With a 3-0 win over Kayserispor, the most successful team in Turkish football history Galatasaray clinched a record-extending 25th Super Lig title, capping off a remarkable season for the Istanbul giants which has seen them complete the domestic double.
On Wednesday, Galatasaray crushed Trabzonspor 3-0 to win a 19th Turkish Cup - also more than anyone else. They followed that up with a superb performance in front of their fans this evening, as they celebrated their third league title in a row.
It has been a sensational campaign for Okan Buruk and his men in Turkey, losing just a single game across the two competitions (2-1 at Besiktas). Fending off a Fenerbahce team led by Jose Mourinho, they can enjoy the final couple of games of the season against Goztepe and Istanbul Basaksehir.
But how did they become champions of Turkey again? What were the key contributing factors to their success in the Super Lig?
An exceptional squad
Victor Osimhen and Davinson Sanchez embraceAA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia
Simply put, Galatasaray have the best players and squad in the Super Lig. 38-year-old club legend Fernando Muslera may be ageing and not the goalkeeper he used to be, but he still has plenty of experience and provides big moments.
Davinson Sanchez, in the heart of defence, has found his feet in Turkey after a tough end to his Tottenham Hotspur career, proving himself as the best in his position in the country. His partner, Abdulkerim Bardakci, is the best Turkish centre-back, while Ismail Jakobs and Eren Elmali are two fine left backs.
Mario Lemina has been a transformative addition since signing in January, and former Arsenal player Lucas Torreira has forged a superb partnership with him. Torreira had never scored more than a single goal in a Super Lig campaign before this season, but with the addition of Lemina, he has been given more freedom, resulting in five goals.
Gabriel Sara has added a touch of class since joining from Norwich for a club record €18 million last summer, and although his form has tailed off in the last few months, he still has bags of quality and is a set-piece specialist.
Dries Mertens alongside Mario LeminaANP / ddp USA / Profimedia
Dries Mertens, 38, has popped up with moments of magic, while Turkish wingers Baris Alper Yilmaz and Yunus Akgun have enjoyed fabulous seasons. The former has scored 11 league goals, while the latter has provided 10 assists.
Mauro Icardi has been exceptional for Galatasaray since joining in 2022, scoring 51 league goals in 65 appearances. However, he suffered a season-ending injury in November, which could have been a potentially fatal blow for the club. But thankfully, they found a certain striker called Victor Osimhen.
Galatasaray took advantage of the fact that the Turkish transfer window remained open longer than others around Europe, signing the Nigerian striker from Napoli on loan for the season after a deal broke down to join Chelsea.
One of the biggest and most impactful signings in Super Lig history, rarely has the league seen a player of this quality join their league at their peak. And he has been remarkable - proving to be almost a cheat code.
With 36 goals in all competitions, he broke the record for most goals scored by a foreign player in Turkey. One of the best strikers in the world, he has run defenders ragged with his freakish athleticism and ability on the ball.
He is leading the Super Lig goalscoring standings with 25 goals, and Galatasaray fans have desperately pleaded with the player to stay at the club once his spell comes to an end. He has fallen in love with the club, and the club has fallen in love with him, but he is sure to have plenty of interest from the best teams in the world. He has said he will make his decision at the end of the season.
These players have been the stars of the show, but others have contributed too, including Roland Sallai, Kaan Ayhan and Alvaro Morata - who has made a number of vital cameos off the bench.
Okan Buruk man management
Galatasaray manager Okan BurukABDULHAMID HOSBAS / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP / Profimedia
Galatasaray fans have a complicated relationship with manager Okan Buruk. On the face of it, he has won three consecutive league titles as well as a Turkish Cup during his three years in charge. What is there to complain about?
However, as a club, the team in red and yellow always expect to be competitive in Europe. During Okan's tenure, that has not been the case. Over the years, they have either lost or drawn matches to Copenhagen, Sparta Prague, Young Boys, RFS, Dynamo Kyiv and AZ Alkmaar, which have derailed their European campaign. They haven't won a single match in a European knockout round.
So although fans appreciate what their legendary former player has done domestically, they expect far more of him in Europe, especially with the calibre of players they have.
A lot of that is down to his lack of tactical acumen and not always knowing what his best team is, which leaves them short on the European stage.
But one massive plus point about Okan is his man management. He has created a wonderful environment and harmony in the squad. From the starting XI all the way down to the bench players, he has a fantastic ability to keep everyone happy and get the best out of them.
This has worked wonders in Turkey, as they play with freedom and are able to topple anyone that stands in their way. Of course, man management can't always take you over the line in Europe, but in the league, it has proven to be more than enough.
Champion mentality
Galatasaray players celebrate their Turkish Cup winČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Seskimphoto
A lot of these players have been here and done this before. They understand how Turkish football works, and the constant noise and pressure that circulates in it. Instead of getting into a war of words like Mourinho and Fenerbahce have, they have stayed focused on their goal all season.
It would be easy to get caught up in all the drama, but the players and manager have been steadfast in the idea that they will do their talking on the pitch. Players like Muslera, Sanchez, Abdulkerim, Torreira, Mertens and Icardi, to name just a few, have experienced what it is like to be in a title race with a Fenerbahce team that gets involved in a lot of conspiracy theories, and they haven't let it distract them.
When they experienced a dip in form in the middle of the season and looked to be stumbling a bit, they rebounded in champion's style, beating Fenerbahce in the cup and winning their last nine games in a row.
When it really mattered towards the end of the season, they hit top gear, and that's what all the best teams do during a run-in.
They have behaved like champions, and as a result, they are champions once more.
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