by account deleted by request » Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:21 am
GALATASARAY SK
Established: 01.10.1905
Stadium: Ali Sami Yen (25.000)
Club also holds some of it’s games in Atatürk Olympic Stadium (80.000)
Nickname: The Lions or Cim Bom
Fans’ Group: ultrAslan
Chairman: Özhan Canaydın
Director Of Football: Adnan Polat
Manager: Erik Gerets (BEL)
Assistant Manager: Reinhard Strumpf (GER)
Coaches: Erdal Keser, Nezihi Boloğlu, Bülent Ünder
Achievements:
16 Domestic Titles: 1961-62, 1962-63, 1968-69, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2001-02, 2005-06
Turkish Leauge has been played since 1959, over 48 seasons. Galatasaray has most titles along with Fenerbahçe.
14 Domestic Cups: 1962-63, 1963-64, 1964-65, 1965-66, 1972-73, 1975-76, 1981-82, 1984-85, 1990-91, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2004-05
Turkish FA Cup has been played since 1962. Galatasaray has the most titles, followed by Trabzonspor, who has 7 titles.
10 Turkish Super Cups: 1966, 1969, 1972, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997.
Turkish Super Cup has been played under the name of “President’s Trophy” through 1966-1998, played as Atatürk Cup in 2000 and Super Cup in 2006. No trophy was held in 1999, 2001-2005.
1 UEFA CUP: 2000
Arsenal 0-0 Galatasaray (1-4 on penalties) 17.5.2000
1 EUROPEAN SUPER CUP: 2000
Galatasaray 2-1 Real Madrid (AET) 25.08.2000
Semi Finalists in European Champion Clubs’ Cup: 1987-88.
2 time Quarter Finalists in UEFA Champion’s League: 1993-94, 2000-01
THE SQUAD:
NO PLAYER Position Year Of Birth
1- Faryd Aly MONDRAGON (COL) GK 1971
2- Stjepan TOMAS (CRO) SW 1976
4- Rigobert SONG (CMR) DC 1976
5- Orhan AK LWB/ DC 1979
6- Yalçın AYHAN SW 1982
7- Okan BURUK AMR 1973
8- Marek HEINZ (CZE) AML 1977
9- Hakan ŞÜKÜR ST 1971
10- Necati ATEŞ FC 1980
11- Hasan ŞAŞ AMR/L 1976
12- Aykut ERÇETİN GK 1982
16- Marcelo CARRUSCA (ARG) AML 1983
17- Fevzi ELMAS GK 1983
18- Ayhan AKMAN DMC/L 1975
19- Cihan HASPOLATLI RWB/DMC 1981
20- Volkan ARSLAN MC 1978
22- Sasa ILIC (SER) AMC 1977
24- Mehmet GÜVEN DMC 1987
25- Ferhat ÖZTORUN LWB 1987
26- Aydın YILMAZ AML/R 1988
27- Özgürcan ÖZCAN ST 1988
28- Tolga SEYHAN SW 1977
29- Erkan FERİN DC/RWB 1988
33- Uğur UÇAR RWB 1987
35- Oğuz ŞABANKAY AMC 1987
50- Uğur DEMİROK DC 1988
55- Sabri SARIOĞLU MR 1984
58- Hasan KABZE ST 1982
66- Arda TURAN RWB/MR 1987
67- Ergün PENBE LWB/MC/L 1972
99- Ümit KARAN ST 1976
History:
Galatasaray SK has been established by a group of Galatasaray High School students led by Ali Sami Yen. The high school, also known as the “School of Sultans” currently is a couple of blocks away from club’s headquarters, and also serves as a University in an historical building in Ortaköy. Club’s stadium in Mecidiyeköy carries the name of the founder, Ali Sami Yen.
Claiming ten of the last twenty leauge titles, becoming the only Turkish team to win a European Cup in 2000 and stealing the Super Cup from “Los Galacticos” Real Madrid the same year, Galatasaray is arguably the best team of Turkish history. The Lions hold almost every possible record of Turkish football, most league titles, most Turkish FA cup titles, most Turkish Super Cup Titles, most successive titles in a row (4).
Some of the most beloved personalities of club history are, “The Crownless King” Metin Oktay, former striker and coach of the first championship squad Gündüz Tekin, former sweeper and coach of the UEFA Cup winning squad Fatih Terim, captain of that same squad sweeper Bülent Korkmaz and Romanian maestro and former coach Gheorghe Hagi.
2005/06 season:
Imagine a 17 year old scoring a last minute game winner on his debut. Imagine 4 games won with last minute goals and also a draw too. Imagine a sweeper scoring unbelieveable 30 metre strike to claim a win, with 5 minutes to go. Imagine stealing the title away from your arch rivals at very last minute of the season.
This sounds too much for one season, but it is just the tip of the iceberg. Galatasaray had a fairytale of a season in 2005/06, claiming the title at last minute with a club record 83 points, despite the club having huge financial problems and losing two very important members of the squad, French international Franck Ribery and Brazilian Flavio Conceciao prior to season. It was just another proof to the determination and the ambition the club has within it’s own subculture. That what makes Gala, “winners.”
The Team:
Goalkeeping: Colombian international Faryd Mondragon is entering his 5th year with the club and a fan favourite. 34 year old is very agile for his size, has fine positioning and proves to be tough between the woodworks. Former VfB Stuttgart player Aykut Erçetin and Turkish U21 keeper Fevzi Elmas both prove to be useful back ups.
Right Wing Back: Former youth team captain Uğur Uçar is a tough contender for the spot, with his fine defensive qualities. Cihan Haspolatlı who took over the duty for the past two seasons is more experienced in defence but had been out of form. Troubled area for Gala.
Left Wing Back: Despite his harsh style causes him to get a lot of bookings, Orhan Ak is the first choice for this position. 19 year old Ferhat Öztorun is a good prospect and played some good football during the absence of Orhan last year. Co-captain Ergün Penbe is also another option for this spot.
Central Defence: Cameroonian international captain Rigobert Song is a world class defender, his partner Croatian Stjepan Tomas is also reliable despite having some tough times last year. Tolga Seyhan, Turkish international player, is also a good option and could fight for this spot. Experienced Emre Aşık, youngsters Yalçın and Erkan are other options.
Defensive Midfield: Despite inexperienced, youngster Mehmet Güven was impressive during the pre season camp. Since left wing is occupied Gerets might think putting Ayhan Akman in this position too.Volkan Arslan suffers from inconsistency but useful when on form. Cihan Haspolatlı does better here than he does in full back. as well as returning midfielder Okan Buruk, who was a part of UEFA Cup winning squad.
Left Wing: Youngster Arda Turan took over the duty here successfully lately. Turan has spend his last year on loan and came back with top form. Arda has great speed and his stamina is out of the world. Newcomer Argentinian Manuel Carrusca has good technique could take a chance if Arda is tried some place else. Youngster Aydın Yılmaz, 18, could force his way into starting line up, he had been a fan favourite by scoring a last minute winner aganist Konyaspor last year and a lot is expected from this young lad. Czech Marek Heinz usually serves as a back-up, failing to meet expectations.
Right Wing: Hasan Şaş, very determined and ambitious, is one of the best midfielders of Turkey and had a brilliant season last year. Speedful and technique, Şaş is the undoubtable pick for this spot. 22 year old Sabri is also a tough competetor but rather clumsy. Arda Turan could also be picked for this spot too.
Attacking Midfield: With his classy touch and smart passing combining with his ability of being in right place in the right time Serbian international Sasa Ilic is an indispensable part of this team. Youngster Oğuz Şabankay is a suprise pick for this spot, with his fine technique.
Forward: Hakan Şükür might have been aged, but still is good and still has aerial command despite lacking the scoring touch he once had. Necati Ateş was the top goalscorer for the past two seasons for his team has a good shot and also is a fine dribbler. Ümit Karan has a unique finishing touch which helped him to score 17 goals last season despite missing 2 months with injury.Hasan Kabze, who scored a crucial last minute winner aganist Istanbul rivals Beşiktaş last year is not afraid to shoot when he gets a clean look Youngster Özgürcan Özcan, who was a part of European Champion Turkish U17 team is also an option up front.
The Manager: Former Belgian full back Erik Gerets had won championships with Lierse SK, Club Brugge, PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray. Gerets usually prefers an attacking version of 4-1-2-1-2, also sometimes uses three forwards or sometimes tries a version of 4-2-3-1. Gerets is usually offensive minded.
Past Games Aganist Liverpool and PSV:
13.9.1987 PSV 3-0 Galatasaray
30.9.1987 Galatasaray 2-0 PSV
19.9.2001 PSV 3-1 Galatasaray
30.10.2001 Galatasaray 2-0 PSV
20.02.2002 Liverpool 0-0 Galatasaray
26.02.2002 Galatasaray 1-1 Liverpool
Info from Gala website
I didnt know Rigobert Song played for them.