Fenerbahçe have accepted Ismail Kartal's resignation after the 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray in the Istanbul derby. The decision ends his fourth spell in charge only months after returning in June, and it leaves the club looking for another reset with pressure building in the Champions League as well as domestically.

Kartal had signed a one-season contract running until the end of the 2026-27 campaign. Instead, the stint is over before October is out.

The club's line on the resignation

The wording from Fenerbahçe matters here because this was not presented as a dismissal. In comments translated from Portuguese and quoted by A Bola, the club "thanked Kartal for the contribution, dedication and loyalty shown during his spell at the club."

SPORT1 carried a similar line from the club statement, translated from German: "following the talks that were held, this decision was acknowledged in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect,"

That fits the basic sequence reported around the departure. Kartal resigned, the club accepted it, and both sides framed the split as a mutual parting after talks.

There is some disagreement around an earlier attempt to leave in September. A Bola reported that Kartal had already announced his intention to go on 10 September after a 1-1 draw against AS Roma in the Champions League. SPORT1 tied that moment to an incident in the aftermath of the match, while A Bola's version stayed with the broader post-match situation. What is clear is that the resignation talk did not start this week.

The pressure behind the change

The derby loss was the immediate backdrop, but the pressure on Kartal had clearly been building. Fenerbahçe are 31st in the Champions League league phase with 2 points from 3 matches and a goal difference of -6.

Those are not numbers a club of this size can brush aside, especially after getting back into the competition proper for the first time since 2008-09. Their recent European run has brought two draws, one loss, then another draw and a win, but the wider return still looks poor and short on momentum.

That is why this feels less like one bad night against Galatasaray and more like a spell that never settled. Kartal had only returned in June for his fourth stint, so the club were back in familiar territory almost immediately, changing direction again before the season had found any rhythm.

Fenerbahçe's next Champions League fixture is at home to Liverpool on 4 November. Whoever leads the side for that game inherits a team with 2 points, a -6 goal difference and very little room left for another stumble.

FAQ

Why did Ismail Kartal leave Fenerbahçe after the Galatasaray match?

Fenerbahçe accepted Ismail Kartal's resignation after the 2-1 derby defeat to Galatasaray. The club framed the split as a decision reached after talks and in mutual understanding, with wider pressure also coming from a poor Champions League start rather than the derby result alone.

Did Fenerbahçe sack Ismail Kartal?

No. The club's position was that Kartal resigned and Fenerbahçe accepted that resignation. Reports cited by A Bola and SPORT1 both described talks before the decision was acknowledged, so it should not be described as a sacking or dismissal.

How bad was Fenerbahçe's Champions League start under Kartal?

It was a poor opening by any standard. Fenerbahçe had 2 points from 3 Champions League league phase matches, sat 31st in the table and had a goal difference of -6. Those numbers added to the pressure around the coaching change.

When did Ismail Kartal return for his latest Fenerbahçe spell?

Kartal returned in June for his fourth spell as Fenerbahçe head coach. He had signed a one-season contract running until the end of the 2026-27 campaign, but the stint ended early after the derby defeat and talks with the club.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →