Galatasaray is at the forefront of Türkiye’s resurgence, with Manchester City in their crosshairs.
Turkish football is experiencing a revival, and Galatasaray is set to arrive in Manchester this week with the intention of demonstrating their role in this resurgence.
A surge of youthful talent, spearheaded by Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Kenan Yildiz from Juventus, has propelled Türkiye to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024—marking the first time they have advanced beyond the group stage in over 15 years. In March, they will compete in a World Cup playoff to secure a spot in their first global tournament since their third-place finish in 2002.
Galatasaray, one of Türkiye’s “big three” clubs alongside Fenerbahçe and Besiktas, is also confronting historical challenges. Despite clinching Türkiye’s national title 26 times—including each of the last three years—it has been 12 years since they advanced past the group stage of the Champions League.
Okan Buruk’s team has nearly secured their position in the top 24 this season, thanks to a draw at home against Atlético Madrid in their most recent match.
This means they will face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday without the burden of needing a result to qualify, but with a significant opportunity to make another mark for football in Türkiye.
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Pep Guardiola was sufficiently concerned to rest Erling Haaland and Phil Foden for the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. The implication was clear: with a place in the top eight at stake, City requires their top players to be fit and ready to tackle the challenge posed by the Turkish champions.
“We’re heading into the match following the draw against Atlético Madrid—it’s not 100%—but at least we have the confidence that we are almost in the top 24,” Galatasaray first-team coach Ismael García told ESPN.
“We are approaching this with what I refer to as reduced negative pressure, and now all the pressure is positive. Positive in our aim to reach the top 16, positive in our desire to perform well against Manchester City.”
“It appears quite challenging, but simultaneously, we maintain a very optimistic mindset regarding our capabilities.”
Galatasaray, rejuvenated since Buruk’s appointment as manager in 2022, has made substantial investments to translate their recent domestic success into achievements on the European front. Victor Osimhen was signed permanently from Napoli in the summer following a successful loan period, while Leroy Sané and Ilkay Gündogan were brought in from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, respectively.
Internally, there was some astonishment at Galatasaray that they managed to finalize a deal for Osimhen despite competition from the financial powerhouses of the Premier League. Interest had been shown at various times by Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as Barcelona and Juventus, but Galatasaray successfully completed the transfer.
In Türkiye, this transfer is viewed as evidence that the country can attract prominent players, not just those considered at the end of their careers. Galatasaray’s last appearance in the Champions League quarterfinals was in 2013, featuring a squad that included Didier Drogba, who was 35 at that time.
“Ultimately, I believe this is a result of our success,” García stated. “In the past year, we have been performing well, which is drawing the attention of quality players. When you achieve good results, you attract good players. Additionally, it’s a massive club with incredible fans and a beautiful city in Istanbul, which is appealing to any player.”
“In Türkiye, I sense that a shift is occurring now. Perhaps 10 or 15 years ago, Türkiye could attract top players, but likely only towards the latter stages of their careers. Now we have Osimhen and Sané. Tammy Abraham has moved to Aston Villa after his time at Besiktas. Jhon Durán [at Fenerbahce] is at a promising stage in his career.”
“This is something that the people in Türkiye should take great pride in.”
However, challenges persist. The national football framework continually grapples with a reputation for corruption and disorder. This is not unfounded.
In December 2023, Turkish football officials suspended all matches after a referee was assaulted by a club president following a Süper Lig game. Additionally, in November, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended over 1,000 professional players amid a betting investigation.
The fervent support for which Türkiye is known has occasionally escalated into violence, and there have been instances of teams leaving the pitch in protest against refereeing decisions, reminiscent of the incidents that marred the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco.
“Things could certainly improve,” García acknowledged. “I still believe that the potential within Türkiye, both in clubs and the national team, could be enhanced with better planning and organization in key areas of football.”
“It could be better, but at least progress is being made. We must hold ourselves to high standards because I see significant potential for improvement.”
“We observe growth. We feel it. This is also positively impacting the national team. The national team participated in the European championship and is now in a position to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002. The advancement of the league, the clubs, and the competition is benefiting the national team.”
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Türkiye’s national team has climbed to 25th in the FIFA World Ranking, up from 42 prior to Euro 2024. UEFA’s club coefficient rankings currently place their domestic league in ninth this season, trailing the established top five leagues in England, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France, and also ranking lower than the Netherlands, Portugal, and Belgium.
In this context, Galatasaray, even with a roster filled with recognizable names, continues to act as Champions League disruptors. They excel in this role.
They achieved victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2023 and defeated Tottenham Hotspur at home last season. This season, alongside their draw against Atlético, they secured a 1-0 win against Liverpool in September and triumphed 3-0 against Ajax in Amsterdam in November, thanks to a hat trick from Osimhen.
Guardiola will be eager to avoid a two-legged playoff in February, making this match significant for City. For Galatasaray, it presents another opportunity to demonstrate their ability to compete with the elite.
“This year, I believe that all of us, particularly the club, have made a significant effort to strengthen the squad,” García remarked.
“It has been 12 years since the club last advanced to the next round in the Champions League.
“So this is a monumental step. Our ambition now is to perform well against City. After that, we feel prepared to face any challenge.”
