Fans and media are calling for heads to roll after a disastrous start to the Super Lig season.
Fenerbahce’s season went from bad to worse after they suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of minnows Caykur Rizespor on Sunday. This was the Yellow Canaries’ fourth defeat in the first seven games of the season.
After handing Rizespor their first win of the season, Fenerbahce’s fan base is pointing fingers at the clubs newly-appointed Dutch coach Philip Cocu. The club’s new president Ali Koc had appointed Cocu at the beginning of the season after parting ways with Aykut Kocaman.
However, under the Dutchman’s tenure, Fenerbahce failed to qualify for the Champions League and is now sitting in 14th place in the Super Lig. This is the worst start to a season in the club’s recent history.
The Yellow Canaries have only managed 7 points in 7 matches. Turkish media claim that Cocu is expected to report on his team’s poor run and the club administration will then decide on his future in Istanbul.
Some reports also suggest that Fenerbahce may likely sack Cocu and replace him with former coach Ersun Yanal, who guided Fenerbahce to their last domestic title, back in 2013-2014. After the match against Rizespor, the club’s president met with the traveling fans in the stands and apologized.
“Everything will be all right. I apologize to you for the suffering we have caused,” he said.
However, if Fenerbahce decides to part ways with Cocu, the club will be paying compensation to four coaches at the same time. The club is still paying their former coaches Aykut Kocaman and Vitor Pereira for terminating their contracts early. Considering Cocu’s new contract, his firing will put a tremendous financial strain on the already struggling Fenerbahce.
To make matters worse, the club’s Director of Football who was also appointed this past summer, Daniel Comolli, may also face the same fate after the team’s dismal start to the season.