Fenerbahçe SK officially announced the dismissal of manager José Mourinho, while Beşiktaş JK parted ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjær earlier in the day, marking a rare coincidence as both former Manchester United managers exited Turkish clubs simultaneously .
Mourinho's Fenerbahçe Exit
Mourinho's departure came after Fenerbahçe suffered a 0-1 aggregate defeat to Benfica in the UEFA Champions League playoff round, failing to secure a spot in the group stage . This elimination proved to be the final straw, despite his overall record of 37 wins, 14 draws, and 11 losses during his 14-month tenure. The Portuguese tactician had previously clashed with Turkish football authorities, publicly criticizing referees and the league's competitiveness, which strained his relationship with the club's hierarchy .
Solskjær's Beşiktaş Departure
Solskjær was relieved of his duties following Beşiktaş's elimination from the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff by Lausanne-Sport. His 29-game spell yielded 15 wins, 5 draws, and 9 losses, but the failure to qualify for European competition proved decisive . The Norwegian manager, who succeeded Mourinho at Old Trafford in 2018, had struggled to replicate his early success at Beşiktaş.
Shared Manchester United Legacy
Both managers had previously led Manchester United: Mourinho from 2016 to 2018, winning the EFL Cup and Europa League, while Solskjær served as interim and permanent manager from 2018 to 2021, guiding the team to a second-place Premier League finish in 2020–21 . Their simultaneous exits from Turkish clubs add an intriguing footnote to their careers, highlighting the pressures of managing in Europe's top leagues and beyond.
