Trabzonspor are the new Turkish champions. About a season that will give Istanbul clubs food for thought.
The 2-2 draw against Antalyaspor has established what had been brewing for weeks, if not months: Trabzonspor are the new Turkish champions. With three matchdays to go, Trabzonspor are nine points ahead of Fenerbahce – the decisive direct comparison in the SüperLig went to Trabzonspor (3:1/1:1).
Since 1985, the champions have only once not come from Turkey’s most populous city. When Bursaspor broke the stifling dominance of the Istanbul clubs, Schalke and Bremen finished behind champions Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga – and Hertha BSC were relegated to the bottom of the table with just 24 points. Since the 2009/10 season described above, Galatasaray has been top five times, Besiktas three times, Fenerbahce twice and Basaksehir once.
But there was also a time of rebellion. And this is closely linked to Trabzonspor. In 1976, the traditional club was the first champion of the SüperLig, which was introduced in 1959, not to come from Istanbul. Until 1984, the popular club from the Black Sea won the most important national title five more times.
Discipline and efficiency as assets
Because Trabzonspor marched through the league this season in such a way, former Turkish international and current TV pundit Ridvan Dilmen already predicted at the end of last year: “They are 97 per cent champions.” And he was to be proved right.
Although coach Abdullah Avci’s team had the best offensive and the best defensive record (only 31 goals conceded) in the SüperLig for the longest time, Trabzonspor is not known for spectacle. Discipline and efficiency were the hallmarks of the Turkish champions. Among the ten over-30 professionals in the squad is former Bundesliga pro Yunus Malli, who, however, only played a supporting role (seven appearances, seven substitutions).
Top scorer Cornelius – Galatasaray knocked off
Offensively, others are fixing it: Top scorer Andreas Cornelius (15 goals) was one of the trump cards on the way to the title, the Dane scored against Antalyaspor on Saturday to take the lead. Marek Hamsik and Anastasios Bakasetas also played key roles in Avci’s team. Trabzonspor distanced themselves from the competition with consistently good results. At the winter break, the traditional club was already 14 points ahead of Fenerbahce.
Galatasaray undoubtedly has the most catching up to do among the Istanbul clubs, and this season they are still struggling to even make it into the top 10. From now on, the new Turkish champions will be the hunted – especially as the squad needs renewal in the short to medium term.
Club boss Ahmet Agaoglu already announced months ago with a view to his ageing stars: “The real work starts after the championship.” Then it can start now.
