Fenerbahçe appoints Emre Belözoğlu on a 1.5-year contract

Fenerbahçe have signed Emre Belözoğlu, Kasımpaşa’s head coach, to a 1.5-year contract. The deal was signed at the yellow-and-navy club’s headquarters, with no compensation to be paid to Kasımpaşa. The club wanted a short-term solution because of its election schedule at the end of the season, while Sergio Conceição demanded a 2.5-year contract and a 60% pay rise.

Emre Belözoğlu has become Fenerbahçe’s new head coach. The yellow-and-navy club have signed the 46-year-old coach to a 1.5-year contract. A Spor reporter Erdem Akbaş said the deal was signed at Fenerbahçe’s headquarters in the evening after the final meeting. The club is expected to make an official statement on the matter shortly.

Kasımpaşa, where Belözoğlu had been coaching since the start of this season, had approved Fenerbahçe’s request to hold talks. Journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu reported that Fenerbahçe will not pay Kasımpaşa any compensation for terminating Belözoğlu’s contract with the club.

Emre Belözoğlu ve Fenerbahçe logosu

Why 1.5 years?

The contract length also reflects the board’s preference. Sporx reported that Fenerbahçe was seeking a short-term solution because of the club elections scheduled for the end of the season. Talks with Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição, the club’s first choice who had been invited to Istanbul, ended after he demanded a 2.5-year contract instead of 1.5 years and an approximately 60% increase in his salary.

Fenerbahçe’s search for a head coach began after İsmail Kartal left his post following the Galatasaray derby. The club notified Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) on October 27 that it had parted ways with Kartal by mutual agreement and announced that Dirk Kuyt would lead the team until the international break. Belözoğlu was expected to be on the bench for the Liverpool match after signing.

He had taken Kasımpaşa to fifth place

Belözoğlu joins Fenerbahçe after a successful start at Kasımpaşa. The experienced coach kept Kasımpaşa, who had been battling relegation last season, in the league and collected 17 points in the team’s first 10 league matches this season, taking them to fifth place.

This will be Belözoğlu’s second spell as Fenerbahçe’s head coach. Belözoğlu spent a significant part of his playing career in the yellow-and-navy shirt and also captained the team. During his first spell in 2021, he recorded 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in 10 matches. He then coached Başakşehir.

Photos: A Spor, Sporx

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