Ex-Italy head coach Spalletti on Fenerbahce list of Mourinho replacements

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Peter Young | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 9:58 AM ET

Former Italy national team head coach Luciano Spalletti is on the shortlist of potential replacements for Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce according to recent reports in Italy and Turkey.

Spalletti and Conceicao on Fenerbahce’s list of Mourinho replacements

Fenerbahce are on the hunt for a new head coach after dismissing the Special One on August 29, shortly after the club’s disappointing 1-0 aggregate defeat to Benfica, which cost the team a place in the 2025-26 edition of the Champions League.

According to reports from SportMediaset, also confirmed by Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Spalletti is among the list of potential candidates to replace Mourinho in Istanbul.

Spalletti is available after deciding to terminate his Italy national team contract after a 3-0 defeat by Norway in the first match of 2026 World Cup qualification.

Among Fenerbahce’s list of alternatives are former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglu, and Sergio Conceicao following his six-month tenure with Milan.

Interestingly, Fenerbahce’s Presidential elections will take place in a few days’ time, and the choice of head coach will depend on which candidate lands the role of club President.

Sadettin Saran is a candidate to become the next Fenerbahce President, and has publicly declared his backing for Conceicao: “The decision on the new coach is of crucial importance a few days before our extraordinary assembly,” he said.

“Our candidate is Sergio Conceicao, who is ready to join our club on better terms than our former coach Jose Mourinho.

“Conceicao’s ambitious and passionate character fits perfectly in line with the DNA of our club. We believe he can lead us to long-awaited success.”

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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