Futbol-u Alîye-i Osmânîye: The Sublime Ottoman Football

[Godescalco]

One of my all time favourites.

The great Bull of the Bosphorus.

Legendary striker for Galatasaray. Şükür is of Kosovar Albanian origin, by the way.

[Sum41]

Come to Besiktas!

[BCaldeira]

Come to Besiktas!

BAM! BAM! BAM!

[Godescalco]

The story of Hakan Şükür, the Albanian hero of Turkey, today declared a traitor

http://www.ocnal.com/2018/02/the-story-of-hakan-sukur-albanian-hero.html



There is a famous picture in Turkey, taken at the wedding of one of the country's biggest players, a UEFA Cup winner and the player who led the team to the World Cup semi-finals.

In the photo is Hakan Şükür and beside him, there are two "witnesses", current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the cleric Fethullah Gülen. A marriage is supposed to be one of the most important points in a man's life, but it was not like this for the well-known footballer. The woman with whom he married then has died while her father was imprisoned. The player is now in exile.

If he ever returns to his homeland, he will face charges of insulting the president and rebellion against the government. Would face life imprisonment. Şükür is in danger of the death penalty. He will never see his father again and with him has lost his place.

Many players have had a downfall in life, but nothing can be compared to Şükür's story of both the heights and the depths he touched. He was a legend, called the "Bull of the Bosphorus," in a place where the players eat, drink and sleep.

He was also the record scorer for Galatasaray and his country. Fans of other Turkish giants, Fenerbahçe and Besiktas respected him. He played 9 times for Blackburn Rovers in the 2002-03 season, scoring twice. He gained fame in the 2002 World Cup, scoring against South Korea at 10.8 seconds in the playoffs. It was the fastest goal in an international tournament.

After closing his career at the age 36, he worked as an expert and then entered politics. Şükür represented the religious and conservative AKP, the ruling party today. But suddenly, the picture came out of focus, and all that was achieved was multiplied by zero.

His marriage ended with divorce. Former wife Esra lost her life in the 1999 earthquake that took the lives of at least 17,000 people in Izmir and Istanbul.

Şükür was an expert at TRT, the national television channel. He was aware and appeared serious, always interesting and intriguing in his comments. He married again and had three children. His political views made him deputy for the Justice and Development Party, Erdogan's Party. But Şükür maintained a close relationship with Gülen, the other man in the wedding photo.

In 2013, when the government decided to shut down schools, a type of training center run by the "Hizmet" movement, Şükür resigned from the governing party and passed as an independent MP. Football seemed too far and at this time the first problems started. He faced many controversies especially during a university audience.

"I am Albanian, as such I am not a Turk," dangerous words at the best time in a country where words like "Albanian" and "Kurd" can be seen as against the prevailing nationalism.

In 2016 Şükür was charged with insulting the president on social media. A trial in absentia began in June. Şükür insisted he did not intend to offend the president, but prosecutors said Twitter posts were clearly related to Erdogan.

The failed coup of the state occurred in July. More than 300 people lost their lives. In the months that followed, 120,000 people lost their jobs and 50,000 were arrested. Anyone who liked Gülen was suspected. An arrest warrant was issued for Şükür in August.

Prosecutors in Sakarya province accused him as members of an armed terrorist group, Anatolian state agency said, referring to what Ankara calls a terrorist organization.

Şükür had a chance to give up on Gülen and secure his freedom and security. Şükür's father, Selmet, was captured in a mosque in Adapazari and was charged with financial coup support. Their possessions were confiscated.

Şükür managed to escape the US. In June his father was reportedly dead of cancer without regaining freedom. Şükür remains in exile, surrounded by the memories of an excellent football career. But a sensible man who lost Turkey when he played abroad finds his missing name at the place he once went to the stadium and on the street, writes The Guardian.

[Faliro]

Ever thought an 11 made only of German born Turks could get to the Semis of a major tournament?

[Pokrl]

Champignon Galasataray 

[Godescalco]

Basaksehir blew it today by drawing at home with Sivasspor.

Chance now for Galatasaray to pull clear if they manage to win or draw at Akhisarspor. Fenerbahçe can also catch Basaksehir in the table if they win against Bursaspor at home.

Great win for Kasimpasa in Trabzon today. 5-2! What a beating.

[Pokrl]

Champignon Galasataray 

[Covenant]

Black Eagle, are you there?

[Faliro]

Really want Fener to be relegated but I know it is a long shot.

[Godescalco]

Really want Fener to be relegated but I know it is a long shot.

It won't happen. Fener is too big.

In any case, the season has been a disaster for them so far.

[Godescalco]

Chelsea Outcast Fabregas Holds Talks With Damien Comolli Over January Transfer To Turkey

https://turkish-football.com/chelsea-outcast-fabregas-holds-talks-with-damien-comolli-over-january-transfer-to-turkey-fenerbahce/



Fenerbahçe sporting director Damien Comolli has held talks with Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas' agent Darren Dein according to the Fanatik. Per the source, Fenerbahçe want to complete the move in January after a torrid start to the season.

The Yellow Canaries are currently 17th in the league, just one place above last place. Fenerbahçe club president Ali Koc is hoping to reach an agreement with Financial Fair Play over a plan that would allow them to spend again in January.

The Istanbul giants are planning to ship out several players and make transfers over the winter transfer window to turn around the fortunes of the team. The report also claims that AC Milan are no longer interested in Fabregas after targeting Lucas Paqueta.

Fabregas has under a year remaining on his contract and the Blues have yet to offer an extension. The Spaniard is likely to leave the Premier League outfit considering he has lost his place in the first-team.

Fabregas has started just one of the Blues last four league games. In total, he has played just 138 minutes of Premier League football this term. The 31-year-old has one goal and two assists in all competitions for the London based side.

[Godescalco]

Ersun Yanal is the new Fenerbahçe coach.

He was the last manager to win the title with the yellow canaries (13-14).

[Festivus]

De onde vem este teu fetiche pelo turcão e pela Turquia?

[Covenant]

https://youtu.be/aEGsgP0y_BY

Great YouTube channel and good vídeo about Turkish reality.