Greece–Turkey football rivalry

Greece and Turkey have long-standing tensions throughout history.

The Ottoman Empire conquered most of Greece gradually in the 15th century, and throughout its history, Greeks were treated unequally by the Ottomans. The Greek War of Independence broke out in 1821, overthrowing the Ottoman rule and became the first Balkan and European nation to set free themselves from the Turks.[1][2] By that time, the Greek identity was soon strengthened and a number of conflicts occurred between Turkey and Greece existed from the 1830s onward.

In 1919, with the collapse of the Ottoman state, Greece attempted to conquer Western Turkey, in their accordance to the Megali Idea, and both the Greeks and Turks caused atrocities on each other. Greeks ended up defeated by the Turks and were expelled back to Greece.[3] Efforts from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Eleftherios Venizelos helped establish official relations between Greece and Turkey.[4] The grievance, however, returned with the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, as Turkey divided Northern Cyprus, a majority Turkish-populated region, from majority Greek-populated Cyprus.[5]

Due to historical grievances, Greece and Turkey have a heated rivalry, though less violent than Greece or Turkey's other rivalries. Both teams are also described as "punching above their weights", due to their successes despite lack of competitive history in football.

Many Greek and Turkish players over the years have commented and given their opinions on the Greco-Turkish derby and its intensity.

• "We were prisoners to them, but at the end of the day we won."- Stelios Giannakopoulos

• "As children, we were taught that Greeks are our enemies."- Ridvan Dilmen

• Greece–Turkey relations