Emre Belözoğlu signs with Fenerbahçe: 'I'm not the same Emre as five years ago'

Emre Belözoğlu is officially back home. Fenerbahçe held a signing ceremony for the 46-year-old as their new head coach, and he used it to say he is a changed man.

What happened?

Fenerbahçe announced that İsmail Kartal had resigned and that the two sides had parted ways. The club then moved quickly and agreed a deal with Belözoğlu.

At the ceremony, a club official called him a brother he has known for years and said the whole board backs him. Belözoğlu spoke about growing up in Istanbul's Yedikule neighbourhood dreaming of the yellow-and-navy shirt. "I'm proud to be coming home," he said.

He also said he knows what the job demands. "I'm aware of what our community expects," he told reporters, adding that he will not be "the Emre of five years ago".

What did he say about the big questions?

Asked about the nine-point gap in the title race, he said the club must always declare itself a title contender, especially at this stage of the season. His biggest wish, he said, is to unite a fan base he sees as divided for five years, and to play football worthy of every trophy.

About his friendly relationship with Okan Buruk, which some Fenerbahçe fans dislike, he said he always keeps a distance in relationships. "Even if my opponent were my own brother, he is still my opponent," he said. He added that he did not even tell his wife about the move, to protect the club's privacy.

On whether Dirk Kuyt will stay on the staff, he said there is an evaluation process and the club will announce it soon. The coaching team will have 12 to 13 people, including six with pro licences and a Spanish assistant who has worked under big-name coaches.

What came before?

Belözoğlu won six trophies as a Fenerbahçe player. He became sports director in June 2023 and later served briefly as interim coach, winning 7 of 10 matches, drawing 2 and losing 1.

This season he took charge of Kasımpaşa for 10 games: 4 wins, 5 draws and 1 defeat, 17 points in total.

What's next?

The club will announce the full staff soon, and the Kuyt decision is still open. Belözoğlu's first task is closing that nine-point gap.