Ismail Kartal Resigns as Fenerbahce Coach After Champions League Draw
Ismail Kartal, head coach of Fenerbahce, announced his resignation shortly after the Turkish club’s 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League. The announcement came during his post-match news conference on September 10, with Kartal stating his intention to not return to the club where he previously served as a player and assistant coach.
Kartal had returned to Fenerbahce for his fourth managerial spell, marking the club’s return to the Champions League after 18 years. At the time of his resignation, the team had just completed their first Champions League match.
During his statement, Kartal congratulated his players and confirmed his decision to resign, explaining it was made to “pave the way for my club” and was a collective team decision. He expressed that he made the decision with the intention of “never returning” to help Fenerbahce, its players, and future coaches.
President’s Rejection and Community Support
Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim has not accepted Kartal’s resignation. In a statement released on the club’s website, Yildirim asserted that Kartal remains in charge and that the club should support its coach. He emphasized, “Until I leave, Ismail Kartal is the head coach of Fenerbahce.”
Yildirim confirmed that he spoke with Kartal after the news conference. Kartal cited the “pressure” of the role and an incident during the match where he was struck by a bottle thrown from the stands as factors influencing his decision. The club later posted on social media that the spectator involved in the bottle incident had been identified and banned from the stadium.
Yildirim criticized the club’s supporters and the media for the constant criticism, which he believes created significant pressure. He called for both parties to “uphold the values of the Fenerbahce community” and show greater respect for Kartal. Reaffirming his stance on Kartal’s future, Yildirim stated that the community should support Kartal and that he, as Kartal’s senior, had decided he would continue.
Player Reaction and Match Details
Kartal’s resignation came as a surprise to the Fenerbahce players. English defender Archie Brown, who scored the 48th-minute equalizer against Roma, expressed his disbelief in a post-match interview when informed of the news. Brown’s goal canceled out Bryan Cristante‘s first-half effort for Roma, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Brown, who had just scored a crucial goal, was reportedly baffled when the question about Kartal’s resignation was translated. He responded, “What do you mean he resigned? As coach? He’s not the coach any more? He said this just now? I didn’t know about this.”
Despite the result, Fenerbahce’s performance, particularly in the second half, was described as encouraging. Kartal himself congratulated his players in his post-match press conference, stating it was “a display of football befitting the Champions League.”
Champions League Matchday 1 Overview
The first matchday of the Champions League on September 10 featured several notable results. Manchester United secured a 4-0 victory against Sabah, their first win in the competition in over a thousand days. Bayern Munich also had a strong showing, defeating Bodo/Glimt 5-0.
Other results included Como‘s 4-1 win over RB Leipzig, a dramatic 3-2 comeback by Lens against Slavia Prague, and draws for PSV Eindhoven against Shakhtar Donetsk (1-1) and Fenerbahce against Roma (1-1). Kartal’s previous achievements with Fenerbahce include winning the Turkish Super Cup in 2014 during his first managerial spell, and two league titles as a player.
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Source: bbc.com
