The Unending Agony of Fenerbahce’s Long-Term Frustration
For 100 years, no Turkish club has been more successful than Fenerbahce. With 28 national titles, including 19 league championships since the professional Super Lig era began in 1959, they have maintained a remarkable level of dominance. However, their most recent triumph dates back a decade, with the 2013/14 season being the last time they lifted the trophy.
Their city rivals Galatasaray have been crowned champions five times during this drought, with Fenerbahce agonizing in second place on 24 occasions. The irony is that even when they achieved the second-highest points total in a single season – 99 points in 1988/89 – it was not enough to top the league table. They finished second once more, adding to their list of near-misses.
Against this backdrop, the appointment of José Mourinho, one of the most decorated coaches in the world, was seen as a major coup for the club. With 21 major trophies in his collection, including two Champions League wins and domestic titles in four countries, he was expected to lead Fenerbahce to a return to their former glory.
In his unveiling at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Mourinho vowed, “This shirt is my skin,” indicating his full commitment to the team. The club responded by making significant signings in the transfer market, including Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri, Turkish youngster Oguz Aydin, Caglar Soyuncu, and veteran striker Cenk Tosun. Loan deals were also secured for Allan Saint-Maximin, Filip Kostic, and Sofyan Amrabat.
However, early results suggest that reality may not quite live up to the hype. While things started well, with a 1-0 win over Adana Demirspor, Fenerbahce have since struggled, drawing 2-2 with Goztepe and then losing 3-0 in the ‘Intercontinental Derby’ against Galatasaray. They have won just three of their last four games, with two of those victories coming after finding themselves behind. This trend of conceding late goals has become a recurring theme throughout the season.
The team currently sits fourth in the Super Lig table, eight points behind leaders Galatasaray, who have a game in hand. The Europa League, a secondary Champions League, has also been a modest start, with four points from two games, ahead of a crucial match against Manchester United.
Fenerbahce’s failure to progress in the Champions League, eventually falling to Lille in the third qualifying round, raised expectations for the Europa League. The consolation was parachuting into the European competition’s league phase, where they have accumulated four points from two games, a tally that could see them progress as a seeded team if they can maintain their current pace. Despite this, the burden of underachievement remains, with the club’s long-term frustration showing no signs of abating.
