Jose Mourinho is set to sign a two-year deal with Fenerbahce after verbally agreeing to take charge of the Turkish Super Lig side.
Mourinho is not yet in Istanbul but the paperwork is being finalised on an agreement that will include the option to extend his stay until the summer of 2027.
Fenerbahce recorded 99 points and lost just once in the Super Lig this season yet still finished second to city rivals Galatasaray, prompting the exit of Ismail Kartal, the head coach.
Mourinho is set to be unveiled by the club on Sunday after teasing his appointment in a video message to supporters.
“See you tomorrow at Kadikoy and let’s start our journey together,” he said.
On Sunday the club posted an image on social media featuring an image of former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss Mourinho and the words “The Special One. Welcome to Fenerbahce”.
The club also announced on X that their stadium would be open from 5pm for fans to attend to watch the signing ceremony.
The former Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea boss attended the Champions League final on Saturday and told Sky Sports about the difficulty facing him to qualify for the competition next season with his new club.
Mourinho said: “[It is] hard because we have three rounds of qualifying and in Fenerbahce’s case, eight players are at the Euros and they are not coming for pre-season before the first round.
“If I go, you know that I like challenges so we are going to fight to be in the Champions League.”
The Istanbul side are one of the most successful in the history of Turkish football but have not won the title since 2014.
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Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked by Roma in January after two-and-a-half seasons in charge.
The 61-year-old has won 21 major honours across spells with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Roma, while he took Tottenham to the Carabao Cup final before being sacked in 2021.
Mourinho is the only manager to have won the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
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Speaking to Sky Sports in March at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Mourinho said: “Roma was great because we did two European finals in two years – that’s hard in a club that never did it.
“I have to wait for the right opportunity. I want to work tomorrow if possible but I don’t want to make the wrong decision.”
Mourinho’s Fenerbahce squad will include Fred, the midfielder he signed at Manchester United in 2018.
