Gone on the spot! Kartal resigns as Fenerbahce boss hours after historic UCL return
Fenerbahce's first Champions League night in 18 years ended with a bombshell: Ismail Kartal resigned on the spot after the 1-1 draw with Roma.
Details: The 65 year old announced his decision in the post-match press conference: "I stepped down from my duties this evening. I made this decision to clear the way for my club. I resigned while the path is still clear, with no intention of ever returning." The resignation comes despite a creditable point against Roma in the club's first match back in Europe's elite since 2008-09.
The decision did not come out of nowhere. Kartal, in his fourth spell at the club, had been under fierce pressure from sections of the Kadikoy crowd since a painful derby defeat to Besiktas earlier this month, and reports suggest the atmosphere around the team had turned toxic despite the long-awaited Champions League return he masterminded through the qualifiers. Only this week he had called Roma the strongest squad in their history and demanded a balanced plan, and his players delivered a battling point. Yet instead of celebration, the evening ended with an exit that leaves Fenerbahce searching for a coach just as their European campaign begins. Across 125 official matches in his four stints, Kartal won 86, but the marriage with the fans never truly recovered.
It's worth noting that Kartal's fourth spell lasted barely three months: he was only appointed in June after Aziz Yildirim's return as club president.
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Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
