As new head coach, Jose Mourinho eyes Turkish Super Lig title for Istanbul side Fenerbahce

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Jose Mourinho, Fenerbahce's newly-appointed head coach, said he aims to bag the Turkish Super Lig title and make it to the UEFA Champions League next season.

"I'm coming to work for Turkish football, for Turkish Super Lig. But fundamentally, I come for Fenerbahce," Mourinho said in a news conference. "The Europa League gives you more chances of doing something big, but the main target in Europe is to try and play in the UEFA Champions League group stage."

Mourinho stated his ambition was "to feel the pressure you have to win every match to be champion."

He said Fenerbahce's project had had an impact on him and that now it was his turn to have a meaningful impact on the project.

The 61-year-old manager added that he had not begun transfer talks with any players and that stability in the project was his current priority.

"We talked not about names but about profiles. We never talked about names," he said.

- Making positive contributions to Fenerbahce

Mourinho said Fenerbahce fans would not need to be patient, but angry and demanding.

"If the players cannot deal with that pressure, they don't belong at Fenerbahce," he added.

Mourinho said he wants players to trust his sincerity and straightforward style, adding that while he was not always the nicest person, would always be honest with them.

The Turkish Super Lig title has evaded Fenerbahce for about a decade, while their latest Turkish Super Cup was in 2014.

On Sunday, Mourinho signed a contract in front of thousands of fans with Fenerbahce at the Ulker stadium in Istanbul, though details on the deal's duration and financial aspects were not disclosed.

- Mourinho's career

Mourinho bagged two Italian Serie A titles with Inter Milan in 2009 and 2010, as well as the 2010 UEFA Champions League title.

He also managed Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Roma.

The Portuguese coach guided Portugal's Porto to a sensational victory in the finals of the 2003 UEFA Cup and the 2004 Champions League.

The UEFA Cup was rebranded the UEFA Europa League in the 2009-10 season.

Mourinho claimed three English Premier League titles with Chelsea in 2005, 2006 and 2015.

He led Real Madrid to the Spanish La Liga title in 2012 and won the 2017 Europa League trophy while managing Manchester United in England.

Mourinho also helped Roma win the 2021-22 UEFA Conference League title.