Fenerbahce have won more championships than any club in Turkey. Their current woes – 15th in an 18-team league – are equivalent to Manchester United fighting a relegation battle. And involved in the dramatic decline of one of Europe's best-supported clubs are a clutch of names familiar to Premier League fans.
First, the history. Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu has been one of Turkey's most important institutions since 1907. They compete in nine different sports but football is the jewel in their crown with 28 league titles (19 since the current Super Lig was established in 1959), an estimated 25million supporters worldwide and great players from Jay Jay Okocha and Roberto Carlos to Robin van Persie and legendary Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber.
They count Turkish president Recep Erdogan among their celebrity fans and knocked Manchester City out of the European Cup as far back as 1968, joyous fans invading the pitch after a famous 2-1 win by the Bosphorus.
So, what's gone wrong for the Yellow Canaries? A 1-1 draw away to Bursaspor on Monday night took them out of the relegation zone but they are still only two points off bottom spot. They also suffered an embarrassing defeat by second-division side Umraniye in the Turkish Cup on Thursday night.
Their line-up in Bursa, where they conceded a last-minute equaliser, included Martin Skrtel (ex-Liverpool), Roberto Soldado (ex-Spurs) and Andre Ayew (on loan from Swansea City).
Islam Slimani is also at the club on loan from Leicester, while Victor Moses has now joined on loan from Chelsea too.
Their sporting director is Damien Comolli, a Frenchman who has previously served Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool with mixed results.
As often is the case in football, money has had a major part to play.
Ambitious spending – or 'living the dream' as Leeds United's former chairman Peter Ridsdale once put it – coincided with rules on financial fair play.
Fenerbahce used increased broadcast revenues to gamble on expensive but ageing stars like Carlos and Van Persie, signed from Real Madrid and Manchester United respectively. They also launched a campaign to get a million members, hoping it would close the gap on Europe's super-clubs like Barcelona and Juventus.
Instead, the strategy proved a catastrophic strain on resources. Last July, club president Ali Koc revealed debts had reached £548million. The well had run dry at the same time that Turkey's smaller but better-run clubs like Basaksehir, Yeni Malatyaspor and Kasimpasa are threatening Istanbul's traditional Big Three: Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce.
In 2013, Fenerbahce were also banned from European competition for two years for their role in a domestic match-fixing scandal.
The result has been a weaker team on the pitch than Fener fans have been used to. Skrtel and Soldado would have been important players during their peak years but Skrtel is now 34, Soldado 33.
The best Turkish players are also abroad or at other Super Lig clubs. Only one of Turkey's starters in their last competitive game, a 1-0 home defeat by Sweden in the Nations League, was from Fener - left-back Hasan Kaldirim.
At the 2002 World Cup when Turkey reached the semi-finals, four Fenerbahce players were in their squad.
Koc, an extremely wealthy businessman educated at Harrow boarding school in England, bemoans: 'Nobody could have predicted this crisis. I apologise for the suffering that has been caused.' The last time Fenerbahce finished outside the top three places was in 2009.
The club haven't won in their last nine games, a run dating back to November because of the winter break. While the Europa League has provided some solace - Fenerbahce qualified for the knockout stages and will face Zenit St Petersburg in the last 32 - their league form has been dreadful.
The low point was a 3-0 defeat at Caykur Rizespor in October, a result that got Dutch coach Phillip Cocu sacked. Former Turkey international manager Ersun Yanal is in charge now but things haven't got any better yet. He wants new recruits in January and landed Moses this week. Comolli also tried to buy Divock Origi from Liverpool last summer.
When Comolli signed Ayew on loan, he hailed the 'talented and energetic' forward. Yet Ayew has scored only four goals in 17 games and Slimani's record is even worse, three in 19. Only two teams in the Turkish league have managed fewer goals overall than the 17 in 18 matches netted by Fenerbahce.
Fenerbahce's next game this weekend is at home to third-place Yeni Malatyaspor. Nobody expects them to be relegated – it's almost unthinkable. But it did happen to Manchester United back in 1974.
dejavu1900
0
they will definitely survive this with the arrival of Victor Moses
jetabdltyz
0
The fall of Fenerbahce: Why is Turkish giant fighting relegation? 3 hours ago / autty Fenerbahce have won more championships than any club in Turkey. Their current woes – 15th in an 18-team league – are equivalent to Manchester United fighting a relegation battle. And involved in the dramatic decline of one of Europe's best-supported clubs are a clutch of names familiar to Premier League fans.  First, the history. Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu has been one of Turkey's most important institutions since 1907. They compete in nine different sports but football is the jewel in their crown with 28 league titles (19 since the current Super Lig was established in 1959), an estimated 25million supporters worldwide and great players from Jay Jay Okocha and Roberto Carlos to Robin van Persie and legendary Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber. They count Turkish president Recep Erdogan among their celebrity fans and knocked Manchester City out of the European Cup as far back as 1968, joyous fans invading the pitch after a famous 2-1 win by the Bosphorus. So, what's gone wrong for the Yellow Canaries? A 1-1 draw away to Bursaspor on Monday night took them out of the relegation zone but they are still only two points off bottom spot. They also suffered an embarrassing defeat by second-division side Umraniye in the Turkish Cup on Thursday night. Their line-up in Bursa, where they conceded a last-minute equaliser, included Martin Skrtel (ex-Liverpool), Roberto Soldado (ex-Spurs) and Andre Ayew (on loan from Swansea City). Islam Slimani is also at the club on loan from Leicester, while Victor Moses has now joined on loan from Chelsea too. Their sporting director is Damien Comolli, a Frenchman who has previously served Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool with mixed results. As often is the case in football, money has had a major part to play. Ambitious spending – or 'living the dream' as Leeds United's former chairman Peter Ridsdale once put it – coincided with rules on financial fair play. Fenerbahce used increased broadcast revenues to gamble on expensive but ageing stars like Carlos and Van Persie, signed from Real Madrid and Manchester United respectively. They also launched a campaign to get a million members, hoping it would close the gap on Europe's super-clubs like Barcelona and Juventus.    Instead, the strategy proved a catastrophic strain on resources. Last July, club president Ali Koc revealed debts had reached £548million. The well had run dry at the same time that Turkey's smaller but better-run clubs like Basaksehir, Yeni Malatyaspor and Kasimpasa are threatening Istanbul's traditional Big Three: Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce. In 2013, Fenerbahce were also banned from European competition for two years for their role in a domestic match-fixing scandal. The result has been a weaker team on the pitch than Fener fans have been used to. Skrtel and Soldado would have been important players during their peak years but Skrtel is now 34, Soldado 33. The best Turkish players are also abroad or at other Super Lig clubs. Only one of Turkey's starters in their last competitive game, a 1-0 home defeat by Sweden in the Nations League, was from Fener - left-back Hasan Kaldirim.  At the 2002 World Cup when Turkey reached the semi-finals, four Fenerbahce players were in their squad. Koc, an extremely wealthy businessman educated at Harrow boarding school in England, bemoans: 'Nobody could have predicted this crisis. I apologise for the suffering that has been caused.' The last time Fenerbahce finished outside the top three places was in 2009. The club haven't won in their last nine games, a run dating back to November because of the winter break. While the Europa League has provided some solace - Fenerbahce qualified for the knockout stages and will face Zenit St Petersburg in the last 32 - their league form has been dreadful. The low point was a 3-0 defeat at Caykur Rizespor in October, a result that got Dutch coach Phillip Cocu sacked. Former Turkey international manager Ersun Yanal is in charge now but things haven't got any better yet. He wants new recruits in January and landed Moses this week. Comolli also tried to buy Divock Origi from Liverpool last summer. When Comolli signed Ayew on loan, he hailed the 'talented and energetic' forward. Yet Ayew has scored only four goals in 17 games and Slimani's record is even worse, three in 19. Only two teams in the Turkish league have managed fewer goals overall than the 17 in 18 matches netted by Fenerbahce. Fenerbahce's next game this weekend is at home to third-place Yeni Malatyaspor. Nobody expects them to be relegated – it's almost unthinkable. But it did happen to Manchester United back in 1974.
suck a bowl of dicks
ClementoAmazing
1
The fall of Fenerbahce: Why is Turkish giant fighting relegation? 3 hours ago / autty Fenerbahce have won more championships than any club in Turkey. Their current woes – 15th in an 18-team league – are equivalent to Manchester United fighting a relegation battle. And involved in the dramatic decline of one of Europe's best-supported clubs are a clutch of names familiar to Premier League fans.  First, the history. Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu has been one of Turkey's most important institutions since 1907. They compete in nine different sports but football is the jewel in their crown with 28 league titles (19 since the current Super Lig was established in 1959), an estimated 25million supporters worldwide and great players from Jay Jay Okocha and Roberto Carlos to Robin van Persie and legendary Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber. They count Turkish president Recep Erdogan among their celebrity fans and knocked Manchester City out of the European Cup as far back as 1968, joyous fans invading the pitch after a famous 2-1 win by the Bosphorus. So, what's gone wrong for the Yellow Canaries? A 1-1 draw away to Bursaspor on Monday night took them out of the relegation zone but they are still only two points off bottom spot. They also suffered an embarrassing defeat by second-division side Umraniye in the Turkish Cup on Thursday night. Their line-up in Bursa, where they conceded a last-minute equaliser, included Martin Skrtel (ex-Liverpool), Roberto Soldado (ex-Spurs) and Andre Ayew (on loan from Swansea City). Islam Slimani is also at the club on loan from Leicester, while Victor Moses has now joined on loan from Chelsea too. Their sporting director is Damien Comolli, a Frenchman who has previously served Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool with mixed results. As often is the case in football, money has had a major part to play. Ambitious spending – or 'living the dream' as Leeds United's former chairman Peter Ridsdale once put it – coincided with rules on financial fair play. Fenerbahce used increased broadcast revenues to gamble on expensive but ageing stars like Carlos and Van Persie, signed from Real Madrid and Manchester United respectively. They also launched a campaign to get a million members, hoping it would close the gap on Europe's super-clubs like Barcelona and Juventus.    Instead, the strategy proved a catastrophic strain on resources. Last July, club president Ali Koc revealed debts had reached £548million. The well had run dry at the same time that Turkey's smaller but better-run clubs like Basaksehir, Yeni Malatyaspor and Kasimpasa are threatening Istanbul's traditional Big Three: Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce. In 2013, Fenerbahce were also banned from European competition for two years for their role in a domestic match-fixing scandal. The result has been a weaker team on the pitch than Fener fans have been used to. Skrtel and Soldado would have been important players during their peak years but Skrtel is now 34, Soldado 33. The best Turkish players are also abroad or at other Super Lig clubs. Only one of Turkey's starters in their last competitive game, a 1-0 home defeat by Sweden in the Nations League, was from Fener - left-back Hasan Kaldirim.  At the 2002 World Cup when Turkey reached the semi-finals, four Fenerbahce players were in their squad. Koc, an extremely wealthy businessman educated at Harrow boarding school in England, bemoans: 'Nobody could have predicted this crisis. I apologise for the suffering that has been caused.' The last time Fenerbahce finished outside the top three places was in 2009. The club haven't won in their last nine games, a run dating back to November because of the winter break. While the Europa League has provided some solace - Fenerbahce qualified for the knockout stages and will face Zenit St Petersburg in the last 32 - their league form has been dreadful. The low point was a 3-0 defeat at Caykur Rizespor in October, a result that got Dutch coach Phillip Cocu sacked. Former Turkey international manager Ersun Yanal is in charge now but things haven't got any better yet. He wants new recruits in January and landed Moses this week. Comolli also tried to buy Divock Origi from Liverpool last summer. When Comolli signed Ayew on loan, he hailed the 'talented and energetic' forward. Yet Ayew has scored only four goals in 17 games and Slimani's record is even worse, three in 19. Only two teams in the Turkish league have managed fewer goals overall than the 17 in 18 matches netted by Fenerbahce. Fenerbahce's next game this weekend is at home to third-place Yeni Malatyaspor. Nobody expects them to be relegated – it's almost unthinkable. But it did happen to Manchester United back in 1974.
You still won't get likes so.......
xsdrag
3
The fall of Fenerbahce: Why is Turkish giant fighting relegation? 3 hours ago / autty Fenerbahce have won more championships than any club in Turkey. Their current woes – 15th in an 18-team league – are equivalent to Manchester United fighting a relegation battle. And involved in the dramatic decline of one of Europe's best-supported clubs are a clutch of names familiar to Premier League fans.  First, the history. Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu has been one of Turkey's most important institutions since 1907. They compete in nine different sports but football is the jewel in their crown with 28 league titles (19 since the current Super Lig was established in 1959), an estimated 25million supporters worldwide and great players from Jay Jay Okocha and Roberto Carlos to Robin van Persie and legendary Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber. They count Turkish president Recep Erdogan among their celebrity fans and knocked Manchester City out of the European Cup as far back as 1968, joyous fans invading the pitch after a famous 2-1 win by the Bosphorus. So, what's gone wrong for the Yellow Canaries? A 1-1 draw away to Bursaspor on Monday night took them out of the relegation zone but they are still only two points off bottom spot. They also suffered an embarrassing defeat by second-division side Umraniye in the Turkish Cup on Thursday night. Their line-up in Bursa, where they conceded a last-minute equaliser, included Martin Skrtel (ex-Liverpool), Roberto Soldado (ex-Spurs) and Andre Ayew (on loan from Swansea City). Islam Slimani is also at the club on loan from Leicester, while Victor Moses has now joined on loan from Chelsea too. Their sporting director is Damien Comolli, a Frenchman who has previously served Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool with mixed results. As often is the case in football, money has had a major part to play. Ambitious spending – or 'living the dream' as Leeds United's former chairman Peter Ridsdale once put it – coincided with rules on financial fair play. Fenerbahce used increased broadcast revenues to gamble on expensive but ageing stars like Carlos and Van Persie, signed from Real Madrid and Manchester United respectively. They also launched a campaign to get a million members, hoping it would close the gap on Europe's super-clubs like Barcelona and Juventus.    Instead, the strategy proved a catastrophic strain on resources. Last July, club president Ali Koc revealed debts had reached £548million. The well had run dry at the same time that Turkey's smaller but better-run clubs like Basaksehir, Yeni Malatyaspor and Kasimpasa are threatening Istanbul's traditional Big Three: Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce. In 2013, Fenerbahce were also banned from European competition for two years for their role in a domestic match-fixing scandal. The result has been a weaker team on the pitch than Fener fans have been used to. Skrtel and Soldado would have been important players during their peak years but Skrtel is now 34, Soldado 33. The best Turkish players are also abroad or at other Super Lig clubs. Only one of Turkey's starters in their last competitive game, a 1-0 home defeat by Sweden in the Nations League, was from Fener - left-back Hasan Kaldirim.  At the 2002 World Cup when Turkey reached the semi-finals, four Fenerbahce players were in their squad. Koc, an extremely wealthy businessman educated at Harrow boarding school in England, bemoans: 'Nobody could have predicted this crisis. I apologise for the suffering that has been caused.' The last time Fenerbahce finished outside the top three places was in 2009. The club haven't won in their last nine games, a run dating back to November because of the winter break. While the Europa League has provided some solace - Fenerbahce qualified for the knockout stages and will face Zenit St Petersburg in the last 32 - their league form has been dreadful. The low point was a 3-0 defeat at Caykur Rizespor in October, a result that got Dutch coach Phillip Cocu sacked. Former Turkey international manager Ersun Yanal is in charge now but things haven't got any better yet. He wants new recruits in January and landed Moses this week. Comolli also tried to buy Divock Origi from Liverpool last summer. When Comolli signed Ayew on loan, he hailed the 'talented and energetic' forward. Yet Ayew has scored only four goals in 17 games and Slimani's record is even worse, three in 19. Only two teams in the Turkish league have managed fewer goals overall than the 17 in 18 matches netted by Fenerbahce. Fenerbahce's next game this weekend is at home to third-place Yeni Malatyaspor. Nobody expects them to be relegated – it's almost unthinkable. But it did happen to Manchester United back in 1974.
good job. u have now proven that u can copy and paste stuff. congratulations. ur prize: go sùck a díck
MOSALAD
2
The fall of Fenerbahce: Why is Turkish giant fighting relegation? 3 hours ago / autty Fenerbahce have won more championships than any club in Turkey. Their current woes – 15th in an 18-team league – are equivalent to Manchester United fighting a relegation battle. And involved in the dramatic decline of one of Europe's best-supported clubs are a clutch of names familiar to Premier League fans.  First, the history. Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu has been one of Turkey's most important institutions since 1907. They compete in nine different sports but football is the jewel in their crown with 28 league titles (19 since the current Super Lig was established in 1959), an estimated 25million supporters worldwide and great players from Jay Jay Okocha and Roberto Carlos to Robin van Persie and legendary Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber. They count Turkish president Recep Erdogan among their celebrity fans and knocked Manchester City out of the European Cup as far back as 1968, joyous fans invading the pitch after a famous 2-1 win by the Bosphorus. So, what's gone wrong for the Yellow Canaries? A 1-1 draw away to Bursaspor on Monday night took them out of the relegation zone but they are still only two points off bottom spot. They also suffered an embarrassing defeat by second-division side Umraniye in the Turkish Cup on Thursday night. Their line-up in Bursa, where they conceded a last-minute equaliser, included Martin Skrtel (ex-Liverpool), Roberto Soldado (ex-Spurs) and Andre Ayew (on loan from Swansea City). Islam Slimani is also at the club on loan from Leicester, while Victor Moses has now joined on loan from Chelsea too. Their sporting director is Damien Comolli, a Frenchman who has previously served Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool with mixed results. As often is the case in football, money has had a major part to play. Ambitious spending – or 'living the dream' as Leeds United's former chairman Peter Ridsdale once put it – coincided with rules on financial fair play. Fenerbahce used increased broadcast revenues to gamble on expensive but ageing stars like Carlos and Van Persie, signed from Real Madrid and Manchester United respectively. They also launched a campaign to get a million members, hoping it would close the gap on Europe's super-clubs like Barcelona and Juventus.    Instead, the strategy proved a catastrophic strain on resources. Last July, club president Ali Koc revealed debts had reached £548million. The well had run dry at the same time that Turkey's smaller but better-run clubs like Basaksehir, Yeni Malatyaspor and Kasimpasa are threatening Istanbul's traditional Big Three: Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce. In 2013, Fenerbahce were also banned from European competition for two years for their role in a domestic match-fixing scandal. The result has been a weaker team on the pitch than Fener fans have been used to. Skrtel and Soldado would have been important players during their peak years but Skrtel is now 34, Soldado 33. The best Turkish players are also abroad or at other Super Lig clubs. Only one of Turkey's starters in their last competitive game, a 1-0 home defeat by Sweden in the Nations League, was from Fener - left-back Hasan Kaldirim.  At the 2002 World Cup when Turkey reached the semi-finals, four Fenerbahce players were in their squad. Koc, an extremely wealthy businessman educated at Harrow boarding school in England, bemoans: 'Nobody could have predicted this crisis. I apologise for the suffering that has been caused.' The last time Fenerbahce finished outside the top three places was in 2009. The club haven't won in their last nine games, a run dating back to November because of the winter break. While the Europa League has provided some solace - Fenerbahce qualified for the knockout stages and will face Zenit St Petersburg in the last 32 - their league form has been dreadful. The low point was a 3-0 defeat at Caykur Rizespor in October, a result that got Dutch coach Phillip Cocu sacked. Former Turkey international manager Ersun Yanal is in charge now but things haven't got any better yet. He wants new recruits in January and landed Moses this week. Comolli also tried to buy Divock Origi from Liverpool last summer. When Comolli signed Ayew on loan, he hailed the 'talented and energetic' forward. Yet Ayew has scored only four goals in 17 games and Slimani's record is even worse, three in 19. Only two teams in the Turkish league have managed fewer goals overall than the 17 in 18 matches netted by Fenerbahce. Fenerbahce's next game this weekend is at home to third-place Yeni Malatyaspor. Nobody expects them to be relegated – it's almost unthinkable. But it did happen to Manchester United back in 1974.
diydimp
0
All experienced players are in Fernabache(Skrtel, Soldado, Van Persie, Ayew, etc) but I think age is the problem...😕
van is know more with ferns he now plays in holland
Hieacimsz
1
it's all on martin skirtl. u saw him play for liverpool and u know what i mean
mulije
3
All experienced players are in Fernabache(Skrtel, Soldado, Van Persie, Ayew, etc) but I think age is the problem...😕
Hunterron
0
Hahahaha did you forget any team that the Ayews join is likely to be a relegation threat , check history for the ayews
Count ....Marseille, West Ham.....and they all went into relegation right....shame on you
theaction
0
550m debt? The club is finished. Will have to come back under a different guise one way or another.
Could just get the council to buy the training ground for 550m and then build them a new one. Worked in Spain.
Tatejuan
1
Modern football for you, massive clubs no longer safe
Radionicse
5
Good article, wish you did more like this rather than what new celebration Jesse Lingard has been practicing on social media
klcom
2
Hahahaha did you forget any team that the Ayews join is likely to be a relegation threat , check history for the ayews
destinat
1
I was hoping they would buy Ozil as well....
runaway
1
This is what happens when clubs listen to their fans. Spend spend spend is all they say.
kevery33
1
All this and flares every game, no sign of intervention on all the issues by UEFA and certainly FFP is never mentioned. WHY UEFA WHY
meadow
1
Run by men with very big ego's to feed
unknow
2
We could end up seeing Fenerbahce, Monaco, Bilbao and Villarreal all relegated this season
Eddiegaddis
1
Soon as I saw Damien comolli's name it all started to make sense
Nicholaa
0
Run by men with very big ego's to feed
Erlang
0
Run by men with very big ego's to feed
Dukekill
0
550m debt? The club is finished. Will have to come back under a different guise one way or another.
leavessS
0
Since Skrtel moved there they have struggled and not won a trophy. Before that they were top. He got sent off in last game. He's a liability just like he was with Liverpool. We looked poor in defence when he was playing with us.
redboy21
0
When you've got soldado as your number striker, you know you have problems..
sheratonen
0
Funded by the masses of turkish restaurants suddenly trading in the UK or are they for another purpose.
Kongka
0
They need Sam Alladyce clearly!
wozenme
0
550m debt and match fixing allegations and Man Utd mentioned in the same article...not for the first time
heroz
2
Their case is almost similar to Monaco FC of France
and shalke and Valencia
nonimtyz
1
The squad is weak but not that weak to be relegated. They recently assigned a new manager who made them champions 5 years ago. I think they will finish 10th or so this season and will be favourites to win the title next year. It requires selling many players and buying many who are not so old. Moses is a good starting point imo.
Edoo87
1
its horobile season
davyquan
0
this team i don't know what going on they turn in to Monaco
Divyansh26
5
Their case is almost similar to Monaco FC of France