Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has expressed his admiration for Fenerbahce manager José Mourinho as Rangers prepare for their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first-leg clash in Istanbul on Thursday.
The 36-year-old centre-back believes the Scottish club must significantly step up their game to stand a chance against the Turkish giants, who are currently on an 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions.
💙 Happy Birthday Leon Balogun
— 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 (@WATP72RFC) June 28, 2022
1️⃣ League Title 🏆
1️⃣ Scottish Cup 🏆
1️⃣ #UEL Runner Up 🥈 pic.twitter.com/AIIBrNckJq
Rangers’ build-up to this crucial European fixture has been far from ideal. The club recently parted ways with Belgian manager Philippe Clement, and their struggles deepened over the weekend following a 2-1 home defeat to Motherwell, leaving them a staggering 16 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Balogun, who was introduced at halftime during the Motherwell loss, sees the first-leg encounter in Turkey as an opportunity for redemption.
“It’s a big opportunity for us on Thursday, playing away,” Balogun told the Belfast Telegraph. “It might work in our favour that we have the first leg away, especially after recent domestic results, and it could help get the supporters back on our side.”
Reflecting on facing Mourinho, Balogun recalled his previous encounter with the Portuguese tactician in the Premier League, when his Brighton side defeated Manchester United 3-2 in 2018.
“I think I’ve only played against Mourinho once. That was my first time in the Premier League, and we beat him (Manchester United) 3-2 at home to Brighton. That was a great memory.”
Speaking on Mourinho’s personality, Balogun acknowledged the manager’s charisma and influence in world football.
“He’s a very, very big character. He’s one of the biggest managers in football, and you have to respect him.”
“I personally enjoy Mourinho’s press conferences because I think a lot of people call him arrogant—maybe—but I think he’s a special character. Football needs personalities like him to make the game more interesting, and, of course, it gives you (the media) something to write about.”
Despite the challenges Rangers are facing, Balogun remains optimistic about their chances in Istanbul.
“Fenerbahce away is a big opportunity for us. After what happened at home, playing the first game away and getting the fans back on our side could be beneficial. However, we still need to take at least two big steps from today to get a good result in Istanbul.”
Away from club football, Balogun remains hopeful for a return to the Nigerian national team. The veteran defender has made it clear that he has not retired from international duty and is eager to represent the Super Eagles again as Nigeria prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March.
However, Balogun was left out of the latest 39-man squad named by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who opted for younger defenders like Gabriel Osho, Jordan Torunarigha, Igoh Ogbu, and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi for the upcoming games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
While his experience and leadership could still be valuable to the national team in the future, Balogun’s immediate focus remains on helping Rangers deliver a strong performance against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
I’m still available to play for Super Eagles — Leon Balogun pic.twitter.com/xoRhkDFQGw
— Naija (@Naija_PR) January 21, 2025
