21.06.2026 21:10
Mario Branco, former Sporting Director of Fenerbahçe, made statements about his role at Fenerbahçe. Giving a green light for a potential return in the future, Branco said, "I have a feeling that sooner or later in my career, I will return to Turkey. Perhaps, I don't know, I might return to Fenerbahçe. Maybe I can complete my unfinished championship story with Fenerbahçe."
Mario Branco, who parted ways with Fenerbahçe at the end of the 2024-25 season and currently serves as Sporting Director at Benfica, made striking assessments about his tenure at the yellow-navy club on Yağız Sabuncuoğlu's YouTube channel.
"WAS MOURINHO UNSUCCESSFUL?"
Speaking about Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahçe career, Branco said it is not right to measure success only by the trophies won.
"You ask if Mourinho was unsuccessful? With Mourinho, the team scored 84 points. Last season, this score would have been enough for the championship. We collected 80 points with Jesus, 99 points with İsmail Kartal, and 84 points with Mourinho. Sometimes when evaluating success, you also need to analyze the circumstances."
"BRINGING MOURINHO WAS A DECISION EVERYONE WANTED"
Referring to the process of the Portuguese coach's appointment, Branco revealed that he was the first to establish contact with Mourinho.
"In 2024, there was an election process, but while we were finishing the season with İsmail Kartal, we were already discussing the foreign coach option. I was probably the first person to directly contact Mourinho. We eventually managed to bring him. At that time, Mourinho was the coach desired by both presidential candidates."
"I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO KEEP TADIC ON THE TEAM"
One of Branco's most notable comments was about Dusan Tadic.
"If I had stayed at Fenerbahçe, one of the things I would have wanted to do was keep Tadic on the team. People say he is not the same because of his age, but you know you will get at least 15 goals and 15 assists from him each season. That is a contribution of 30 goals."
Emphasizing Tadic's off-field impact as well, Branco stated:
"People only see the 90 minutes. I saw the training sessions and the daily process. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave. I saw his approach to young players. I see the same qualities in Milan Skriniar."
"FENERBAHÇE NEEDS LEADER CHARACTERS"
Stating that Fenerbahçe needs not only quality players but also strong characters, Branco highlighted the importance of individuals who can understand the club's long-standing championship pressure.
"What needs to be understood in Fenerbahçe and Turkey is this: they need not just good footballers, but players who can lead and carry the pressure."
"TURKEY IS NOT THE FINAL DESTINATION IN THE TRANSFER MARKET"
Noting that he tried to change the perception of Turkey in the player market during his tenure, Branco cited the yellow-navy club's sales of players to major European leagues as an example.
"There were many players we tried to bring to Turkey but couldn't. In Western Europe, there is still a perception of Turkey as an 'Eldorado' for players over 32 who are in the decline of their careers and want to live a fantastic life in Istanbul. I tried to change that. And remember, while at Fenerbahçe, we sold players to Manchester United, Real Madrid, and the Bundesliga, so we moved beyond being the final stop in the transfer market."
"I COULD COMPLETE MY UNFINISHED BUSINESS WITH FENERBAHÇE"
Expressing his attachment to Turkish football, Branco said he would like to work in Turkey again later in his career.
"I have a feeling that sooner or later, I will return to Turkey. Maybe, I don't know, I will return to Fenerbahçe. Maybe I can complete my unfinished championship story with Fenerbahçe."