25 million euros! Mourinho insists on getting the full penalty for liquidated damages otherwise he refuses to leave the coach position

On May 21, the Turkish Daily (Sabah) latest news said that the termination negotiations between the Turkish Super League giant Fenerbahce and coach Mourinho were not smooth, and the latter insisted on asking for the 25 million euro liquidated damages stipulated in the contract, otherwise he would refuse to leave the coach position. The Fenerbahce club wants to pay only 10 million euros. And this season is just Mourinho's first season in coaching Fenerbahce. In July 2024, Mourinho, who left Rome and was unemployed at home, accepted the invitation from Fenerbahce to become the team's head coach. The latter has missed the Turkish Premier League championship trophy for 10 years since the 2013/14 season. The club's senior management hopes that Mourinho's arrival can change the team's bad luck of finishing second place for three consecutive seasons, and leads the team to overturn their arch-rival Galatasaray. To this end, Fenerbahce signed well-known players such as N'Nesri, Seyunju, Klonic, and Melkan. Diego Carlos, Mimovic and Talisca were also introduced in the winter window, and the support for Mourinho is incredibly strong.

However, even so, Mourinho did not lead the team to realize the club's ambitions. In the 36th round of the Turkish Super League last weekend, Galatasaray defeated the visiting Kaysai Sports 3-0 at home to win 6 consecutive wins in the Turkish Super League and 8 consecutive wins in all competitions. He won the Turkish Super League championship two rounds ahead of schedule and achieved three consecutive championships in the Turkish Super League. Although Fenerbahce also defeated Ejupu Sports 2-1 and scored 3 points, he could only watch his mortal enemy win the championship.

In addition, in the quarterfinals of the Turkish Cup, Fenerbahce also lost 1-2 to Galatasaray at home and was eliminated. This season, three times in the season, I only got 1 draw and 1 loss. Such a record of being empty in all four majors will definitely not satisfy Fenerbahce's senior executives.

Fenerbahce club chairman Ali Kochi is expected to meet with Mourinho this week. Although he has previously emphasized his hope of maintaining stability on the head coach issue, the future of this meeting will be the focus of the discussion. However, firing Mourinho is obviously not an easy task.

Mourinho's contract stipulates that if one party unilaterally terminates the contract, a liquidated damages of 10.5 million euros will be paid. The original intention of Fenerbahce to set up this clause was to prevent Mourinho from being easily poached or smeared, but at present, this clause has become a big rock that hits their feet. If Fenerbahce fires Mourinho, in addition to the liquidated damages, he will also have to pay his remaining one year's contract salary, which has exceeded 25 million euros. This is obviously unacceptable to Fenerbahce.

However, Mourinho, who had received a weak career liquidated damages, could not compromise at all. He disdained the 10 million euro compensation proposed by Fenerbahce and insisted on asking for the full liquidated damages. Otherwise, he would refuse to leave the position of Fenerbahce. It seems that Fenerbahce also makes it easy to invite God and send it to God.