The coach’s seat in Istanbul is always a hot one. It’s especially true when you’re following a legend like José Mourinho. He’s barely settled into his new role at Fenerbahçe. Yet, the chatter has already begun. Turkish news outlets are now busy naming possible replacements for the Portuguese manager. It seems the coaching carousel never truly stops turning.
A prominent name making the rounds is Roger Schmidt. This German coach has been out of work for a while. He left Benfica last August and has been waiting for his next challenge. His name appearing on the list shows the level of speculation. It suggests the club is thinking big for future options.
However, another familiar face seems to be the current front-runner. Ismail Kartal coached Fenerbahçe before Mourinho arrived. He is also currently without a club. Right now, he appears to be the leading candidate to take over if the need arises.
The list of potential successors doesn’t stop there. It reads like a who’s who of football managers. Vincenzo Montella, who coaches the Turkey national team, is on it. Luciano Spalletti is also mentioned, having been unemployed since leaving the Italian national squad. Interestingly, Ange Postecoglou is listed as being on the market after leaving Tottenham. Other notable names include Marco Rose, formerly of Leipzig. Edin Terzic and Nuri Sahin, both previously with Borussia Dortmund, are also in the mix. The future of Fenerbahçe’s dugout promises to be quite a saga.