Fenerbahçe’s quest for a Champions League spot has now stretched to 16 seasons after their current defeat to Lille within the third qualifying spherical of Europe’s premier competitors.
Struggling to go away a mark on the continental stage, the Yellow Canaries final featured within the group levels through the 2008-2009 season, and their current elimination has solely extended their absence.
Since their debut within the Champions League through the 1996-1997 season, Fenerbahçe have certified for the group levels within the 2001-2002, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009 seasons.
However, they’ve struggled to return to this elite degree in recent times.
The Istanbul-based facet did not advance by way of the qualifiers within the 2002-2003, 2006-2007, 2010-2011, 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2018-2019, and 2022-2023 seasons, and now the 2024-2025 season provides to their streak of disappointments.
In the 2011-2012 season, Fenerbahçe secured a direct spot within the Champions League however had been barred from competing attributable to a match-fixing scandal.
The following season, they had been banned from European competitions for 2 years attributable to a UEFA sanction imposed after their elimination within the playoff spherical.
Their challenges within the qualifiers are quite a few.
In the 2002-2003 season, they fell brief towards Feyenoord within the third spherical, shedding 3-0 on combination.
In 2006-2007, they had been knocked out by Dinamo Kyiv after drawing 2-2 at dwelling and shedding 3-1 away.
The 2010-2011 season noticed them unable to beat Young Boys, shedding 1-0 at dwelling after a 2-2 draw away.
The 2012-2013 season provided a glimpse of hope as they reached the playoff spherical however had been eradicated by Spartak Moscow.
The following 12 months, Fenerbahçe was ousted by Arsenal within the playoff stage, and in 2015-2016, they had been defeated by Shakhtar Donetsk after a goalless draw at dwelling and a 3-0 loss away.
In the 2016-2017 season, Fenerbahçe fell to Monaco regardless of a 2-1 dwelling victory, shedding 3-1 on the highway.
The 2018-2019 season noticed them face Benfica, with a 1-0 loss away and a 1-1 draw at dwelling sending them to the Europa League.
The 2022-2023 season beneath Jorge Jesus noticed them eradicated by Dinamo Kyiv after a 2-1 dwelling defeat.
Their newest setback got here towards Lille, the place they misplaced 2-1 away and drew 1-1 at dwelling, marking their tenth failure to advance previous the Champions League qualifiers.
Fenerbahçe have now performed 38 qualifying matches, securing 14 wins, 12 attracts, and 12 losses, with 56 objectives scored and 46 conceded.
Since their preliminary participation within the Champions League, Fenerbahçe has performed 40 matches, securing 11 victories, 6 attracts, and struggling 23 defeats.
Their biggest achievement got here within the 2007-2008 season once they reached the quarterfinals beneath coach Arthur Zico, solely to be knocked out by Chelsea, falling simply in need of the semifinals.
Jose Mourinho, a two-time Champions League winner with Porto and Inter Milan, noticed his hopes dashed as Fenerbahçe now shifts focus to the UEFA Europa League.
Source: www.dailysabah.com