Fenerbahce’s head coach, Jose Mourinho, has praised Super Eagles striker, David Okereke following the Nigerian’s achievement of being the first player to score against three different teams under Mourinho’s management.
David Okereke archived this milestone after Gaziantep suffered a 3-1 defeat at the Ulker Stadium Sukru Saracoglu on Monday.
During the match, Okereke found the back of the net with a first-half equalizer, responding swiftly after Oguz Aydin had put Gaziantep ahead.
His goal was particularly significant as it marked his ability to score against teams coached by Mourinho across multiple leagues; previously, he had scored while competing against Mourinho’s Roma during his time with Venezia in Serie A and against Cremonese.
In a post-match interview with TRT Spor, Mourinho took a moment to acknowledge Okereke’s accomplishment. “I congratulate David Okereke. He is the first player to score against all three teams that I managed. He scored against my teams while playing for Venezia, Cremonese, and now Gaziantep,” Mourinho stated.
Despite Okereke’s historic goal that temporarily leveled the match, Fenerbahce ultimately secured the win with decisive second-half contributions from Rodrigo Becao and Edin Dzeko, who both found the net to ensure a comeback victory.
This latest goal for Okereke was his third in the current Turkish Super Lig season, reinforcing his reputation as a reliable goalscorer and showcasing his ability to perform well against teams managed by one of football’s most decorated coaches.
Mourinho’s tactical changes after halftime played a crucial role in dismantling Gaziantep’s defensive structure, which had initially held strong. These adjustments denied Okereke’s side the chance to walk away with what would have been a memorable point from an away match.