Introduction: Turkey
An introductory guide for anyone interested in watching the Turkish Süper Lig this season.
Turkish football is crazy, and not in a crazy cool Joker in The Dark Knight kinda way more in a take a selfie with a knife and send it to a 12-year-old kind of way... it is certainly exciting though. Some amazing players have graced the Süper Lig and the rivalries are definitely some of the hottest in the world. In this introduction, we will look at the history of the Turkish Süper Lig, preview what you can find in this years campaign. Hopefully, by the end we will all learn something and who knows this time next year you might be so inspired by this introduction you will be sacrificing a goat so your beloved Burton Albion beats Peterborough.
The Turkish Süper Lig started in 1959. Although previously Turkey had a regional league set-up, most famously the Istanbul Football League which is why clubs have older founding dates like Fenerbahçe’s foundation in 1907. The Turkish Süper Lig has been dominated by Istanbul club’s who are known in Turkey as ‘The Big 3’ Fenerbahçe, Besiktas & Galatasaray, these three clubs have won 54 of the 62 Süper Lig championships. Trabzonspor’s decade of glory with six titles all coming between 1976 and 1984 and Bursaspor’s unexpected triumph in the 2009-2010 Süper Lig is the only other time the champions of Turkey have not been from Istanbul.
The selling point of the Turkish League for so long has been the uber passionate fans who go to extreme lengths to support their sides, (some fans even going so far as to sacrifice animals) and the battle between the Istanbul clubs. Especially Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe it’s one of the most heated rivalries in the world and if you even have a passing knowledge of Turkish football you will know about these two. Galatasaray on the European side of Istanbul, Fenerbahçe across the Bosporus strait on Istanbul’s Asian side are two teams who really do hate each other. Throw in a passionate Besiktas side also hated but not to the same extent and its a pretty intense three-horse race.
However the stables have been let open and everything has changed Fenerbahçe haven’t won a title since 2014, Galatasaray and Besiktas have been inconsistent in recent years. Both are guilty of focusing on a few great individual players but no team cohesion, you never really know what your gonna get although they are still credible threats to the title. These downfalls have given opportunities to other teams most notably Istanbul Başakşehir. Başakşehir claimed their first-ever Süper Lig title in 2019-2020. Becoming only the sixth side ever to do so after knocking at the door for a couple of years and still, Başakşehir aren’t without their faults as I write this they are five games into the 2020-2021 season sitting 20th in the relegation zone also joined by one of the big three Besiktas.
I think this will be the most open season yet in the history of the Süper Lig, last season Trabzonspor, Besiktas and Sivasspor were Başakşehir’s closest rivals for the majority of the season. What makes the league so interesting, is its a gamble for every team the money gap between the teams is closer than it used to be, one good/bad purchase can make or break a team. Most teams gamble on experienced players who are past their best, the nostalgia factor is well and truly alive in the Süper Lig and not just in Istanbul. Max Gradel at Sivasspor, Lukas Podolski Antalyaspor, Loic Remy Rizespor. Then add in the superstars playing in Istanbul like Radamel Falcao & Martin Škrtel, its never-ending how many familiar faces you will recognise.
Massive switch up in the league this year even the newcomers look good all placing in the top ten so far. Hatayspor making their Süper Lig debut managed by Ömer Erdoğan, a member of the underdog Bursaspor side who won the title a decade ago. His Hatayspor side already beaten last years champions Başakşehir and drew against Fenerbahçe away at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium with only nine men. Erzurum BB who have already scored seven in the clubs opening four games feature some decent players like former Newcastle & Manchester United player Gabriel Obertan & Lithuanian international Arvydas Novikovas. The biggest switch up has come from Fatih Karagümrük another Istanbul club who signed Lucas Biglia from AC Milan this summer, Fatih currently finds themselves third in the Süper Lig also beating last years champions Başakşehir.
I truly believe the Süper Lig could be won by several teams this year as it stands after five games Alanyaspor leads the way with 13 points two points ahead of Fenerbahçe and already six points clear of Galatasaray. first-time manager Çağdaş Atan’s side includes one time England international Steven Caulker and Brazilian winger Davidson who joined from Vitória of Portugal and looks like one of the deals of the summer so far. I don’t expect Alanyaspor to win the Süper Lig, they do have a chance though a Champions League place seems very achievable. this season I think the Turkish Süper Lig will be the most unpredictable title race in Europe, they’re seven teams in my opinion who have a chance of becoming the Champions of Turkey.
Galatasaray, Besiktas, Alanyaspor, Başakşehir, Sivasspor, Fenerbahçe & Trabzonspor
Choose your fighter… Who will win this years Süper Lig?