Big Three (Turkey)

The Big Three (Turkish: Üç büyükler)[1] is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in Turkey, all three based in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. The football teams of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray have a great rivalry, and are usually the main contenders for the title. Combined they share a total of 54 out of 61 Turkish Super League Championships. None of them have been relegated from the Süper Lig either, having been participants in all editions since 1959 season; the lowest position any of them has earned is 10th, Fenerbahçe, while Beşiktaş and Galatasaray's lowest positions have been 11th.

Only two other clubs outside the big three have won the Turkish league, with Trabzonspor having the fourth most national titles behind the Big Three in the Turkey with 6 in total, and Bursaspor having won the Süper Lig once in 2009-10 season. Galatasaray have the most cups.

The three-way rivalry

Locations of Big Three within Istanbul

Beşiktaş vs. Fenerbahçe

Beşiktaş vs. Galatasaray

Fenerbahçe vs. Galatasaray

Players who have played for the three clubs

  • Turkey Refik Osman Top (Beşiktaş 1912–1913 & 1923-1924, Fenerbahçe 1913–1915 & 1923, Galatasaray 1915-1917 & 1921-1922 & 1923 & 1924)
  • Turkey Ali Soydan (Galatasaray 1951-1957, Fenerbahçe 1959–1960, Beşiktaş 1963-1964)
  • Turkey Saffet Sancaklı (Beşiktaş 1987–1991, Galatasaray 1994-1995, Fenerbahçe 1996–1998)
  • Turkey Sergen Yalçın (Beşiktaş 1991–1997 & 2002-2006, Fenerbahçe 1999–2000, Galatasaray 2000 & 2001-02)
  • Turkey Ahmet Yıldırım (Fenerbahçe 1993–1994, Galatasaray 1999-2001, Beşiktaş 2001-2005)
  • Turkey Emre Aşık (Fenerbahçe 1993–1996, Galatasaray 2000-2003 & 2006-2010, Beşiktaş 2003-2006)
  • Turkey Mehmet Yozgatlı (Galatasaray 1999-2000, Fenerbahçe 2004–2007, Beşiktaş 2007-2008)
  • Turkey Burak Yılmaz (Beşiktaş 2006–2008, Fenerbahçe 2008–2010, Galatasaray 2012-2016)
  • Turkey Caner Erkin (Galatasaray 2009–2010, Fenerbahçe 2010–2016, Beşiktaş 2016-)

Managers who have managed the three clubs

  • Turkey Mustafa Denizli (Galatasaray 1987-1989 & 1990-1992 & 2015-2016, Fenerbahçe 2000–2002, Beşiktaş 2008-2010)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "'Üç büyükler' dünyada ilk 50'ye girdi". ZAMAN. 2 November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
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