Fenerbahçe have confirmed that head coach İsmail Kartal has left the club following Sunday's 2-1 Süper Lig defeat to Galatasaray. Kartal informed the board of his decision to step down, and the club accepted his resignation with mutual respect.
In an official statement released on the club's social media channels, Fenerbahçe thanked Kartal for his dedication and commitment, wishing him success in the next chapter of his career.
The defeat leaves Fenerbahçe five points adrift at the top of the table, sitting fifth with 16 points, while Galatasaray extended their lead to 22 points.
This is not the first time Kartal has threatened to walk away. Following a 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw with Roma, he had previously declared he was resigning for good, even collecting his belongings from the training facility. He was ultimately persuaded to stay by club president Aziz Yıldırım.
With Fenerbahçe due to host Göztepe at Chobani Stadium on Saturday, 31 October, former Fenerbahçe player Dirk Kuyt is expected to take charge of the team in the interim.
