Former Real Madrid boss José Mourinho was unveiled as the new coach of Turkish Super Lig team Fenerbahce on Sunday, the club said.
Following days of strong indications that Mourinho was to take charge, the Istanbul club said in a post on X early on Sunday that the Portuguese manager was to attend a ceremony at their Sukru Saracoglu ground.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
"Saracoglu is waiting for its new coach Jose Mourinho and its great fans at 19.00!," the post reads.
On Saturday night, Fenerbahce posted a video message from Mourinho, 61, in which he told Fenerbahce fans he would "see you tomorrow in Kadikoy and let's start our journey together."
The Turkish club held a signing ceremony for Mourinho in Fenerbahce's Ulker Stadium in Istanbul as thousands of supporters cheered the Portuguese coach's name and sang songs.
"Normally a coach is loved after victories, in this case I feel that love before victories. And that for me is a big responsibility that I feel and I promise you that from this moment I belong to this family, this shirt is my skin," Mourinho said in his address to the fans, waving a Fenerbahce jersey.
"Since the moment I met president Ali Koc and understood his ideas and projects, I wanted to play for you, I want to be the coach of all of you. From the moment I signed my contract, your dreams are now my dreams."
"I welcome our coach Mourinho on behalf of our fans. He is one of the best coaches of world football history. I'm sure he'll be the winner coach here, as he had been in other clubs in the past," club chairman Ali Koc said.
The Special One 😉 pic.twitter.com/siTZzaCnmj
— Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN) June 2, 2024
Mourinho will replace Turkish boss Ismail Kartal, who Fenerbahce parted ways with on Friday after only one loss in the league last season.
It's Mourinho's first job since he left Roma in January after two and a half years marked by winning the Europa Conference League in 2022 and a series of disputes with referees.
The Portuguese has not worked outside of the top five European leagues since 2004, when he left Porto after winning the Champions League and joined Chelsea, which was on the rise under then-owner Roman Abramovich.
Since then he has also coached Inter Milan, Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham in a career filled with trophies and off-field controversy.
Fenerbahce finished second to fierce rival Galatasaray in the Turkish league this season and clashed with the Turkish soccer authorities, including by taking its team off the field in the Turkish Super Cup game in protest.
Details of Mourinho's contract with Fenerbahce have not been revealed.