Established in 1959 as an attempt to unify the many regional leagues around the country the Turkish Super League has gone from strength to strength. The UEFA National League Ranking for 2007/2008 places the Turkish Super League in 11th place, up three places from last year, just below the Scottish Premier League.
Although UEFA rankings must always be taken with a pinch of salt, there can be no denying that Turkish football, both domestic and international, has improved immensely over the last decade. The national team’s performance has been boosted by the success of the domestic league. Finishing in 3rd position at the 2002 FIFA World Cup was an incredible achievement for a side with limited previous tournament experience.
Since its birth, the Super League has been dominated by “The Big 3”, consisting of the three biggest clubs from Istanbul: Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
However, the new addition to “The Big 3”, Trabzonspor, are currently leading the pack but have a tough task ahead of them. Being the only club to have won the league outside of Istanbul they know they have a long way to go to the finish line. The last time they lifted the trophy was over 24 years ago in 1984, but with the “Big 3” breathing down their neck the race for the title is really hotting up.
The Big Four
GALATASARAY S.K
Founded: 1905
Stadium: Ali Sami Yen Stadium (25,785)
Titles: 17
Manager: Michael Skibbe
Did you know?
Galatasaray are the only Turkish club to have ever lifted a European trophy. In 2000 they surpassed all expectations in winning the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup beating Arsenal and Real Madrid respectively.
Hakan Sukur is the all time top goal scorer in the Turkish Super League with 249 goals.
Ex-Aston Villa striker Dean Saunders spent a season there in 95/96, scoring 15 goals in 27 appearances.
Notable Former Players: Hakan Sukur, Gheorghe Hagi
Youngster to Watch: Arda Turan (21)
BESIKTAS J.K.
Founded: 1903
Stadium: BJK Inonu Stadium (32,806)
Titles: 10
Manager: Mustafa Denizli
Did you know?
Besiktas hold many records in Turkish football, being the 1st sports club to be officially set up in the country; these records take pride of place.
They hold the record for the longest streak of undefeated games in the Turkish League (56 games) earning them the nickname ‘Yenilmez Armada’ (unbeaten armada).
During this period they also managed to win the league title, leading them to be the only Turkish side to have ever won the league without losing a single game.
Les Ferdinand was loaned out to the club for the 1988/89 season and managed to bag 14 goals in 24 appearances.
Their original colours were actually red and white, but this was substituted with the present black and white as a sign of mourning for the loss of Turkish lands on the Balkan Peninsula following the Balkan Wars in 1912/13.
Notable former players: John Carew, Nihat Kahveci
Youngster to watch: Serdar Ozkan (21)
FENERBAHCE S. K
Founded: 1907
Stadium: Sukru Saracoglu Stadium (50,509)
Titles: 17
Manager: Luis Aragones
Did you know?
The name of the sports club (as well as the "nickname" of Kadiköy) derives from a famous lighthouse located within the area ('Fener' in Turkish means lighthouse, 'bahçe' means garden).
In March 2008, Fenerbahce SK were granted a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the sports club to have won the most trophies and medals in the world, a total of 1134 in total!
Notable Former Players: Nicolas Anelka, Uche Okechukwu
Youngster to Watch: Kerem Mete Ozmen (16)
TRABZONSPOR
Founded: 1967 (merged from 2 clubs)
Stadium: Huseyin Arni Stadium (25,000)
Titles: 6
Manager: Ersun Yanal
Did you know?
Trabzonspor are the only side from outside of Istanbul to have won the Turkish Super League, no mean accomplishment considering the league is almost half a century old!
Due to their success, the decades old term “big 3” which defined the biggest Turkish clubs had to be modified to the “big 4”.
For the start of the 2008/2009 season, the team had a major revision with 34 transfers (24 in, 11 out)!
Former Arsenal and Notts Forest star Kevin Campbell spent the 1998/99 season at the club scoring five goals in 17 appearances.
Notable former players: Shota Arveladze, Rigobert Song (current)
Youngster to watch: Selcuk Inan (23)