Lukaku's Fenerbahçe need another manager after Kartal quits following derby loss
A month after his first resignation was refused, Ismail Kartal is now allowed to leave, a day after the 2-1 defeat at Galatasaray.
Fenerbahçe, the club of Red Devil Romelu Lukaku, are moving on without manager Ismail Kartal. The 65-year-old Turk asked to leave on Tuesday and the board agreed by mutual consent, Daily Sabah reports. It was already his fourth spell in charge. In 18 official matches he recorded nine wins, five draws and four defeats.
The final straw was Monday's derby at Galatasaray, who won 2-1 thanks to two goals from Victor Osimhen. Things got out of hand after the final whistle, with red cards on both sides. Lukaku had been involved in a scuffle with defender Abdülkerim Bardakci just seconds into the match, Goal describes. Fenerbahçe dropped to fifth on 16 points, six behind leaders Galatasaray.
According to Sporza, the departure has a history. In early September, after a 1-1 draw with AS Roma in the Champions League, Kartal announced his own resignation after being hit by a bottle thrown from the stands, but the club president persuaded him to stay. Fenerbahçe have only two points in the Champions League. No successor has been named yet.