Football in Turkey: A beginners guide

If we talk about football in Turkey, then it is by far the most popular sport, followed by basketball, delineating its roots in the Ottoman Empire. The sport of football was introduced by the then English residents, whose football journey started from Ottoman Salonica in 1875 when the first match was played there.

Since then, the mesmerizing and charismatic history of football has its roots in the suburbs of Turkey and mainly, Istanbul.

The Evolution of Turkish Football:

The Turkish Football League consists of five professional leagues, one of which is dedicated to women athletes.

The first-ever league competition was the Istanbul Football League, which was held in the 1904-05 season

This league underwent several variations until the creation of the Millî Lig (Süper Lig or National League) in 1959 - the first professional nationwide league competition held in Turkey.

Fenerbahçe S.K dominated Turkish football in those decades, winning nine national titles, a super winning streak.

The Crest of Fenerbache - One of Turkey’s biggest clubs

The Süper Lig is the top-flight of the Turkish Football league system which is organized by the Turkish Football Federation, the TFF.

The other tiers of the leagues are TFF 1st Lig, TFF 2nd Lig, TFF 3rd Lig, and the Regional Amateur League respectively.

Initially, the league consisted of 18 clubs. But currently, twenty-one clubs compete and three clubs are promoted and relegated from, and to, the 1st Lig.

Besides the Süper Lig, two major cup competitions are also held, the Turkish Cup and the Turkish Super Cup. The Turkish Cup features clubs from every division. The Super Cup is a year-round match between the winners of the Süper Lig and the Turkish Cup. Currently, clubs finishing in the top four slots in the league enter qualifying rounds of European competitions, and the winners of the Turkish Cup, if not one of the first four, are also awarded a place.

The top two teams are nominated for the UEFA Champions League whereas the 3rd and 4th ranked clubs are nominated for the UEFA Europa League.

The Hunger, Pace & Fight for the Turkish Title:

We all know that football is a sport of passion, of intensity, and one that has a colossal following; you only have to look at the statistics to see why it is the most famous sport around the globe. Each and every player shows full commitment, devotion, energy, and the hunger to take every game home.

Playing hard, smart, loud, and together is the philosophy that works in football. And we all know that Turkey's top-level clubs are called night howlers for this philosophy. Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor are the most successful Turkish clubs in this regard. All these clubs have won the most titles so far.

The Big 4 Turkish Clubs

Galatasaray S.K has won the highest number of Süper Lig trophies, more than any other team. The Yellow-Reds have 22 Süper Lig titles, 18 Turkish Cups, and 16 Turkish Super Cups under their belt.

Second place goes to Fenerbahçe S.K. The Yellow Canaries have won 19 Süper Lig titles, 6 Turkish Cups, and 9 Turkish Super Cups.

Similarly, the third spot is acclaimed by Beşiktaş J.K. The Black Eagles have taken 15 Süper Lig titles, 9 Turkish Cups, and 8 Turkish Super Cups home.

While the fourth position maintained by Trabzonspor. The Black Sea Storm succeeded in taking control of 6 Süper Lig titles, 9 Turkish Cups, and 9 Turkish Super Cups.

Emerging challengers to the Football elite in Turkey

But another emerging Turkish topside, İstanbul Başakşehir, remained firm throughout the 2019-20 season and won the league title for the first time. The Gray Owls were considered as dark horses in the 2019-20 season and they scraped numerous games in the course of 90 minutes.

Besides this, the Green Crocodiles, Bursaspor K.D have also registered a Turkish Süper Lig title to their name back in 2010.

All of the above facts and figures are traced from the past of Turkish Football. But currently, the scenario and the shape of the competition looks different. Every day there's a new turn, a new twist, and a new challenge in the Turkish Super Lig.

The football scenes in Turkey has taken a new turn, as Turkish football’s traditional big three are in questionable form.

The top sides Beşiktaş J.K, Fenerbahçe S.K and Galatasaray S.K were in big trouble from the very beginning of the 2020-21 season. The 2020/21 campaign marks the first time that none of Beşiktaş J.K, Fenerbahçe S.K or Galatasaray S.K have played in Europe for 38 years.

“That's all that matters and it is nothing less than a national scandal.”

We know it's a game. Sometimes you win, you make a name for yourself, and sometimes you're up against it, you win some, you lose some. But in reality, this is a major upset in the Turkish football environment. It is rightly said by Mia Hamm, "Raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed."

Big Players Make Big Plays - Recent superstars in Turkish Football

The Turkish Süper Lig is regarded as one of Europe’s most competitive leagues, with its wide range of big names and promising clubs. The Turkish Super Lig has brought us some brilliant talents over the years, offering footballers lucrative deals to showcase their skills in the country. It’s enticed many top players. .

Talking about big guns? Then we have shortlisted some dazzling, compact, and bright names.

Kevin-Prince Boateng

KVP joins us in the first place. The Ghanaian International is playing for the 12th different club of his career at Besiktas J.K after joining on loan from Italian club Fiorentina mid-season. Boateng has struggled for form since a short loan spell at the FC Barcelona last season, where he made just four appearances.

The midfielder, therefore, moved to Turkey in an attempt to reboot his career. The former Schalke 04 star has since become a regular man in Sergen Yalcın’s first XI and able to score 3 goals in his first 11 appearances for the club.

Ricardo Quaresma

Another name who never quite lived up to his promise, who currently captains Kasimpasa S.K in the Super Lig. The Portuguese winger got his first taste of Turkish football in 2010 upon completing a €7.30 M move to Besiktas J.K from the Italian top side Inter Milan.

Quaresma created a big impact on Besiktas's attacking flow when he was their main man. This experienced lad scored 4 goals in 25 appearances for Kasimpasa S.K in last season.

Gael Clichy

Three-time Premier League winner Glichy joined Istanbul Basaksehir in 2017 on a free transfer from Manchester City and is still continuing to make headway. The former Arsenal left-back has proven to be a pivotal member of Okan Buruk’s squad, having already made over 100 appearances.

The former Arsenal left-back has proven to be a pivotal member of Okan Buruk’s squad, having already made over 100 appearances. A first Turkish Süper Lig title had come his way last season, with Basaksehir on top of the standings. It was a charismatic end to a brilliant career.

Radmael Falcao

Radamel Falcao is undoubtedly one of the Turkish Süper Lig’s greatest transfers in recent history. The Columbian transferred to Galatasaray S.K from AS Monaco last summer on a free basis.

The former AS Monaco is widely regarded as one of the best no 9’s in the last decade and has proved his worth with 18 goals in 29 league games. It’s helped reinstate Galatasaray’s hopes of defending their title.

Robinho

Robinho had shown great promise in his country, greatly bringing him to greet as the successor of the legendary Pelé. That set the bar very high for him from the get-go. He joined Basaksehir squad from Sivasspor for €2M in 2019.

The Brazilian star has assisted Aykut Kocaman's team to crown the Turkish Süper Lig for the first time in history. He has managed to strike the ball into the net 4 times in 32 appearances.

The Chrasmatical Era of Legends

"Most of us are in this more than just for playing soccer. We’re in it for the bigger goal — to move it along for the next generation", said Landon Donavon.

The world of football has witnessed many iconic and legendary stars in the Turkish Süper Lig - including some of the best Turkish footballers of all-time.

All of them made this game more mesmerizing, sensational, and beautiful than ever before.

Toni Schumacher

Toni Schumacher was a memorable man between the sticks in Germany, in which the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals were played. He was one of the most vital people for Fenerbahçe S.K in the legendary 1988-89 championship of 103 goals. Undoubtedly, Toni was an iconic goalkeeper.

Once George Graham said," The goalkeeper is the jewel in the crown, and getting at him should be almost impossible. It’s the biggest sin in football to make him do any work", and he was right.

Guti

Guti Hernandez also touched the football pitches of Turkey in Beşiktaş colours. The Spanish international is widely famous for his well-calculated long balls. Guti played a resourceful part for Beşiktaş J.K in taking the Turkish Cup home in the 2010-11 season.

Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos was one of the finest left-backs of all time. In 2007, the legendary Brazilian made a move to Turkish top side Fenerbahçe S.K from Real Madrid C.F. Even though he was injured midway through the season, he was one of the players who took Fenerbahçe S.K to the Champions League quarterfinals.

Samuel Etoo

The Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o has also featured in the Turkish Süper Lig. Eto’o’s first year at Antalyaspor was just breathtaking. He wasn’t only a centre- forward, he was a sparkling leader who is in the field all around and leading the team Scorpions.

Many other legendary superheroes like Didier Drogba, Alex de Souza, Mario Gomez, Gheorghe Popescu, and Claudio Taffarel etched their greatness in the Turkish football fields. All these sporting legends and icons will always be remembered.

Anson Dorrance synthesized the perfection, sheer hard work, passion, and devotion of an athlete in the following words;