, along with just one Champions League match played.

“I have been here for three months.” Since the start of the season, the training sessions and camps we conducted with the players, along with the dedication of our president, have proven to be extremely beneficial. “Those were truly remarkable days,” Kartal said.

“As of this evening, I extend my congratulations to my players and announce my resignation from my position.

I made this choice to create a path for my club. Our team reached this decision collaboratively.

“Effective immediately, I have stepped down from my position to support Fenerbahce, my players, and future coaches, with no intention of returning.”

However, Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim dismissed Kartal’s resignation and affirmed that he continues to hold his position.

Yildirim stated in a release on the club’s website, "Ismail Kartal remains in charge. The club ought to stand behind our coach. 

“Ismail Kartal is the head coach of Fenerbahce until my departure.”

Yildirim mentioned that he had a conversation with Kartal following the news conference, where the coach pointed to the pressures of his position and a mid-match incident involving a bottle thrown from the stands as reasons for his decision.

Fenerbahce subsequently announced that the spectator implicated in the incident had been identified and banned from the stadium.

Yildirim expressed his discontent with the behavior of supporters and the media, attributing the ongoing criticism to the mounting pressure on the coach. He called on both parties to maintain the core values of the Fenerbahce community.

This community ought to stand behind Ismail Kartal. “You can’t demonstrate support by resorting to violence like this,” Yildirim said.

Ismail Kartal does not need to declare his intention to continue. I hold a senior position in relation to him. I stated that he will carry on, and that’s all there is to it. We are a family.

Kartal’s announcement also surprised the Fenerbahce players, including English defender Archie Brown, who scored the equalizer against Roma.

After the interview, Brown said, “What do you mean he resigned?” As a coach? He is no longer the coach? Did he really just say that? I was unaware of the news.

Kartal secured the Turkish Super Cup in 2014 during his initial tenure as Fenerbahce manager, after dedicating four years to the role of assistant coach.

During his time as a player, he secured two league titles and six trophies with the club.