Mikel Obi warns Jose Mourinho about his new club

A controversial manager in a very controversial league. Jose Mourinho has joined Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce and has received advice from his former player Mikel Obi.

Super Eagles legend John Mikel Obi has warned his former coach, Jose Mourinho, about the intense football culture in Turkey.

Mourinho was recently appointed as the manager of Fenerbahce, who finished second in the Turkish Super Lig, and received a warm welcome. However, Mikel, who played for Trabzonspor from 2019 to 2020, cautioned Mourinho that the fans’ support could quickly turn into pressure.

Speaking on the ObiOne podcast, Mikel, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea, shared his insights about Turkish football. He emphasised that Turkish fans are passionate about the sport and that their initial excitement can swiftly change if the team does not perform well.

“I was lucky enough to play in that part of the world, and I must tell you they are not the easiest crowd to please,” Mikel said. “They will love you and give you everything you want when you win games. But they are more impatient than fans in the Premier League or Italian league. They live and breathe football. Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Trabzonspor fans are especially passionate.”

Mikel advised Mourinho to be cautious, stating, “They will give you time, but if you’re not winning or things aren’t going well, they will turn on you very quickly. Jose needs to perform well to keep their support.”

Fenerbahce finished the season with 99 points, just three points behind league winners Galatasaray. Despite the close finish and only losing one game, the team’s performance led to the dismissal of Ismail Kartal. Clips circulating on social media showed Fenerbahce fans vandalizing properties in protest of losing the league title to Galatasaray, underscoring the fervent and sometimes volatile nature of Turkish football environment plus the on-field issues like the Trabzonspor-Fenerbahce fan trouble and the Referee hooliganism incident involving Ankaracugu club President.