Ex-Premier League duo refuse to play for Mourinho in final game for Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce were without Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic for the final game of the Super Lig season and the pair had to receive their departing gifts in the stadium kitchen
Edin Dzeko was among two outgoing Fenerbahce stars who refused to play in the final match of the season - instead saying their goodbyes to the club from the kitchen inside the stadium.
Dzeko and Dusan Tadic, formerly of Southampton, will both say goodbye to the Turkish club but have opted against running out in the last match. They welcomed Konyaspor on Sunday for a dead-rubber match to finish their Super Lig campaign.
The title race has been dominated by Fenerbahce's rivals Galatasaray and Jose Mourinho 's side have had to make do with second spot. Dzeko and Tadic were wary of fan unrest as they prepare to leave the club over the summer.
The pair were due to receive commemorative plaques to honour their service to the club on the pitch, but instead they had to receive the gongs in the club kitchen at their stadium as they looked to avoid any backlash from the angry Fenerbahce fanbase.
Tadic, who has previously excelled with Ajax, has since confirmed the pair made themselves unavailable to play in the game. He said on social media: "It was a decision we made together with Dzeko not to play in the last match. We didn't want to damage Fenerbahce's image.
"The fans have always supported us. The way we said goodbye is not a problem for me. I would have preferred it to be in the stadium, but the ambience is not very good at the moment. That's why it's better to be that way."
Fenerbahce's domestic frustration continues and, whilst being competitive, they've struggled to land silverware. Despite concern over Mourinho's future it has now been confirmed that the Special One will remain in Istanbul for the second year of his contract.
He said on Monday: "If you ask me if I'm going to be here next season, I refer to the last [Fenerbahce] president's appearance on TV a couple of weeks ago, where the president said that he wants me to stay and he is counting on me to stay for the next season.
"That is public. That's it. I think he was clear. If anything changes from that day, I was not told. I can confirm that these words were exactly the same words that I was told when we met. So that for me is a very clear situation."
Fenerbahce president Ali Koç said he wanted Mourinho to continue "for stability".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Rangers on verge of appointing Russell Martin as new head coach
The 39-year-old former Southampton boss will be installed in the Ibrox hotseat in the next 48 hours, barring any last-minute hitches. The appointment of a new man at the helm is the latest in a series of major changes at the club. An American consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises secured a majority shareholding on Friday and new sporting director Kevin Thelwell officially began work on Monday, when he said that the recruitment of a new head coach would come to a conclusion 'in the coming days'. Outgoing Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo Ancelotti, and Martin were the two frontrunners for the post, vacated by Philippe Clement in February, with former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson taking over to the end of the season, which ended trophyless. However, it is the former MK Dons and Swansea boss, who had a short loan spell as a player at Rangers in 2018, who will be tasked with wrestling the power back from the other side of the city where Celtic this season won their 13th William Hill Premiership title in 14 seasons and have a stranglehold on Scottish football. However, many Rangers fans have revealed some dismay at the notion of Martin's arrival. The former Scotland international brought Southampton up to the Premier League through the play-offs in 2024 but was sacked in December as they headed back towards the Championship with one win from their first 16 games. Chris Hughton, Martin's boss at Norwich, offered a glowing character reference, saying on talkSPORT: 'If I'm looking at Russell's managerial background, he is known of course, for playing a certain way, very expansive in the way that he wants to play, very much a passing game and progression through the thirds. 'But he's a strong personality also. He's had a few knockbacks in his football career so far. 'I think any knockbacks, he will look at very much as experience and look to improve in every aspect that he can. I saw him recently, and he was in good form and really looking forward to getting back into the game. 'I think he's had a few offers. So this is somebody that's still very respected in the game, and of course, the rollercoaster in management, there are always going to be ups and downs, but he's a very confident individual and very confident in what he wants to do on the football pitch. 'He was very much a leader in the changing room, vocal in the meetings that we had and, of course, he was my voice when it came to any sort of direction on the players. 'So no surprise to me that he eventually went into management. He always showed those characteristics. And he was somebody that, as he improved in his career as a player, is of course very much looking to improve the same way in management.'
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
New Rangers manager Russell Martin's 'dark arts' admission
Initially praised for his attractive football, Martin's side won only one of their first 16 Premier League matches, resulting in his December dismissal. Martin, speaking after his sacking, reflected: "I think if I look back now at the start of the season, I would have made way more onus on fouling quickly, being more horrible out of possession. "Because we're pressing a lot but more detail with that about making contact earlier." His last match in charge saw Southampton suffer a heavy defeat against Tottenham, going 1-0 down in the first minute and five behind by half-time. Read more: Rangers-bound Russell Martin quotes on loan spell revisited Former Rangers stars could be axed after just one year at Turkish club After his dismissal, Martin acknowledged his need to adapt and balance style with pragmatism, admitting: "But my thing is always, actually, let's try and dominate the ball but there are going to be times when we have to suffer. "So I think a bit more athleticism is in the team, but if you're not going to have that then we need to make a real focus on being really difficult to play against, as well as all the stuff with the ball. "Because then, if you could bring the beauty with a ball, but also bring the darkness with that stuff, you need both." Martin's appointment at Ibrox is seen as a divisive one, with concerns about his inflexibility in style. However, his comments may alleviate some doubts, as he seems to be recognising the need for a more balanced approach. His challenge now is to implement this philosophy at Rangers, where expectations are high and patience is often in short supply.
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
John Lundstram and Borna Barisic facing Trabzonspor axe
The former Rangers pair joined the Turkish side on free transfers last summer but are now facing uncertain futures. Left-back Barisic has hardly featured, while midfielder Lundstram has been criticised for his performances. Reports in Turkey suggest Barisic's contract may even be terminated. Trabzonspor manager Fatih Tekke needs to cut seven players from his squad this summer due to a quota of 12 foreign players, with 14 currently in the squad and more returning from loans. The club are also planning to sign another five players in the transfer market. Read more: Russell Martin reveals he 'turned down a few jobs' before agreeing Rangers deal Rangers poised to announce Russell Martin as their new manager Barisic and the club are reportedly in discussions over cancelling his contract, while Lundstram, 31, is at risk of being moved on due to his age. Both players signed three-year deals with Trabzonspor last year, so their departures may not be straightforward. The team's disappointing European campaign, which saw them crash out of both the Europa and Conference Leagues, and a poor start to the league season have contributed to the need for a squad overhaul. However, they did manage to recover somewhat, finishing seventh in the league and reaching the final of the Turkish Cup. The team went through three permanent managers over the course of the season, with Tekke only appointed in March. Barisic's season was further disrupted by a loan move to Leganes in Spain in January, which was cut short by a serious injury in his first game. Ex-Man City star Stefan Savic, Edin Visca, and Anthony Nwakaeme are also said to be likely candidates for summer sales.
