Fenerbahçe’s season plunged deeper into turmoil on Dec. 11 as a 2-0 home loss to Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League ignited fan protests and intensified scrutiny on the club’s leadership and coaching staff.
The defeat at Ülker Stadium—Fenerbahçe’s second straight loss in all competitions—saw supporters vent their frustration in the stands, calling for the resignation of club president Ali Koç and jeering players as pressure mounts on manager José Mourinho.
Williams Double Sinks Fenerbahçe
Bilbao wasted little time asserting their dominance. Inaki Williams opened the scoring early with a simple finish following Gorka Guruzeta’s low cross. The Ghanaian forward doubled his tally just before halftime, smashing an angled shot that struck the crossbar and bounced in to silence the home crowd.
Fenerbahçe’s night went from bad to worse in the second half as defender Mert Müldür was sent off in the 69th minute after picking up a second yellow card.
The win sent Bilbao to the top of the league phase standings with 16 points from six matches in the new Europa League format. Fenerbahçe now sit 15th with eight points, placing their progression in jeopardy.
Fan Protests and Internal Pressure
Frustration boiled over in the stands, with thousands of fans chanting for President Ali Koç to step down. The unrest reached players as well—defender Samet Akaydın was whistled relentlessly with every touch and substituted at halftime.
The loss came on the heels of a 3-1 derby defeat to Beşiktaş, leaving Fenerbahçe six points behind Süper Lig leaders Galatasaray after 14 matches and fueling concerns about a season slipping away.
Mourinho Under Fire
Head coach José Mourinho, who arrived in June amid high expectations, acknowledged the fans’ discontent.
“I can never criticize the reaction of the fans,” Mourinho said post-match. “The fans are the foundation of this club. They are sad, but not more than we are.”
Addressing back-to-back defeats, the Portuguese tactician emphasized the unforgiving nature of results-driven football.
“In a winning team, you might think results aren’t everything. But when you lose twice in a row, you realize how important they are,” he said. “It’s a cultural thing here, and we have to adapt. I’m not here to change the culture.”
Despite the mounting pressure, Mourinho remains optimistic about long-term progress.
“We’re in transition,” he said. “The next match is at home. We need our fans behind us.”
A Crucial Week Ahead
While Fenerbahçe still has a mathematical chance to reach the Europa League knockout rounds with two games left, the mood in Istanbul is growing impatient.
The club’s decade-long title drought weighs heavily—since their last league title in 2014, rivals Galatasaray have claimed five championships and Beşiktaş three.
President Ali Koç, in office since 2018, has cycled through nine head coaches during his tenure. His sole major silverware remains the 2022–23 Turkish Cup.
Now, all eyes turn to Fenerbahçe’s upcoming league clash against Başakşehir on Dec. 15—a match that could prove decisive for both Koç’s leadership and Mourinho’s future in charge.