In Istanbul, Turkey, following Fenerbahce's 1-1 draw against Roma in the first leg of the Champions League qualifying round on 10/9, coach Ismail Kartal made a surprise announcement at the post-match press conference: his resignation from the club, stating he would not return. The 65-year-old coach described this as a collective decision, made to pave the way for the club's future.

"I have been here for three months," Kartal stated. "From the start of the season until today, I have been with the players through training sessions and camps. The president and club management have supported us in every way. As of tonight, I congratulate the players and resign. I want to thank all the fans, media members, staff, and teammates who have supported me."

Coach Ismail Kartal directs during Fenerbahce's 1-1 draw with Roma in the first leg of the Champions League qualifying round in Istanbul, Turkey on 10/9/2026. Photo: AP

However, just minutes after Kartal's announcement, President Aziz Yildirim swiftly rejected the resignation. "Kartal will continue his work," Yildirim affirmed. He revealed that a fan had thrown a bottle at Kartal's head during the match, contributing to the coach's frustration. "I just spoke with Kartal. He mentioned the bottle-throwing incident and also complained about the pressure he is under," Yildirim added.

When questioned if Kartal had confirmed his continuation, Yildirim emphasized his authority. "He doesn't need to say he will continue. I am his superior; I told him to continue, and that's that. We are a family," Yildirim declared.

During the match itself, Roma initially took the lead through Donyell Malen. Fenerbahce, however, managed to equalize thanks to Archie Brown. The Turkish side subsequently squandered several scoring opportunities, including a header from Nathan Ake that struck the crossbar, ultimately settling for a draw.

Archie Brown, who was named man of the match, expressed surprise upon learning of coach Kartal's resignation during his post-game interview. The 24-year-old defender showed clear astonishment when a coaching staff member informed him. "In the press conference, Kartal resigned," the club staff member said. Brown replied: "You mean resigned? In what capacity? Coach? He's no longer the coach? He just said that? I didn't know about this."

Regarding the game's performance, Brown believed Fenerbahce deserved the equalizer and could have even secured a win, given the numerous opportunities they created and their dominance for most of the second half.

Kartal has a long history with Fenerbahce, having played for the club for a decade. He first managed the club during the 2014-2015 season and later served as caretaker coach in the 2021-2022 season, before returning for the full 2023-2024 season. He was also an assistant coach during Fenerbahce's two most recent Turkish championship victories. He returned to the club for his fourth stint as head coach in June.

Fenerbahce has consistently finished second in the Turkish national championship for the last five consecutive seasons. This season marks their first appearance in the main Champions League round in 18 years.

Despite the club's European aspirations, Kartal is currently under pressure due to Fenerbahce's domestic league performance. The team sits ninth in the national championship, having lost two of their first four matches this season, including a 1-2 home defeat to Besiktas last weekend.

Hong Duy (according to The Guardian, The Sun)