Istanbul, Turkiye — FenerbahceTeam·Fenerbahce SK has secured its position in the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League Second Qualifying Round, setting the stage for another European campaign. The Turkish giants concluded the 2025/26 Süper Lig season as runners-up, finishing just three points behind champions GalatasarayTeam·Galatasaray.
The Yellow Canaries' domestic season was marked by a strong league performance, accumulating 74 points from 21 wins, 11 draws, and only 2 losses. Their home form was particularly formidable, remaining undefeated with 11 wins and 6 draws. While they exited the Turkish CupCompetition·Turkish Cup at the quarter-final stage, the club did commence the season with a Supercup triumph over rivals GalatasarayTeam·Galatasaray, signaling their intent early on.
FenerbahceTeam·Fenerbahce's European journey in 2025/26 began with aspirations of reaching the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League group stage. They navigated the Third Qualifying Round by defeating FeyenoordTeam·Feyenoord with a 6-4 aggregate score, despite a 2-1 loss in the first leg. However, their Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League hopes were ultimately curtailed in the play-off round, where they suffered a narrow 1-0 aggregate defeat to BenficaTeam·Benfica, following a goalless draw in the first leg and a 1-0 loss in the return fixture.
Transitioning to the UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League league phase, FenerbahceTeam·Fenerbahce secured a knockout spot by finishing 19th. Notable results included a 2-1 victory over OGC NiceTeam·Nice, with Kerem Aktürkoğlu scoring both goals, and a 1-0 home win against Stuttgart, courtesy of an Aktürkoğlu penalty. Their Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League campaign concluded in the knockout phase, where they were eliminated by Nottingham ForestTeam·Nottingham Forest with a 4-2 aggregate score.
The club made significant investments in its squad, spending approximately €90 million across the summer and winter transfer windows. Brazilian forward Talisca, a January 2025 arrival from Al Nassr, proved to be a pivotal acquisition, leading the team with 27 goals across all competitions. He was ably supported by Turkish winger Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who joined from BenficaTeam·Benfica in September 2025 for €22.5 million and contributed 15 goals, and Spanish attacker Marco AsensioPlayer·Marco Asensio, who arrived from Paris Saint-GermainTeam·Paris Saint-Germain for €8.5 million in September 2025, bagging 13 goals.
Further bolstering the squad were French midfielder Matteo GuendouziPlayer·Matteo Guendouzi, a €28 million signing from LazioTeam·Lazio, and Mali forward Dorgeles NenePlayer·Dorgeles Nene, who joined from Red Bull Salzburg for €18 million. Other key additions included Sofyan AmrabatPlayer·Sofyan Amrabat from FiorentinaTeam·Fiorentina for €12 million, Brazilian goalkeeper EdersonPlayer·Ederson from Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City for €11 million, and Slovakia captain Milan SkriniarPlayer·Milan Skriniar, a €7 million purchase from Paris Saint-GermainTeam·Paris Saint-Germain. French World Cup winner N'Golo KantePlayer·N'Golo Kante also arrived on a free transfer from Al-IttihadTeam·Al-Ittihad. Looking ahead to the 2026/27 season, an €18 million deal has already been agreed for 19-year-old Guinea winger Sidiki CherifPlayer·Sidiki Cherif, who spent the latter half of the previous season on loan at FenerbahceTeam·Fenerbahce from AngersTeam·Angers.
The 2025/26 season also saw considerable movement in the dugout. Jose MourinhoCoach·Jose Mourinho departed at the end of August, with club stalwart Zeki Murat Gole stepping in. Italian Dominic Tedesco was appointed in September but was relieved of his duties in April, leading to Gole once again taking interim charge until the season's conclusion. A permanent manager has yet to be installed.
FenerbahceTeam·Fenerbahce's rich European history includes a Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League quarter-final appearance in 2007/08 and a Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League semi-final in 2012/13. The club has faced Scottish opposition six times in Europe, with four matches against RangersTeam·Rangers and two against CelticTeam·Celtic. Their most recent encounter with a Scottish club saw them lose to RangersTeam·Rangers on penalties in the 2024/25 Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League Round of 16, after a 3-3 aggregate draw. As Hearts FC prepares for their own Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League qualifying journey, they await the outcome of FenerbahceTeam·Fenerbahce's tie, with the Turkish side representing a formidable potential opponent.
Galatasaray's Ismail Jakobs heads the ball over Fenerbahce's Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu. NurPhoto/IMAGO
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