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 55 out of 62 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.

Beşiktaş, Vodafone Park
Fenerbahçe, Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium
Galatasaray, Türk Telekom Stadium

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
Main article: Beşiktaş–Fenerbahçe rivalry

Beşiktaş vs. Galatasaray
Main article: Beşiktaş–Galatasaray rivalry

Fenerbahçe vs. Galatasaray
Main article: The Intercontinental Derby

Trophies
Team Major National International Grand Total
TSL TC TSC National Total EL USC International Total
Galatasaray2218165611258
Fenerbahçe196934---34
Beşiktaş159832---32
Last update following the 2018–19 season.

Players who have played for the three clubs
  • Refik Osman Top (Beşiktaş 1912–1913 & 1923-1924, Fenerbahçe 1913–1915 & 1923, Galatasaray 1915-1917 & 1921-1922 & 1923 & 1924)
  • Ali Soydan (Galatasaray 1951-1957, Fenerbahçe 1959–1960, Beşiktaş 1963-1964)
  • Saffet Sancaklı (Beşiktaş 1987–1991, Galatasaray 1994-1995, Fenerbahçe 1996–1998)
  • Sergen Yalçın (Beşiktaş 1991–1997 & 2002-2006, Fenerbahçe 1999–2000, Galatasaray 2000 & 2001-02)
  • Ahmet Yıldırım (Fenerbahçe 1993–1994, Galatasaray 1999-2001, Beşiktaş 2001-2005)
  • Emre Aşık (Fenerbahçe 1993–1996, Galatasaray 2000-2003 & 2006-2010, Beşiktaş 2003-2006)
  • Mehmet Yozgatlı (Galatasaray 1999-2000, Fenerbahçe 2004–2007, Beşiktaş 2007-2008)
  • Burak Yılmaz (Beşiktaş 2006–2008 & 2019–, Fenerbahçe 2008–2010, Galatasaray 2012-2016)
  • Caner Erkin (Galatasaray 2009–2010, Fenerbahçe 2010–2016, Beşiktaş 2016-)

Managers who have managed the three clubs
  • 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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