TURKEY IN TOP TEN OF THE FIFA RANKINGS!.

European champion Spain stayed top of the latest FIFA rankings published Wednesday after there was almost no movement among the leading nations.

Twenty of the top 25 places were unchanged after just 47 international matches since last month's rankings were issued. Spain stayed well clear of second-place Germany, the team it beat in the European Championship final, with the Netherlands, Italy and Brazil next.

Argentina, England, Russia and Turkey completed the top 10.

Egypt and Nigeria were the only risers in the top 25, moving up one and two spots respectively to 15th and 17th. Those moves pushed Ukraine, Paraguay and Israel down a spot.

The United States continued to lead the CONCACAF nations at No. 22.

Previous ranking in parentheses

1. Spain (1), 1,663 points.
2. Germany (2), 1,389.
3. Netherlands (4), 1,338.
4. Italy (3), 1,326.
5. Brazil (5), 1,246.
6. Argentina (6), 1,180.
7. Croatia (7), 1,142.
8. England (10), 1,115.
9. Russia (8), 1,103.
10. Turkey (13), 1,016.
11. France (11), 1,007.
(tie) Portugal (10), 1,007.
(tie) Czech Republic (9), 1,007.
14. Cameroon (14), 989.
15. Egypt (16), 974.
16. Ukraine (15) 909.
17. Nigeria (19), 891.
18. Paraguay (17), 889.
19. Israel (18), 877.
20. Greece (20), 872.
21. Romania (21), 858.
22. United States (22), 853.
23. Uruguay (23), 828.
24. Switzerland (24), 824.
25. Ghana (25), 813.

Source: Wires

FATIH TERIM THIRD BEST IN THE WORLD!..

While Spain's European Championship winning coach Luis Aragonés has been selected as the best coach of 2008 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics Fatih Terim Turkish National team coach was third on the list.

The voting was carried out by 87 experts from across the world and Aragonés finished 107 points ahead of second placed Guus Hiddink, who worked wonders with Russia throughout the year.

Below the top two there is a drop down to the chasing pack, where Turkish coach Fatih Terim is in third, Argentina's Olympic Gold winning coach Sergio Batista is in fourth, and Germany's Joachim Low is in fifth.


The Best Coaches Of 2008 Chosen By IFFHS:

.1. José Luis Aragonés Suárez Martínez (Spain) 252 points
.2. Guus Hiddink (Russia) 145
.3. Fatih Terim (Turkey) 72
.4. Sergio Daniel Batista (Argentina) 62
.5. Joachim Löw (Germany) 48
.6. Hassan Shehata (Egypt) 46
.7. Fabio Capello (England) 38
.8. Gerardo Daniel Martino (Paraguay) 36
.9. Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri "Dunga" (Brazil) 24
10. Marcello Lippi (Italy) 18
11. Slaven Bilic (Croatia) 17
12. Marco van Basten (Holland) 16
.+. Luis Felipe Scolari (Portugal) 16
14. Roberto Donadoni (Italy) 12
15. Samson Siasia (Nigeria) 11
16. Otto Rehhagel (Greece) 8
17. Jean-François De Sart (Belgium) 7
18. Marcelo Bielsa (Chile) 6
19. Giovanni Trapattoni (Ireland) 5

Turkish Football(Soccer) Federation receives FIFA Fair Play Award for 2008

The Turkish Football(Soccer) Federation (TFF) has received the FIFA Fair Play Award for 2008 in a ceremony held in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday.


The President of TFF, Mahmut Ozgener, received the FIFA Award from UEFA President and FIFA Executive Committee member Michel Platini and UEFA First Vice-President and FIFA Executive Committee member Senes Erzik.

The FIFA Fair Play Award for 2008 was shared by the Football Associations of Turkey and Armenia.

FIFA presented the Award to Turkey and Armenia based on a World Cup qualifier game played in Yerevan on September 6, 2008 that was attended by the presidents of Turkey and Armenia, two countries that do not have any form of diplomatic relationship.

Source:Turkish wire

Newcastle midfielder Geremi to Besiktas?...

According to Skysports.com Newcastle midfielder he could be ready to leave St James' Park to go to Besiktas.

The former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Middlesbrough man has not started a match under Magpies boss Joe Kinnear since the 2-2 home draw with Stoke City on 6th December.

Geremi, who is under contract until summer 2010 and captained the club for a stint at the start of the 2007/08 campaign, has made just 12 appearances all season.

Geremi, 30, told skysports.com: "I want to be involved on the football field. I am nearing the end of my career and I don't want to sit on the bench.

"I heard there is a bid for me from a club in Europe but I am waiting to decide what to do.

"To be honest, I want to play. If not, we will have to take a decision to satisfy everyone

Gereme, has been linked with Turkish giants Besiktas or a January switch to France.

AHMET TURGUT

BESIKTAS IN ,TRABZONSPOR OUT OF THE FORTIS CUP!...

BESIKTAS IN TRABZONSPOR OUT OF THE FORTIS TURKISH CUP QUARTER FINALS...

Three games and three wins for Besiktas in the Fortis Cup after they beat lower division team Gaziantep Municipality team 3-1 in Istanbul.

On the other hand the team share the first place in the Turkcell Super league Trabzonspor earned only 1 point in three matches and they said good-bye to Fortis Turkish Cup.

On Wednesday, there are four matches in the Fortis Turkish Cup. Former Besiktas coach Ertugrul Saglam who signed with Bursaspor at the winter brake will face Fenerbahce team in Istanbul. Bursaspor who leads the Group D, with 6 points Fenerbahce who has three points is in second place in this group.This will be third match for Bursaspor. while Fenerbahce will play their second match in the group.
Lastly, on Thursday, in Group B, Galatasaray will travel to Izmir to play Altay in Izmir.
Things are really mess in this group... There are three teams with 4 points (Galatasaray, Ankaraspor and Kayserispor) Altay, who only played one match so far have one point .They could well make it to four points if they win the match.

BESIKTAS 3-1 GAZIANTEP B.B
ANTALYASPOR 3 - 3 TRABZONSPOR
Kayserispor 3 - 1 Malatyaspor

07 Jan 2009 WEDNESDAY
13:00 CET Ankaragucu Tokatspor
13:00 CET Denizlispor Alanyaspor
13:00 CET Manisaspor Konyaspor
19:00 CET Fenerbahce Bursaspor

08 Jan 2009 THURSDAY
19:00 CET Altay V Galatasaray

AHMET TURGUT/WWW.TURKISHSOCCER.COM

EMRE BELOZOGLU TIED THE KNOT!...

Photo curtsy of Hurriyet Daily...
For more picture by Hurriyet click here

EMRE BELOZOGLU TIED THE KNOT!...

Turkish International player Emre Belozoglu married on Friday night in Istanbul , Turkey/

The wedding ceremonies held in the Swiss Hotel in Istanbul.

The prime minister Tayip Erdogan and Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim , Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim and Istanbul B.B. Soccer club's president Gokesel Gumusdag were the official marriage ceremony witnesses.

The Istanbul municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas was the official person made Emre Belozoglu and Tugba Gurevin newly weds................

Fenerbahce players and Fenerbahce coach Aragones were also in presence in the wedding party.



AHMET TURGUT/TURKISHSOCCER.COM

GUARDIAN: FATIH TERIM IS ONE OF THE SPORTING HEROES OF 2008

Guardian newspaper senior sports writer Barney Ronay, included Fatih Terim in his "sporting heroes of 2008" article.

Here is what he said in his article.........



"Stand-out coach of Euro 2008: not just a brooding genius capable of playing Germany off the park with seven fit players, a one-legged left-winger and the cat from the team hotel, Turkey's coach was also responsible for the return of the thrillingly macho, sweat-drenched manager. Terim buffed and scowled his way across Alpine central Europe providing not just great, testosterone-stinking touchline theater, but a lesson in smothering tactical acuity. Give that man a vacant Premier League hot-seat."

The source.......http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/dec/30/sporting-heroes-2008

It is a quit a honor for Mr. Terim, I think......

This could open the doors for Terim the coach in the Premier league...

What do you think?....

Please leave your opinion here....won't you....

AHMET TURGUT/www.turkishsoccer.com