Galatasaray S.K. (football)

Galatasaray (Turkish pronunciation: [ɡaɫatasaˈɾaj]) is a quarter in Karaköy in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn. Its name comes from that of Galata, which may in turn have derived from Galatai (meaning the "Galatians"), as the Celtic tribes were thought to have camped at Galata during the Hellenistic period before settling in Galatia in central Anatolia. Galatasaray translates directly as "Galata Palace" (saray means "palace" in Persian). Galatasaray High School, established in the area in 1481, was the progenitor of Galatasaray S.K. as well as other institutions of Galatasaray Community.[29]

Galatasaray is a compound word and is pronounced as such, with a very brief pause between the two words.[30] There is no diminutive form of the club's name. Fans refer to the club either by its full name or by its nickname Cim-Bom(-Bom)—pronounced [dʒim bom (bom)])—of uncertain etymology. However, the shortened form "Gala" is sometimes used by English speakers.

Galatasaray's "classic" home kit

The Galatasaray home kit have always been fundamentally the same since 1908. The traditional shirt of Galatasaray is the eight-piece halved design. This consists of the shirt’s front, back and sleeves being made up of two colours, resulting in the shirt being split into eight parts. (Two same colours are never next to each other within the 8 parts.) The colours continue in an alternating order, from yellow to red. This results in the front of the shirt being the opposite of the back and the shirt also having an halved design from the side. This alternating colour order of eight parts creates a complete halved design for the shirt.[35] The classic eight-piece halved design would become the look of Galatasaray for around 80 years, until 1985 when sportswear manufacturer Adidas began to provide the shirts and the sleeves were made up by one colour and not halved. Created over a century ago, the classic Galatasaray kit combination consists of the eight-piece halved traditional shirt, white shorts and red socks and are usually worn as part of the home strp.[35] This changed in the mid-1980s, when sportswear manufacturer Adidas began to provide the shirts. The club reverted to the "classic" kit in 2012.[35][36] The official colours are Pantone shades 1235 (yellow) and 201 (red).[37]

Galatasaray's kit is manufactured by Nike, who have held the contract since 2011. Previous kit manufacturers have been: Çamlıca (1978–79); Adidas (1978–82, 1984–91, 1995–2001, and 2005–11); Umbro (1979–81, 1982–83, 1991–95, and 2002–05); Puma (1980–81); Gola (1981–82); Fatih (1984–85); and Lotto (2001–02).

Since 2019, Galatasaray's shirt sponsors have been Terra Pizza. Previous sponsors include: Volvo and PeReJa (1977–78); Halı Fleks (1979–80); Telefunken, Alo, and THY (1980–81); Borsaş and Meban (1981–83); Telefunken (1983–84); Modell's (1984–85); Denizbank (1984–86); TürkBank (1986–91); ADEC Saat (1991–92); SHOW TV (1991–95); Emek Sigorta (1992–95); VakıfBank (1995–97); Bank Ekspres (1997–98); Marshall (1998–2000); Telsim (2000–01); Aria (2001–04); Avea (2004–09); Türk Telekom (2009–14); Huawei (2014–2015), nef (2016–2019), Terra Pizza (2019–2020) and sixt (2020–) for domestic matches and since 2014 for UEFA Champions League matches Turkish Airlines.

When Galatasaray were formed no Turkish teams had their own home ground, and all games in the Istanbul Football League took place at Papazın Çayırı – now the site of Fenerbahçe's Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. In 1921 the city's first proper football stadium was constructed, Taksim Stadium, which was used as the home ground for all of Istanbul's teams.[38] When historic Taksim Stadium was demolished in 1940, Galatasaray decided to build a large, modern stadium. Due to difficulties stemming from World War II, construction was delayed for over two decades. In this period, they played in Şeref Stadi and Dolmabahçe Stadi On 20 December 1964, Ali Sami Yen Stadium opened.[39] Named after the founder of Galatasaray, Ali Sami Yen, it is in the Mecidiyeköy quarter of the Şişli district at the center of the city. In 1964, the stadium had capacity over 35,000. Due to improvements in security and prohibition of non-seater spectators, the all-seater capacity reduced to 22,000 in 1993. A few years later, the rebuilt of main stand, which was damaged by an earthquake, slightly increased the capacity.[40] After 2002, when Atatürk Olympic Stadium was built for Istanbul's Olympic Games bid, Galatasaray started to play European Cup matches there. The attendance record among Turkish stadiums was broken there, in Galatasaray–Olympiacos match played in front of 79,414 spectators. Yet, Ali Sami Yen Stadium has historic importance for Galatasaray fans although it is smaller and older.[41] The stadium was in 2011 demolished after Galatsaray moved to the newly built Türk Telekom Stadium.

The new home ground of Galatasaray is the newly built Türk Telekom Stadium in the Seyrantepe area of Sarıyer.[42] It is also known as Ali Samiyen Spor Kompleksi. The new stadium, which was opened 15 January 2011, has a capacity of 52,223 seats, making it the largest private stadium used by a club in Turkey.[43]

Since 1992, after every goal scored by Galatasaray, the last part of the song "I Will Survive" by the Hermes House Band is played. Although the song is in English, the part used has no lyrics except "la la la la". In addition, before every game the Galatasaray War Chant is played accompanied by what the fans call a "scarf show" where fans display and wave their Galatasaray scarves, banners and flags. Many people call the Turk Telekom Stadium 'Cehennem' (hell) because of stadium anthems and the continuous roar of the fans.

Galatasaray fans

Galatasaray fans attach high importance to European competitions, and Galatasaray is known as the Conqueror of Europe by their fans. This nickname underlines the importance of the UEFA Cup and Super Cup Galatasaray managed to win during the 1999–2000 season. Galatasaray fans also have a reputation in Europe as being one of the most fanatic in the world, along with ultrAslan. Ryan Giggs once said I've never experienced anything like Galatasaray. Three hours before kick-off, we went out to have a look at the pitch and the stadium was overcrowded! The chanting was brilliant: one side starts, then the other, then quiet, then all of them chanting! The players really enjoyed it. Before it was good, after it wasn't for us.'[45][46]

Galatasaray fans broke the "loudest crowd roar at a sport stadium" record on 18 March 2011 at Galatasaray's new stadium Türk Telekom Stadium in Istanbul. A peak reading of 140.76 dBA was recorded.[47]

The poll in June 2012 placed Galatasaray in the first place with a 41.8% level of popularity while Fenerbahçe S.K. comes second with a 35.9% level, Beşiktaş J.K. third with 16.3% and Trabzonspor fourth with 4.7%.[48][49] The same result was announced in another poll dated September 2019 which included a sample of 7500 Turkish people.[50]

"The big three" clubs of Istanbul – Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray – have a century-long history of rivalry. The Galatasaray–Fenerbahçe rivalry is the primary Istanbul derby and the most important rivalry in Turkish football.[51] The rivalry poses a symbolic importance to supporters due to an assumed superiority that comes with winning the derby. Supporters are often quoted as stating that winning the league without winning the derby is hollow. There is always huge interest in the derby due to its fierce nature on and off the pitch. Many documentaries have been made about the derby including an episode of The Real Football Factories International. The rivalry has led to violence among supporters on numerous occasions, though this has been on the decline in recent years. The typical features of derby days include sell out stadiums, loud support throughout the match and taunting choreography displays by supporters before kick off.[52] Other top level İstanbul derbies include the teams; İstanbul BB and Kasımpaşa although these teams pose a minor rivalry as the history and the nationwide attention to the derbies among the big three is unmatched.

Torches, smoke, drums, flags and giant posters are used to create visual grandeur and apply psychological pressure on visiting teams, which fans call "welcoming them to hell".[53]

• Süper Lig

Champions (22): 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, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19 (record)

Runners-up (10): 1959, 1960–61, 1965–66, 1974–75, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1990–91, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2013–14

• Turkish Cup

Winners (18): 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2004–05, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19 (record)

Runners-up (5): 1968–69, 1979–80, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98

• Presidential Cup/Turkish Super Cup

Winners (16): 1966, 1969, 1972, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 (record)

Runners-up (9): 1971, 1973, 1976, 1985, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018

• Turkish National Division

Winners: 1939

Runners-up (5): 1937, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1950

• Turkish Football Championship

Runners-up: 1949

• Atatürk Cup

Runners-up: 2000

• UEFA Cup

Winners: 1999–2000

• UEFA Super Cup

Winners: 2000

• FIFA Millenium Cup

Winners: 2000 (record)

• Emirates Cup

Winners: 2013

• Uhren Cup

Winners: 2016

• THY Antalya Cup

Winners: 2014

• Obi Cup

Winners: 2007

• Doubles
  • Süper Lig and Türkiye Kupası: 1962–63, 1972–73, 1998–99
• Trebles
  • Süper Lig, Türkiye Kupası and TFF Süper Kupa: 1992–93, 2014–15, 2018–19
• Trebles
  • Süper Lig, Türkiye Kupası and UEFA Europa League: 1999–2000

• Istanbul Football League

Winners (15): 1908–09, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1921–22, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1948–49, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1957–58

• Istanbul Football Cup

Winners: 1941–42, 1942–43 (shared-record)

• Istanbul Shield

Winners: 1932–33

• Union Club Cup

Winners: 1909 (record)

• Turkish Amateur Football Championship

Winners: 1952

• TSYD Cup

Winners (12): 1963, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999 (shared-record)

Runners-up (9): 1965, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1991

• Prime Minister's Cup

Winners (5): 1975, 1979, 1986, 1990, 1995

Runners-up (2): 1980, 1989

• Atatürk Gazi Cup

Winners: 1928 (record)

• 50. Yıl Kupası

Winners: 1973 (record)

As of 29 November 2019[54]

Rank	Team	Points
61	BSC Young Boys	24,500
62	FC BATE Borisov	24,000
63	Galatasaray	23,500
64	FK Crvena zvezda	22,750
65	AS Saint-Étienne	22,000

As of 1 February 2021[55]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  URU Fernando Muslera (Captain) 2 DF  TUR Şener Özbayraklı 3 DF  NOR Omar Elabdellaoui 4 MF  TUR Taylan Antalyalı 7 FW  NGA Henry Onyekuru (on loan from AS Monaco) 8 FW  NED Ryan Babel 9 FW  COL Radamel Falcao 10 MF  MAR Younès Belhanda 11 FW  TUR Halil Dervişoğlu (on loan from Brentford) 13 MF  NGA Peter Etebo (on loan from Stoke City) 14 DF  NOR Martin Linnes 15 MF  NED Ryan Donk (Vice-captain) 17 FW  TUR Oğulcan Çağlayan 18 FW  TUR Kerem Aktürkoğlu 19 MF  TUR Ömer Bayram

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  TUR Emre Akbaba 22 DF  USA DeAndre Yedlin 23 DF  TUR Emre Taşdemir 27 DF  COD Christian Luyindama 31 FW  EGY Mostafa Mohamed (on loan from Zamalek) 34 GK  TUR Okan Kocuk 36 DF  URU Marcelo Saracchi (on loan from RB Leipzig) 45 DF  BRA Marcão Teixeira 49 DF  NGA Valentine Ozornwafor 54 MF  TUR Emre Kılınç 66 MF  TUR Arda Turan (3rd captain) 83 MF  POR Gedson Fernandes (on loan from Benfica) 89 MF  ALG Sofiane Feghouli 99 GK  FRA Fatih Öztürk

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 51 GK  TUR Jankat Yılmaz 56 GK  TUR Kerem Ersunar

No. Pos. Nation Player 60 DF  TUR Metehan Baltacı 63 FW  TUR Bartuğ Elmaz 87 MF  TUR Göktan Işılak

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 12 GK  TUR Batuhan Şen (on loan at Menemenspor until 31st May 2021) 21 MF  SWE Jimmy Durmaz (on loan at Fatih Karagümrük SK until 31st May 2021) 30 MF  TUR Atalay Babacan (on loan at Adanaspor until 31st May 2021) 35 FW  TUR Yunus Akgün (on loan at Adana Demirspor until 31st May 2021) 37 DF  TUR Süleyman Luş (on loan at Şanlıurfaspor until 31st May 2021) 40 DF  TUR Emin Bayram (on loan at Boluspor until 31st May 2021) 43 DF  TUR Kaan Arslan (on loan at Ergene Velimeşe until 31st May 2021) 44 GK  TUR İsmail Çipe (on loan at Kayserispor until 31st May 2021) 46 DF  TUR Gökay Güney (on loan at Bandırmaspor until 31st May 2021) 47 DF  TUR Abdussamed Karnuçu (on loan at Tarsus İdman Yurdu until 31st May 2021) 48 DF  TUR Emirhan Civelek (on loan at Akhisarspor until 31st May 2021)

No. Pos. Nation Player 52 GK  TUR Berk Balaban (on loan at Ankaraspor until 31st May 2021) 53 MF  TUR Mustafa Fettahoğlu (on loan at Ankara Demirspor until 31st May 2021) 61 MF  TUR Metehan Mertöz (on loan at Kırklarelispor until 31st May 2021) 64 MF  TUR Ferhan Evren (on loan at Afyonspor until 31st May 2021) 77 MF  NGA Jesse Sekidika (on loan at Konyaspor until 31st May 2021) 80 FW  TUR Ali Yavuz Kol (on loan at Denizlispor until 31st May 2021) 90 FW  SEN Mbaye Diagne (on loan at West Bromwich Albion F.C. until 31st May 2021) — DF  TUR Ercan Şirin (on loan at Serik Belediyespor until 31st May 2021) — MF  TUR Erkan Süer (on loan at Turgutluspor until 31st May 2021) — MF  TUR Recep Gül (on loan at Şanlıurfaspor until 31st May 2021)