Fenerbahçe SK coach Ismail Kartal has returned to his post after a short-lived resignation. Kartal announced his departure following a 1-1 Champions League draw with AS Roma on 10 September 2026.

The club refused to accept his resignation. Chairman Aziz Yıldırım stated that Kartal was upset after a water bottle was thrown at him and due to a series of social media posts. "You saw the state Ismail was in. Can a person endure that much distress?" Yıldırım said, adding, "Ismail Kartal remains in his post. As a club, we are behind him and we are insistent on this decision."

In his resignation statement, Kartal praised his players. "First of all, I congratulate my players for carrying out the tasks I assigned for tonight's match to the letter." he said. Kartal also stated, "Tonight, I am resigning from my position, never to return. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my players." However, he changed his mind following discussions with the club management and the players.

Kartal missed Friday's training session ahead of the Süper Lig match against Gaziantep FK. The club released a statement late Friday confirming he would resume his duties on Saturday. Fenerbahçe's official social media account shared photos of Kartal at work on Saturday. The photos showed Kartal conducting training with the players.

The team drew 0-0 with Gaziantep FK on 14 September and currently sits 11th in the Süper Lig table. With 7 points from 5 games, they are 6 points behind leaders Galatasaray. Their recent form reads DDLWW. This performance has fallen short of expectations at the start of the season, increasing the pressure on Kartal.

The next league fixture is at home against 17th-placed Eyüpspor on 20 September. Fenerbahçe have scored 8 goals and conceded 6 in the opening five matchweeks. Issues in the defensive line stand out as one of the main topics the technical team is working on.

Kartal's return is a vital step for squad morale and focus ahead of the upcoming match. The coach has immediately begun preparations for the Eyüpspor game. Current squad details are available on our squad page. A club spokesman stated that Kartal's return was welcomed by the players and that the team would continue to work as one.

This story first appeared at espn.com