Ismail Kartal resigns live on air after Fenerbahce’s 1-1 draw with Roma | OneFootball

Ismail Kartal announced his resignation live on air after Fenerbahce drew 1-1 with Roma on their Champions League return. Minutes later, president Aziz Yildirim said the 65-year-old would remain in charge.

According to Reuters, Kartal used his post-match press conference to say he would leave and not return, describing it as a decision taken for the club.

Yildirim said he had told the coach to carry on and that no public pledge was needed. He cited a bottle thrown at the coach’s head during the match, said Kartal had been affected, and noted the coach also complained of pressure.

Kartal spent a decade as a Fenerbahce player. He first took charge in 2014-2015, returned as interim in 2021-2022, then accepted the job again in 2023-2024. He was also an assistant during the last two times the club were crowned Turkish Super Lig champions, and returned for a fourth stint last June.

Fenerbahce have finished second in the Turkish Super Lig for the last five seasons. This season they reached the league phase of the Champions League for the first time in 18 years.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”