24.10.2026 12:40
Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım made ambitious statements about the championship at the Ordinary High Divan Board Meeting. Backing technical director İsmail Kartal, Yıldırım said that he would not part ways with the experienced coach until the end of the season. Emphasizing that he believed the yellow-navy team would become champions, Yıldırım said, "We will be champions, believe me!" and applause erupted in the hall.
Speaking at the Fenerbahçe Ordinary High Council Meeting, President Aziz Yıldırım evaluated the team's situation in the league. Yıldırım, who stated that they had not given up on the championship goal despite the results in recent weeks, addressed the yellow-navy community.
At the end of his speech, Yıldırım said, "We will be champions, believe it!" These words of the president were met with applause by the members in the hall.
"ISMAIL KARTAL WILL LEAVE TOGETHER WITH ME"
Yıldırım, who also reacted to calls for head coach İsmail Kartal to resign, clearly stated that he stood behind the experienced coach.
Yıldırım said, "They shouted during the Slavia Prague match: 'İsmail Kartal resign.' İsmail Kartal has resigned; I will not send him away. Until I leave, if İsmail Kartal himself does not want to leave, I will not send him away. He will leave together with me. Shame! Where were those who shouted for 8 years?" he said.
"BE PATIENT UNTIL MAY"
Yıldırım, who also spoke about the process of appointing İsmail Kartal to the position, responded to criticism of the head coach choice.
Yıldırım said, "İsmail Kartal was not in my mind. Didn't you get up and say things at every meeting I went to in order not to bring Aykut Kocaman! Didn't you say he should not come? Didn't you say bring İsmail Kartal! What do you want? May will come; if he is unsuccessful, he cannot come again; just as I will not come, he will not come either, but be patient until May!"
"WE WILL BEAT BOTH LIVERPOOL AND GALATASARAY"
Yıldırım, who also touched on Fenerbahçe's upcoming matches, expressed his confidence in his team. Stating that he was hopeful about future matches despite the points dropped against Slavia Prague, Yıldırım said, "We were leading Slavia Prague 2-0, it ended 2-2, it can happen. Tomorrow Liverpool is coming; we will beat them. On Monday we will also beat Galatasaray."
"I DON'T SAY THINGS I DON'T BELIEVE"
Yıldırım, recalling past championship races, gave an example from the period of Christoph Daum, whom he appointed in 2003.
Yıldırım said, "In 2003 I brought in young players. I also made the late Daum the coach. We fell 11 points behind. The Rizespor match was replayed; at the end of the first half it dropped to 8 points. What happened? We went and beat Beşiktaş at their stadium while 5-6 points ahead and became champions. I do not say things I don't believe or cannot do."
"I SAID I WOULD MAKE FENERBAHÇE CHAMPION"
Yıldırım, reminding the audience of the promise he made to the fans during the election process, said that participation in the Champions League was an important success for the club.
Yıldırım said, "We drew 2-2 with Slavia Prague. We conceded 6 goals from Aston Villa; we should not have conceded them. That can happen too. When we set out, I asked all of you for your votes. I traveled all over Turkey. I said I would make Fenerbahçe champion. This is my promise. We said we must participate in the Champions League, and we did participate in the Champions League. Shouldn't everyone be happy? 26 million euros came to Fenerbahçe because of this participation. We spent it, we are spending it. From now on, nearly 10 million euros will also come. That too will be spent on this club. I am calling out to all Fenerbahçe fans: a team that had not participated in the Champions League for 18 years has participated, and everyone is unhappy! I have never seen such humanity."
"I WON'T BE HERE AFTER MAY"
Yıldırım, who also made statements about his future at the club in his speech, reiterated that he would not be at Fenerbahçe after May. Yıldırım called on the members with the words, "I will not come to the council again. I am not here after May. I will not come inside the club again. Take care of your club."
Yıldırım also criticized the low attendance at the High Council meeting, reacting by noting that despite 5,416 members having the right to attend the meeting, approximately 350 people were in the hall.