It is all over!.....Galatasaray clinch 17th Turkish title

After the final match of the season, Galatasaray became the champions of Turkish Turkcell Super League with 79 points in 34 games, six points ahead of rivals Besiktas and Fenerbahce.

50th season of the top-flight soccer league in Turkey ended Saturday as Galatasaray and Fenerbahce qualify for next season’s Champions League, third-place Besiktas and Federation Cup winner Kayserispor qualify for the UEFA Cup. There was disappointment for Sivasspor, who came fourth by having same points with Besiktas but less goal average.

Galatasaray trainer Cevat Guler stated that, “There may have been times in recent weeks when the fans didn’t think we would be champions… but we are delighted and thank everyone for their support.”

The Istanbul-based club started season with German coach Karl-Heinz Feldkamp, who resigned at the start of April, citing differences with the management. Galatasaray were two points behind Fenerbahçe when Cevat Guler took over in a caretaker role. Also, the team hit by number of injuries, including two key foreign players of this season - Linderoth and Lincoln. However they accomplished five victories in last five games of season and clinched the 17th title for Galatasaray S.K.

After the match, thousands of Galatasaray fans of all ages rallied at Istanbul’s central Taksim Square to celebrate with fireworks, flags and slogans, singing the club anthems. Similar celebrations took place in big cities like Ankara and Izmir in the huge outdoor parties, organized on the spot, letting them join their voice with millions of fans around the country celebrating the 17th title of the club.

NEW COMERS TO THE SUPER LEAGUE....

On the other hand, Vestel Manisaspor, Caykur Rizespor and Kasimpasaspor all failing to avoid the drop.

Replacing them will be Kocaelispor and Antalyaspor who finished first and second respectively in the TFF 1. Lig, with the third spot still up for grabs from among the next four teams in the league who will contest the play-offs over the coming weeks.

Galatasaray 20th Most Powerful European Team

Turkey`s Galatasaray are the 20th most powerful soccer team in Europe, according to a ranking released on Friday.
England`s Manchester United remained atop at the monthly "European Club Power Rankings" prepared by a Canada-based sports network --TNS. Galatasaray made its debut at the ranking.

TNS said Galatasaray were closing in on their first Super League (first division) title since 2006 thanks to a huge victory over chief rival Fenerbahce last week to secure the 17th championship in the club`s history."

According to the list, most powerful European teams are as follows:
1- Manchester United (England)

2- FC Chelsea (England)

3- Inter (Italy)

4- Real Madrid (Spain)

5- AS Roma (Italy)

6- Arsenal (England)

7- Liverpool (England)

8- Barcelona (Spain)

9- Glasgow Rangers (Scotland)

10-Bayern Munich (Germany)

20-GALATASARAY (TURKEY

Source:Wires

FINALLY!.... FATIH TERIM ANNOUNCE THE TURKEY NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD

IT IS PAST MIDNIGHT IN TURKEY AND FINALLY FATIH TERIM JUST MAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE TURKISH FOOTBALL FEDERATIONS WEBSITE.

THE PLAYERS WILL MEET IN ANTALYA AND SPEND FIVE DAYS IN MINI-CAMP.

Following their five-day camp in Antalya, Turkey squad will travel to Marienfeld, Germany where they will make their pre-EURO 2008 camp and play three friendly matches against Slovakia, Uruguay and Finland.

MY REACTIONS WILL FOLLOW LATER...........

HERE IS THE ROSTER.......

KEEPERS
1-
VOLKAN DEMİREL
FENERBAHÇE

2-
RÜŞTÜ REÇBER
BEŞİKTAŞ

3-
TOLGA ZENGİN
TRABZONSPOR


DEFENSE


4-
GÖKHAN GÖNÜL
FENERBAHÇE

5-
SABRİ SARIOĞLU
GALATASARAY

6-
GÖKHAN ZAN
BEŞİKTAŞ

7-
İBRAHİM KAŞ
BEŞİKTAŞ

8-
EMRE AŞIK
ANKARASPOR

9-
SERVET ÇETİN
GALATASARAY

10-
HAKAN KADİR BALTA
GALATASARAY

11-
UĞUR BORAL
FENERBAHÇE


MIDFIELD

12-
MEHMET AURELIO
FENERBAHÇE

13-
MEHMET TOPAL
GALATASARAY

14-
EMRE BELÖZOĞLU
NEWCASTLE UNİTED

15-
TÜMER METİN
LARISSA

16-
YILDIRAY BAŞTÜRK
VFB STUTTGART

17-
HAMİT ALTINTOP
BAYERN MÜNİCH

18-
AYHAN AKMAN
GALATASARAY

19-
ARDA TURAN
GALATASARAY

20-
TUNCAY ŞANLI
MIDDLESBROUGH

21-
KAZIM KAZIM
FENERBAHÇE


FORWARDS
22-
GÖKDENİZ KARADENİZ
RUBIN KAZAN

23-
NİHAT KAHVECİ
VILLARREAL

24-
HALİL ALTINTOP
SCHALKE 04

25-
SEMİH ŞENTÜRK
FENERBAHÇE

26-
MEVLUT ERDİNÇ
SOCHAUX

Turkey reach sem-finals in the UEFA European U17 Championship

Turkey 0 - 0 Serbia

Turkey advanced into the semi-finals after getting a point from their final group match against Serbia which ended goalless at WOW Football Centre. Hosts reached 7 points and topped the group one point clear of second-placed the Netherlands who beat Scotland 2-0.

Following today's fixtures, Turkey were paired with France, while Spain will face the Netherlands in the semi-finals matches that are going to be played on May 13.

GALATASARAY IS THE CHAMPIONS OF TURKISH TURKCELL SUPER LEAGUE...............

Galatasaray soccer team players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Turkish Super League championship title at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul-(Photo)-Reuters via Yahoo!News



IT IS ALL OVER...........................

GALATASARAY IS THE CHAMPIONS OF TURKISH TURKCELL SUPER LEAGUE...............

SUPRISE.....SUPRISE!.....................

SIVASSPOR CAN'T GO TO UEFA CUP.....INSTEAD,BESIKTAS WILL BE THE SECOND TEAM WILL PLAY IN UEFA CUP NEXT SEASON...................
AS A BESIKTAS FAN I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR SIVASSPOR......I THINK THEY DESERVED TO GO TO UEFA CUP .....BECAUSE OF GOAL DIFFERENCE BESIKTAS WILL TAKE THEIR PLACE...THAT SUCKS FOR SIVASSPOR

Galatasaray won the Turkish title for the 17th time on Saturday with a 2-0 win against Genclerbirligi Oftas, wresting the championship back from their Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce. The victory in the final match of the season lifted Galatasaray to 79 points, six ahead of second-placed Fenerbahce, who lost 2-0 at Trabzonspor.

Playing at their Ali Sami Yen stadium, Galatasaray took the lead in the 36th minute when Arda Turan sped down the right wing and crossed for veteran striker Hakan Sukur to score with a simple tap-in.

Defender Hakan Balta made it 2-0 just before halftime with a powerful volley from outside the penalty area which flew into the top left-hand corner of the goal.


Kayserispor 0- 2 Ankaragucu

Denizlispor 5-1 Caykur Rizespor

Gaziantepspor 1- 0 İstanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor

Ankaraspor 1-1 Bursaspor

Kasımpasa 2-1 Konyaspor

Besiktas 5- 1 Vestel Manisaspor

Trabzonspor 2- 0 Fenerbahce

Galatasaray 2-0 Genclerbirligi OftasSpor

FATIH TERIM DELAYS NAMING THE ROSTER

Turkish National team coach Fatih Terim will announce the euro 2008 Turkey roster after the Turkish Super League Saturday matches...

According to TFF's website, Fatih Terim did not want to take away, the attention from very important matches that will happening on Saturday.

As soon as The Saturday matches are over TFF will announce the list on their website.

HAKAN SUKUR WILL NOT BE IN EURO 2008!..

According to the recent news article by Tayfun Bayindir from "Vatan" Turkish Daily newspaper, Turkish National Team coach Fatih Terim will not inculude Hakan Sukur in Euro2008 Turkey Roster.

We will wait and see...

Later on Friday, Fatih Terim will anounce the 28 players that will train in Antalya starting on Sunday.

Before leaving Turkey, Terim will drop the roster to 22 players after Antalya Camp.