CORNERFLICK
Fenerbahçe have confirmed that Ismail Kartal has stepped down as head coach and that his spell in charge is over.
Club confirms the departure
In a statement, the club said Kartal informed the board of his decision to resign, and that talks between both sides led to an agreement to end the partnership. Fenerbahçe also thanked him for his work during his time on the bench.
Pressure had been building
The move comes after weeks of pressure on the coaching staff. Results and criticism from fans had made Kartal's future a constant topic in Turkish sports media, and Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Galatasaray increased the scrutiny.
A second resignation was accepted
Kartal had already offered to quit last month after a 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League, but club president Aziz Yildirim rejected that resignation and asked him to stay. This time, the board has accepted his decision, and attention now turns to who will lead the team for the rest of the season.