Surprise: Fenerbahce invites Zidane to replace Mourinho

Reports from Turkey suggest that Fenerbahce has reached a “preliminary agreement” with Zinedine Zidane — a shocking prospect considering the French coach is viewed as the top candidate for the French national team manager position after the 2026 World Cup.

According to several Turkish sports outlets citing Sabah, Fenerbahce has entered negotiations with Zinedine Zidane and secured a preliminary deal — with details about salary and contract length reportedly still under discussion. This news quickly spread across European sports channels, making the Istanbul club the center of attention.

Zidane left Real Madrid in 2021 and has since rarely taken on roles with major clubs; his name is often linked to top managerial positions, but he has repeatedly emphasized his priority is to lead the French national team in the future. If a club like Fenerbahce approaches Zidane, it would mark a very different path from the image of him waiting for the Les Bleus role.

Sources say Chairman Ali Koc and the board want to secure a world-class figure to both elevate the brand and add appeal to their continental competition project — explaining why they are focusing heavily on a name like Zidane. If successful, this would be a strong move to signal the club’s short-term ambitions.

This intriguing scenario remains at the “rumor” stage; Turkish media report no official statements from either Fenerbahce or Zidane. Deals involving high-profile coaches typically include many clauses (salary, duration, exit terms) that can break preliminary agreements. Additionally, Zidane has been repeatedly linked as a replacement for Didier Deschamps with the French national team post-2026 World Cup — so a temporary stint in Turkey before leading Les Bleus is a discussed but unproven scenario.

Rumors of Zidane joining Fenerbahce have become a hot topic due to their appeal but remain unverified. Currently, neither Fenerbahce nor Zidane has issued any official announcements. Fans are waiting to see if this is just the beginning of negotiations or truly signals a new chapter in the French coach’s career and the Turkish club’s ambitions.