Former Fenerbahce midfielder Stephen Appiah believes that Jose Mourinho’s arrival at the club will significantly impact the Turkish Super League.
Appiah, who won two trophies, including the Turkish league, during his time at Fenerbahce, expressed his excitement about Mourinho’s move to Turkey. He emphasized the Portuguese manager’s character and coaching prowess, which he believes will resonate well with the passionate Fenerbahce fans and the broader Turkish football culture.
“I’m so excited because when it comes to Fenerbahce, the fans are crazy. The character of Mourinho is going to fit so well with the club. His fame and coaching skills are going to give something huge to the Turkish Super League in general,” Appiah remarked to rg.org.
Appiah, who spent three years at Fenerbahce, highlighted Mourinho’s track record of developing African players, expressing hope that Mourinho will continue this trend at Fenerbahce, particularly with Ghana defender Alexander Djiku, who has impressed since joining from France.
“We have Djiku, who has been able to win the hearts of the fans with the way he carries himself and approaches the game. I hope that with Mourinho’s arrival, he will be able to take his game to the next level,” Appiah added.
Appiah also believes that Mourinho will seek to bring in additional African talent to further strengthen Fenerbahce’s squad, expressing confidence that Mourinho’s presence will inspire players to perform at their best, ultimately benefiting the club.
Despite opinions suggesting Mourinho’s departure from top-tier leagues, Appiah emphasized Mourinho’s consistent success across multiple countries. He acknowledged the challenge Mourinho faces in returning Fenerbahce to the top of the Turkish league, particularly competing against strong rivals like Galatasaray.
Fenerbahce has not won the Turkish Super Lig since 2014, with a Turkish Cup in 2023 being their only major success in the past decade.
Mourinho has won 26 trophies across a managerial career spanning more than two decades, including the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, and league titles with Chelsea and Real Madrid. His last job, at Roma, saw him guide the Italian club to their first European title since 1961 with the Europa Conference League in 2022.
