Claim Surfaces Over Sergio Conceiçao as Fenerbahçe's Next Head Coach

Fenerbahçe continues its work to appoint a new head coach after parting ways with İsmail Kartal. According to reports, the club management and the football committee reached an agreement in principle with Sergio Conceiçao, the former coach of Porto and AC Milan, on a 1.5-year contract.

The 51-year-old Portuguese coach is reported to have been invited to Istanbul and is expected to travel to Turkey shortly to sign the contract. It has also been learned that Conceiçao will watch the club's Champions League match against Liverpool from the stands.

The football committee contacted former Fenerbahçe coach Jorge Jesus to get his view on Conceiçao. Jesus is reported to have given a positive reference and said, "I see my youth in him." This support is said to have played a role in the management's decision.

It is also reported that a faction within the management wants a Turkish head coach. Aykut Kocaman, Abdullah Avcı and Emre Belözoğlu are reportedly kept on a list of domestic alternatives in case of a setback.

After a successful playing career, Conceiçao also achieved success as a head coach. He worked at Porto between 2017 and 2024. During this period he won 11 trophies in total, including three league titles, and became one of the most successful and consistent coaches in the club's history.