Emre Belözoglu was appointed as the new head coach of Fenerbahçe on Tuesday evening, succeeding Ismail Kartal and ending the brief interim spell of Dirk Kuijt.
Contract Details and Failed Pursuit of Sérgio Conceição
Belözoglu signed an 18-month contract at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, as reported by Haberler. The club leadership initially targeted Portuguese manager Sérgio Conceição, but negotiations collapsed after the Portuguese manager changed his demands. Fenerbahçe then shifted its focus to Belözoglu.
Departure From Kasımpaşa Without a Buyout Fee
Belözoglu leaves Kasımpaşa, where he had been in charge since December 2025 with a contract running until mid-2027. According to Turkish media reports, Fenerbahçe did not have to pay a buyout fee to dissolve the contract. Kasımpaşa officially confirmed the departure, thanking the coach for his service.
Under Belözoglu, Kasımpaşa climbed to fifth place in the Süper Lig with 17 points from ten matches, sitting one point and one position above Fenerbahçe. Last Sunday, the team secured a 2-2 draw against Beşiktaş at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium.
Previous History at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium
The 46-year-old former Turkey international made over 200 official appearances for Fenerbahçe as a player. In October 2020, he returned to the club as sporting director. He also served as interim coach in 2021.
The Exit of Kartal and Short Interim Reign of Kuijt
The coaching change follows the resignation of Ismail Kartal, prompted by a 2-1 defeat to league leaders Galatasaray. Kartal had previously offered his resignation in early September after a Champions League draw against AS Roma, which club president Aziz Yildirim initially rejected.
Following Kartal’s departure, the board appointed former Netherlands international Dirk Kuijt as interim manager on October 28. Kuijt’s tenure lasted for a single match, a 1-2 home defeat to Göztepe on Saturday, which dropped Fenerbahçe to sixth place in the league table with 16 points. It remains unclear whether Kuijt will retain a role in Belözoglu’s technical staff.
✍🏼 EMRE BELÖZOĞLU FENERBAHÇE’DE! 🟡 Emre Belözoğlu 1,5 yıllık sözleşmeye imza attı. 🎙️ “Fenerbahçe ile para konuşmam, ihtiyaç olduğunda hep hazır olurum. Ekibim ve tecrübemle takımımızı ayağa kaldırıp başarıya koşacağız.” 💯Emre Hoca yarın göreve başlayacak. Fenerbahçe-… https://t.co/Vk3Ngt0YlJ
Upcoming Champions League Fixture Against Liverpool
Fenerbahçe hosts Liverpool on Wednesday evening in the UEFA Champions League. Belözoglu is expected to take his place on the bench immediately, while Kuijt had attended the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
Details on Ismail Kartal and Kasımpaşa Records
What was the duration of Ismail Kartal’s tenure before his resignation?
Ismail Kartal oversaw a total of 18 matches during his fourth stint at the club, securing nine victories, five draws, and four defeats across domestic and European competitions.
How did Kasımpaşa perform under Belözoglu this season?
In ten Süper Lig matches, Kasımpaşa recorded four wins, five draws, and a single loss, accumulating 17 points to sit in fifth place in the standings.
Has Fenerbahçe previously faced Liverpool in official competition?
Wednesday’s fixture marks the first time in club history that Fenerbahçe will play an official match against Liverpool in European competition.