Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce’s home EuroLeague fixtures against Israeli sides Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv next month have been relocated to Germany over security concerns.

The Turkish side were scheduled to host the clubs in Istanbul on 11 and 13 November, but the games will now be played in Munich on the same dates because of what Fenerbahce said were security measures implemented by Turkish authorities.

Fenerbahce said the games will be played at SAP Garden in the German city and be “open to the participation of our fans”.

The EuroLeague defending champions also had to relocate two games against Maccabi, originally scheduled to be held in Istanbul, to Lithuania last year.

Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

Large anti-Israel demonstrations have taken place across Turkey since.

Last week, Fenerbahce and fellow EuroLeague side Efes Istanbul criticised the tournament organisers’ decision to allow Israeli clubs to resume playing at home from 1 December.

The Israeli teams have been playing their EuroLeague and EuroCup home games abroad since October 2023.

It is only the latest in a series of incidents where tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza war have affected sports.

Earlier this month, a decision was made to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from attending the Europa League fixture against Aston Villa in Birmingham on 6 November on safety grounds.

Violence also broke out before Maccabi’s match against Ajax in the same competition in November last year.

There were also protests at the Israel national football team’s 2026 World Cup qualifier games in Norway and Italy this month.

Meanwhile, Israel-Premier Tech are to drop Israel from their name from next season after the cycling team, owned by Israeli-Canadian property billionaire Sylvan Adams, were at the centre of several disruptions by protesters during last month’s Vuelta a Espana in Spain.

Brazil goalkeeper Ederson has made a permanent move from Manchester City to Fenerbahce.

The 32-year-old leaves the Blues after eight years with the club, in which he helped them win six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

City have agreed a £26m deal to sign Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris St-Germain on a five-year deal.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager only joined the Turkish football giants in June 2024.

Fenerbahce have sacked Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, two days after elimination from the Champions League playoffs by Benfica, the Turkish club said in a statement.

“We have parted ways with Jose Mourinho, who served as head coach of our professional A team since the 2024-2025 season. We thank him for his efforts for our team and wish him success in his future career,” Friday’s statement said.

The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Roma coach, who arrived at the Istanbul club in June 2024, led Istanbul’s Yellow Canaries to second place in the league last season behind Galatasaray, failing to end their title drought.

The 62-year-old has had several setbacks during his time in Istanbul. In April, he grabbed the face of Okan Buruk, the coach at fierce local rivals Galatasaray, after a 2-1 defeat in the Turkish Cup quarterfinals, tweaking his nose.

He was fined for comments made after another explosive derby match against Galatasaray in which he also repeated criticism of Turkish referees, accusing the fourth referee of bias. His remarks were judged as “contrary to sporting ethics”.

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Fenerbahce after just over a year in charge.

The Portuguese’s departure comes two days after the Turkish club were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by Benfica.

In a statement, Fenerbahce said Mourinho had “parted ways” with the club, before thanking the 62-year-old for his efforts and wishing him well. A club official later confirmed to the BBC that he had been sacked.

Mourinho, who has managed 10 clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, guided Fenerbahce to second in the league during his sole season in charge, but his tenure was punctuated by controversy.

Champions Galatasaray said they would “initiate criminal proceedings” against Mourinho, after accusing him of making “racist statements” following a 0-0 draw in February.

Mourinho denied the allegations, saying he is the “opposite” of racist, and filed a lawsuit against the club seeking damages worth 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (£41,000).

Mourinho was a frequent critic of the standard of officiating in Turkey, and was handed a four-match ban – later reduced to two matches – for his comments about referees after the match against Galatasaray.

MANCHESTER United fans and neutrals alike have revisited a video of Jose Mourinho from last year as evidence that he could be on his way back to Old Trafford.

The tongue-in-cheek comments about a return on social media come off the back of the Red Devils’ embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to League Two outfit Grimsby on Wednesday.

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The iconic manager made comments last October hinting that he would be open to a return to a bottom-half Premier League side, after his Fenerbahce side secured a draw in the Europa League AGAINST Man Utd.

He told the press: “The best thing I have to do is – when I leave Fenerbahce – I go to a club that doesn’t play Uefa competitions.

“So if any club in England, from the bottom of the table, needs coach in two years – I am ready to go.

Fans across the English game this window have jumped on the bandwagon, with Leeds, West Ham, Wolves and Utd fans all linking themselves to the manager through the video on social media.

One United fan succinctly commented on the post: “So Mourinho is going back to Man Utd, innit?”

Fans are split on the Portuguese, who already spent two years at the helm at Old Trafford between 2016-18, but at least some of the Red Devils faithful would be open to the move.

Speaking on the players, one X user commented: “None of them can manage the pressure and the culture of winning. We just need Jose Mourinho back.”

Fans of other clubs have also been circling around the old clip as it circulates on X.

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One Leeds fan commented:” “I don’t care if he got us relegated, this needs to happen.”

A Hammers fan added: “Feel like Mourinho and West Ham would be pure entertainment. Let it happen, fate.”

Man Utd ratings v Grimsby

MANCHESTER UNITED are at rock bottom after the biggest cup upset saw the club crash out of the Carabao Cup second-round to League Two Grimsby Town on penalties.

Ruben Amorim’s United lost to a four-tier side for the first time ever.

The home fans sang “you’re getting sacked in the morning” to Amorim throughout and you can’t help but wonder if they’re right.

Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated United’s flops at Blundell Park.

The beloved maverick was even linked with the Nottingham Forest job last week after news emerged of Nuno Espirito Santo‘s falling out with the club.

The 62-year-old’s CV includes spells at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, becoming one of the sport’s most successful managers.

He is currently causing his signature chaos as manager of Turkish giants Fenerbahce.