No Reign in Spain: Fenerbahce Falls 1-0

Fenerbahce had opportunities to move to a secure spot in Group H of the UEFA Cup with a win, but it wasn't meant to be today as Fener fell 1-0 to Celta Vigo in Spain. The lone-goal came from Vigo's Canobbio in the 77th minute.

Fener came into the game with a ton of momentum, knocking off Italian leaders Palermo 3-0 and beating Turkish rivals Trabzonspor. However, Fenerbahce couldn't capitalize on opportunities today to move into sole possession of second place in Group H.

Only five minutes in, Canobbio had a free kick opportunity after a Tuncay foul, but Volkan made a crucial save to keep it scoreless. Just a few minutes later, Tuncay was fouled in the penalty area by Angel, giving the Canaries a free kick. Alex took the free kick, but it was saved by the Celta GK. In the 33rd minute, Mateja Kezman picked up the game's first yellow card. Two minutes later, Celta's Gustavo Lopez picked up a yellow card of his own. Kezman had scoring opportunities at the 40 and 43-minute mark, but both attempts were off-target. The two teams went into the locker rooms at halftime scoreless.

The second half brought on more corner kicks and more opportunites for Fenerbahce, but they couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. Alex took a shot in the 57th minute which rattled off the post, nearly putting Fener ahead 1-0. In the 71st minute, Zico substituted Deivid de Souza for Kezman, hoping to give the Canaries a spark. Instead, six minutes later it was Celta who struck first, going up 1-0. Celta's Placente picked up a yellow card a few minutes later, and Zico opted to substitute Mehmet Yozgatli and Tumer Metin in for Deniz Baris and Ugur Boral.

Alex de Souza had another opportunity at the 82nd minute mark, but his free kick hit the Celta wall. Alex would get one more opportunity on a corner kick in stoppage time, but the kick was off, preserving the 1-0 win for Celta Vigo.

Fenerbahce had 12 total shots, compared to only 8 for Celta. Of those, 6 were on target for Fener, with 5 on target for Celta Vigo. The story of the game may be the number of fouls committed - Fenerbahce fouled Celta 14 times, while Celta committed only 6. Fener also had 7 opportunities from the corner, compared to 5 for Celta.

Fener must now put the loss behind them and begin preparation for Turkish rivals Galatasaray on Sunday in Kadikoy. More analysis on today's game to come...

Starting Eleven for Fener vs. Celta Vigo

Zico has chosen to go with the following eleven for today's matchup vs. Celta Vigo:

Volkan, Appiah, Aurelio, Kezman, Tuncay, Önder, Alex, Deniz, Uğur, Lugano, Edu

Zico Believes Fenerbahce Will Be Ready for Celta Vigo

Fenerbahce fans have been worried about today's UEFA Cup matchup with Celta Vigo for some time. Sandwiched between huge league games vs. Trabzonspor and Galatasaray, it would be easy for Fener to be emotionally tired and not fully focused vs. Celta Vigo. Fener manager Zico, however, believes that won't be the case. "We are mentally ready for these games. We knew the dates of these games beforehand. We can start thinking about the Galatasaray game as of Friday."

Fenerbahce has injury issues headed into today's match, especially without starting GK Rustu Recber. The Yellow Canaries will also be without the services of Umit Ozat, defender Kerim Zengin, and midfielder Selcuk Sahin. Celta Vigo, however, has issues of their own. They are currently sitting halfway back in the Spanish La Liga. They have, however, recorded wins against some of the best, including Real Madrid this season. Zico knows that regardless of Celta's current standing in their league, they are a tremendously talented team. "Our opponents are really strong. You cannot underestimate a team that has beaten Real Madrid. Their current situation might not be what they want, but they have a lot of quality."

Both teams are jockeying for position into the next round, and Fener will face Eintracht Frankfurt in Kadikoy in two weeks. Still, a win today would greatly improve Fener's chances of moving on. Celta drew 1-1 vs. Eintracht earlier this month. Zico told his players earlier this week “We will only do what we are supposed to; beat Celta Vigo on Thursday and Galatasaray on Sunday. "

If Zico can keep his side focused and pull out wins against Trabzonspor, Celta Vigo, and Galatasaray all in one week, he will silence many of the critics of his managing style.

Fenerbahce Arrives in Vigo

Fenerbahce arrived in Vigo, Spain on Wednesday one day ahead of their UEFA Cup match with Celta Vigo. The team will have some preparation time today before their game tomorrow evening. Kickoff time is approximately 2:45 PM EST here in the U.S.

Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahçe Goals

Watch the goals from the Fenerbahce vs. Trabzonspor Match.

Fenerbahce vs. Celta Vigo Game Notes

• Celta drew 1-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening game on Matchday 2 before losing 2-1 at Newcastle United FC last Thursday after taking an early lead through Ernesto Canobbio - Celta's 100th goal in European competition.

• A win against Fenerbahçe would put them into the top three in the section but their qualification or elimination will not be certain until Matchday 5.

• Having lost their opener 1-0 at Newcastle, a 3-0 home win against US Città di Palermo revived Fenerbahçe's fortunes. A win in Vigo would stand them in good stead to qualify, but as with Celta, nothing will be certain until after their final match against Eintracht.

• The two sides have never met in European competition.

• Celta have never come up against a Turkish side before.

• Celta coach Fernando Vázquez came up against Turkish opposition earlier in his coaching career as his RCD Mallorca side were drawn against Galatasaray SK in the 1999/00 UEFA Cup quarter-finals. The islanders lost the home leg 4-1 with a 2-1 defeat in Istanbul completing the rout.

• Fenerbahçe have played six games against Spanish sides – two two-legged UEFA Cup ties and two UEFA Champions League group stage games against FC Barcelona.

• The statistics do not make for happy reading for the Turkish side. They have lost all six of their games against Spanish opponents, including three at home, scoring just twice in the process.

• Celta's on-loan Romanian defender Gabriel Tamas knows a little about Turkish football having made six league appearances for Galatasaray in the 2003/04 season.

• Fenerbahçe's Serbian striker Mateja Kežman spent a season in the Primera División with Club Atlético de Madrid before moving to Istanbul this summer.

• Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Rüştu Reçber briefly played in Spain, making four league appearances for FC Barcelona in 2003/04.

• Israeli forward Haim Revivo is remembered fondly by both clubs. Having scored 23 league goals in four seasons at Celta, the former Maccabi Haifa FC star joined Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2000, scoring 29 league goals in two and a half seasons before joining Galatasaray SK. He has now retired.

• Eintracht take on Newcastle in Matchday 4's other Group H game on Thursday.

Deivid Revived in Turkiye

The following article appeared on the FIFA website recently (www.fifa.com). It's a good story about the career revitalization of Fenerbahce's Deivid de Souza. Please visit http://www.fifa.com/en/WorldLeagues/index/0,4643,126263,00.html?articleid=126263
to read the article in its entirety. Also, special thanks to my good friend Ugur Pembecioglu for sending this to me. Ugur Bey has a fantastic blog - http://since1907.blogspot.com/


Deivid revived in Turkey

(FIFA.com) 24 Nov 2006

Europe is generally a happy hunting ground for Brazilian strikers. Year-by-year, a fresh crop of talented predators leave their homeland and duly take to life on the Old Continent with consummate ease.However, in spite of an unwaveringly consistent goals return for both Santos and Corinthians, Deivid de Souza struggled to make a swift transition across the Atlantic. Belatedly, though, after arriving in Istanbul, Turkey following an aborted spell in France and a hit-and-miss period in Portugal, the 27-year-old has rediscovered the form that prompted Pele to laud him as 'a Seleção star of the future'.

The fortunate beneficiaries of Deivid's arresting return to form are Fenerbahce, the Turkish big guns determined to celebrate their centenary year (2007) by reclaiming the Super League title from arch-rivals Galatasaray and winning the Turkish Cup for the first time in over two decades. Approaching the halfway point in the season, the odds on the Yellow Canaries completing the domestic double have shortened - and this is in no small part due to the performances of their Brazilian number 99.

Surprise transferDeivid's transfer from Sporting Lisbon to Fenerbahe took many by surprise. The fact that he had started the campaign in the green and white hoops of the Lions suggested that his immediate future remained in the Portuguese capital.However, within days of inspiring Sporting to an opening day defeat of Boavista, he was being presented as a Fenerbahce player. The club's recently-appointed coach, Brazilian legend Zico, had evaluated Fenerbahce's 2005/06 season and concluded that their frontline had contributed too few goals. Indeed, strikes from playmaking genius Alex and Tuncay Sanli, regularly deployed as an advanced midfielder or out on the wing, were relied upon abundantly.So, even though Serbian goal-getter Mateja Kezman was already at his disposal, Zico encouraged the club's money men to recruit Deivid. It was a switch that appealed to the former Bordeaux player: "I'm delighted to have come to Fenerbahce," he enthused after inking a deal at the Sukru Saracoglu. "I'm here for success. I think we have a very strong squad and it will be great to play with players like Alex."
Deivid de Souza (R) heads home his third goal against Vestel Manisaspor under pressure from Ugur Inceman in Manisa on 29 October 2006.

Goals galoreDeivid made his Fenerbahce bow in a 2-2 draw against Antalyaspor in September, failing to find the target but impressing with his unselfish movement and neat link-play. Thereafter, he suffered from a dip in form and he found himself relegated to the bench as Zico opted to deploy Kezman as a lone striker. Deivid's chance to stake a claim for a return to the starting eleven came when Fener kicked-off their Turkish Cup camapign against Gaziantepspor in late-October, and he made the most of the opportunity, scoring late to set his team en route to a 2-0 victory.

It proved to be the start of a stunning goals explosion from the Nova Iguacu native. Kezman sustained an injury before Fenerbahce's next outing, presenting Deivid with an extended run in the side. It was a circumstance that the then-league leaders Manisaspor were to regret, as the ex-Cruzeiro man returned from a trip to Manisa having netted all of Fener's goals in a 3-2 success. Another Deivid goal capped a fine individual display in Fenerbahce's next match, a 4-1 win over Gaziantepspor, and although the tournament was of a different nature four days later, Deivid's form wasn't as he headlined a 4-0 defeat of Sivasspor in the Turkish Cup.Indeed, in between breaking the deadlock and rippling the hosts' net in the second period to take his tally to seven goals in four matches, he provided an assist for attacking cohort Semih. "I was very impressed by Deivid," Zico gushed post-match. "I asked him to roam into the midfield and help out his team-mates and he did it very well."

After a goalless draw with Besiktas at the weekend, Fenerbahce now hold a four-point advantage over second-placed Galatasaray.With the fierce adversaries both vying to win their seventeenth domestic championship, the stakes will be mightily high when the two sides meet in early-December. Fenerbahçe will be banking on Deivid's rich vein of form continuing; if it does, the Galatasaray defenders will have their work cut out attempting to nullify his threat.

Aurelio Saves the Day: Fenerbahce Over Trabzonspor 2-1

Fenerbahce fans have circled this weekend's date with Galatasaray for months, but the Canaries had to take care of business on the road first. They did just that on Sunday, defeating Trabzonspor 2-1.

Fener received a goal from Stephen Appiah in the 18th minute to put them up 1-0 early. The scoreline remained the same until the 67th minute, when Umit Bulut of Trabzon scored the equalizer to tie it at 1-1. Volkan Demirel, in goal for the injured Rustu Recber, made a crucial mistake when he stayed deep in goal rather than coming out to challenge and Bulut made him pay. The goal energized the home crowd and Avni Aker Stadium, but Marco "Mehmet Aurelio" scored only six minutes later to put Fener up 2-1, which would result in the game-winner.

Trabzon has traditionally been a difficult place to play for opposing teams. Fenerbahce has certainly had their low moments at Avni Aker as well. After tough, emotional games with Besiktas and Palermo, and with games against Celta Vigo and rivals Galatasaray this weekend, many feared that Fener would overlook Trabzonspor and come home with only a point or even worse, no points at all. The Canaries took care of business, however, keeping them four points ahead of Galatasaray in the standings. Galatasaray had also picked up a win earlier in the weekend.

Fenerbahce now turns its attention to UEFA Cup opponents Celta Vigo this Thursday in Spain. Fener is coming off an emotional and tremendous win over Palermo last week in the UEFA Cup. Celta Vigo drew Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 earlier in the season and lost to Newcastle United 2-1 last week.

Fenerbahce vs. Palermo Game Analysis by Ahmet Turgut

The following was posted by my good friend Ahmet Turgut on www.turkishsoccer.com and I wanted to share with our readers:

Fenerbahce Downs Palermo!
By Ahmet Turgut

Palermo were perhaps focusing on their upcoming Inter clash with a second consecutive UEFA Cup defeat, losing 3-0 at Fenerbahce.The Sicilians were without eight first team players for their first ever meeting with the Turkish outfit, including Eugenio Corini, Mark Bresciano, the injured David Di Michele and Cup-tied Amauri.

Fenerbahce came flying out of the blocks with Lugano’s free kick skimming the upright, then on five minutes a splendid save from third choice goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu kept out Mateja Kezman’s strike.

Palermo also threatened when Andrea Caracciolo held up Giovanni Tedesco’s cross for Franco Brienza and brought a tough tackle out of Lugano.

Tedesco’s diving header was wide, although he had been flagged offside, and Sirigu beat away a fierce Alex set-piece from 30 metres.

Edu got in front of Munari to turn a corner kick just past the post and Brienza combined passes with Tedesco to drill off target.

But it was Fenerbahce who took the lead after 18 fast and furious minutes of football. Kezman dribbled past Andrea Barzagli down the right flank and cut back for an unmarked Stephen Appiah to side-foot home. The Ghanaian is certainly a familiar face to Serie A fans, as he played for Juventus and Parma.

The Sicilians fought back, but Caracciolo has been on disappointing form in Europe so far this season and wasted a couple of golden opportunities.

First he hesitated and allowed goalkeeper Volkan Demirel to rush off his line and clear Tedesco’s ball off his feet, then two minutes later Brienza’s pass saw Caracciolo spring the offside trap only to fumble the first touch.

Palermo were very unlucky not to draw level on 36 minutes in Turkey, as Fabio Simplicio’s free kick from 35 metres took a touch off Edu and thumped the crossbar in what was so nearly an own goal.

Former Chelsea man Kezman took advantage of a defensive mix-up between Alberto Cossentino and Barzagli before firing over the bar and Mehmet Yozgatli made a similar move on Gianni Munari, but Barzagli was able to charge down Kezman’s finish.Sirigu may be Palermo’s third choice shot-stopper, but the 19-year-old performed a fantastic save on the stroke of half-time on Kezman’s left-foot strike from point-blank range. The Serb picked up the loose ball and fired his second attempt wide.

Francesco Guidolin made two changes the break, introducing Christian Zaccardo and Mattia Cassani, the latter almost immediately thumping a good shot from the edge of the box that was well held by Volkan.

Caracciolo really should’ve drawn the Italians level when Edu swung at thin air, but once again he was slow to react and allowed the Brazilian to recover. The ex-Brescia forward had another opportunity go begging with Volkan rushing out and in the end his team was made to pay for these mistakes.

On the hour mark a corner kick was not cleared effectively and Kezman toe-poked the ball on to the crossbar, but Lugano was first to nod in from a yard.

Fortunately for the Rosanero, Kezman had a goal disallowed for offside moments later, then he passed back for Appiah to drill just over the bar as Fenerbahce kept on pushing.

The scintillating Kezman skipped past Cossentino and nutmegged Zaccardo before Dellafiore was able to cut him off at the pass.The result was put beyond any doubt nine minutes from time when Tuncay smashed a magnificent right-foot finish under the bar from the edge of the area, but once again there were no pink shirts to close him down.

Fenerbahce vs Palermo (UEFA Cup)

Fenerbahce vs. Palermo Goals

Italian Holiday: Fenerbahce Defeats Palermo 3-0

On the day that Americans give thanks for their blessings, Fenerbahce had as much to be thankful for as anyone. The Yellow Canaries blew away the Italian Serie A leaders Palermo 3-0 at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Thursday in UEFA Cup action.

Fener had struggled a bit coming into the game, with two consecutive 0-0 draws in the last two Super Lig games. However, Zico again shuffled the lineup which sparked the Canaries. Just 19 minutes in, Stephen Appiah found the back of the net to put Fenerbahce up 1-0. That would be the score heading into halftime, but the second half found the re-energized Fener squad coming out on fire. A goal from Diego Lugano in the 60th minute and another from Tuncay Sanli in the 83rd minute put the game away. Three goals, three points, and tons of confidence for Fenerbahce.

No one needed this win and a clean sheet more than Volkan Demirel. After making a crucial mistake resulting in a goal in Turkiye's 1-1 draw vs. Italy last week, Demirel had been under fire from the Turkish media and Fener fans. As big as the three goals were today, Volkan's clean sheet in goal may have been even bigger. He also owes a lot of credit to the Fenerbahce defense, who prevented Palermo from ever getting comfortable with their offensive schemes.

Zico has faced many questions of late with his substitution and lineup changes. He's benched fan favorite Marco "Mehmet" Aurelio in favor of Deniz Baris. He has tinkered with his front line by trying Kezman alone, then adding Tuncay for support. Offseason signee Deivid de Souza has been relegated to the bench. Despite the lineup changes, Zico has found winning combinations at crucial times. Today was no exception as the Canary lineup came through in the clutch for a crucial three points in UEFA Cup play.

Despite the huge win, there will be little time for celebration. Fenerbahce must travel to Trabzon, one of the toughest venues in the Turkcell Super Lig for a crucial match on Sunday. Surging Galatasaray has moved closer in the standings, and Fener has a fantastic opportunity to distance themselves with a win this weekend and hopefully a win next weekend vs. their rivals.

Rustu Recber Undergoes Successful Surgery

Following his injury in the international friendly vs. Italy last week, Fenerbahce GK Rustu Recber underwent successful knee surgery at Acibadem Carousel Hospital in Istanbul on Tuesday. Dr. Omer Taser performed the successful surgery.

Rustu is expected to be released from Acibadem on Friday. He is expected to be sidelined for up to six months before returning to the Canaries.

We wish Rustu the best in his recovery, and await having him back in goal for Fenerbahce soon.

European Fame Rides on Beating Palermo

Conventional wisdom says that the UEFA Cup is not comparable to Champions League. The Champions League IS the best of the best, while the UEFA Cup is typically regarded as the "league of others." However, Fenerbahce has an opportunity on Thursday to make a huge statement in Europe. Beating Palermo would open more than a few eyes. Palermo currently sits atop Italian Serie A, alongside Inter Milan. Even when Serie A is down, it is still highly regarded as one of the best leagues in the world. Fenerbahce has everything it needs to succeed in Europe, except for the ridiculous "six foreign player" rule other European leagues don't have to endure. The money, the resources, the facilities are all in place for Fenerbahce to be a major European contender. Most teams would kill to have the loyal fanbase of Fener, with fans that travel all over the globe to see the Canaries play.

Despite all of the positives, Fener lacks a true statement win over a great European club in the last couple of years. A win today over Palermo would provide such a statement for them. Beat Serie A's best and Europe will take notice.

Many critics will point to Fener's loss to Newcastle and previous two league draws and say the team has no confidence and no chance. Palermo is enduring a bit of a slump at the moment as well. The Italian side also lost 1-0 to Newcastle a few weeks ago, and they are coming off a disappointing loss to Cagliari in league action last weekend. Now the team must go into one of the toughest and most intimidating venues in all of Europe - Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy.

Zico is expected to make a few changes for tonight's game. Struggling Deivid de Souza may start on the bench today, while Tuncay Sanli and Mateja Kezman should both start at forward. Fener would give anything to have starting GK Rustu Recber in goal, but instead will have struggling Volkan Demirel. Demirel has taken a beating from fans and the media lately, following his crucial mistake in last week's international friendly vs. Italy. No one needs to have a bigger game for Fenerbahce today than Volkan Demirel.

Fenerbahce has a golden opportunity on Thursday to turn a few heads across Europe. Everything is in place for Euro success, except for a signature win. That may all change with one performance today.

Match Notes:

Today's game marks the 126th European competition for Fenerbahce. They have won 39 games, lost 69 games, and drawn 17 games in Euro action. Fener's record is 1-9 vs. Italian sides, with their only win coming against Parma in 1998-1999 UEFA Cup action. This is Palermo's first-ever game vs. a Turkish side.

Stephen Appiah will see some familiar faces on the opposing sideline today. When he was with Italian side Brescia in 2002-2003, he played alongside Palermo's Aimo Diana, Roberto Guano and Marco Pisano.

UEFA Cup Gameday: Palermo

Following the disappointing 0-0 draw vs. Besiktas, Fenerbahce looks to regroup on Thursday vs. Italian side Palermo in UEFA Cup action. Fenerbahce is expected to be at full strength, with the exception of GK Rustu Recber and Umit Ozat, who has a strained groin as a result of the Besiktas match.

Fener officials hope for a raucous, intimidating home-pitch advantage at Sukru Saracoglu on Thursday. This is the first of two initial home matches for Fenerbahce in the beginning of UEFA Cup action. Palermo is coming off a disappointing loss to Italian rivals Cagliari. Despite the loss, Palermo currently sits atop the Italian Serie A, sharing the lead with Inter Milan at the moment. Fener's first game in the UEFA Cup resulted in a loss to Newcastle United, but the lineup changes at the time by Zico were considered to be a turning point for Fenerbahce. After the loss to Newcastle, Fener went on a string of impressive wins and offensive performances. Palermo also lost to Newcastle recently.

Today's expected lineup for Fenerbahce is: Volkan Demirel, Ugur Boral, Edu Dracena, Diego Lugano, Onder Turaci, Deniz Baris, Stephen Appiah, Mehmet Yozgatli, Tuncay Sanli, Alex de Souza, and Mateja Kezman.

Following their second consecutive 0-0 draw, Fener hopes to regain its momentum against one of Italy's best sides. The team will need renewed confidence in this game, as they head into the always-heated battle with rivals Trabzonspor this weekend in Turkcell Super Lig action.

My Apologies...

Please accept my apology for not updating the blog for a few days. As many of you know, I am a graduate student at University of Louisville in the U.S., and my studies prior to the long American holiday have taken their toll on my available time. As always, ofcourse, nothing prevents me from following Fenerbahce futbol and keeping up with the team. Normal updating will resume shortly. Again, I'm very sorry for the delay.

Turkiye vs. Italy International Friendly

Italy will host Turkiye on Wednesday, November 15 for an international friendly. The game will be played in Bergamo, Italy at Azzurri d'Italia Stadium at 8:50 PM local time. The referee will be Busacca (Switzerland). Italy manager Roberto Donadoni recently named two new players to his side: AC Milan midfielder Brocchi and AS Roma midfielder Aquilani.

Italy expects to have the following players available:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Amelia (Livorno)
Defenders: Oddo (Lazio), Zaccardo (Palermo), Barzagli (Palermo), Zambrotta (Barcellona), Materazzi (Inter), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Cannavaro (Real Madrid);
Midfielders: Aquilani (Roma), Barone (Torino), Brocchi (Milan), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Mauri (Lazio), Palombo (Sampdoria);
Forwards:Rocchi (Lazio), Iaquinta (Udinese), Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Milan)

Turkiye expects to have the following players available:

Rüştü Reçber, Volkan Demirel, Can Arat, Mehmet Aurelio, Tuncay Şanlı, Tümer Metin (Fenerbahçe), Hakan Şükür, Sabri Sarıoğlu, Arda Turan (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Gökhan Zan, İbrahim Toraman, İbrahim Üzülmez (Beşiktaş A.Ş.), Hüseyin Cimşir, Gökdeniz Karadeniz (Trabzonspor A.Ş.), Mehmet Topuz (Kayserispor), Servet Çetin (Sivasspor), Caner Erkin (Vestel Manisaspor), Serkan Kırıntılı (MKE Ankaragücü), Hamit Altıntop, Halil Altıntop (FC Schalke 04), Nuri Şahin (Borussia Dortmund), Fatih Tekke (Zenit St. Petersburg), Emre Belözoğlu (Newcastle United FC), Serhat N. Akın (RSC Anderlecht)

Daum Turns Down Cologne

According to www.turkishsoccer.com, former Fenerbahce manager Christoph Daum has rejected German side Cologne's managerial offer:

Daum Turns Down Cologne Job offer!...
By Ahmet Turgut (www.turkishsoccer.com)

Christoph Daum Saturday turned down an offer to coach German second division club Cologne.
Daum, who has not coached in Germany since a cocaine affair six years ago, was approached by Cologne to succeed Swiss coach Hanspeter Latour. Daum, 53, who is in a Cologne hospital following a throat operation, said he would not be available for coaching offers for the next few weeks because of health reasons. "Cologne need a quick solution," Daum told journalists at the hospital.

Fans: Following Your Team from Afar

The following link is for an article that was published recently in the International Herald Tribune by Christopher Clarey. It was sent to me by my good friend, Dr. Mary Hums who is an American but lived in Greece for a short time and follows Olympiakos, the Greek Futbol Club.

I found this interesting because it addresses fans who live in one country but follow their team from another country online, etc. As an American Fenerbahce fan, I can definitely relate and wanted to share for others. Here is the link:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/26/sports/arena.php

Former Boss Daum Returning to Coaching?

According to www.turkishsoccer.com, former Fenerbahce manager Christoph Daum may be returning to coach in Germany's Bundesliga soon. According to the website's Ahmet Turgut, Struggling former German giants Cologne have turned their attentions to controversial coach Christoph Daum after firing boss Hanspeter Latour. Cologne, the first ever winners of the Bundesliga in West Germany and the league's most successful team during its early years, currently sit eighth in the second division, a massive 12 points off leaders Karlsruhe. Swiss Latour paid for his side's poor start - they began the season among the favourties for promotion following last season's relegation from the top flight - after a 1-0 home defeat to Aue on Wednesday. Cologne's sporting director Michael Meier said the club had already approached former Stuttgart and Fenerbahce coach Daum. Daum is a controversial figure in German football, having once ruled himself out of the running for the national team hot seat after admitting to taking cocaine. But he has had a successful career as a coach, claiming the German title with Stuttgart in 1992 and winning three Turkish league titles, with Besiktas in 1995 and Fenerbahce in 2004 and 2005. Daum was fired from the Fenerbahce post at the end of last season after his side were pipped to the title on the final day by perennial rivals Galatasaray.
Meier revealed Daum said he would consider the offer from Cologne, who have not won in six matches. Latour, 59, who was known as the 'volcano' for his fiery temperament, had only taken over the reins in January but failed to arrest the team's slide into the second division. He said: "I am very disappointed because the team did not respond to our ideas, even though I am convinced we could have turned it around."But I have no complaints against the Cologne management.". Former Germany international Thomas Hassler, Cologne's youth team coach, will take charge of the team on a temporary basis until a successor is appointed.

Log onto www.turkishsoccer.com for more.

Fenerbahce, Denizlispor Draw Scoreless

On Friday night, Fenerbahce returned to the stadium that brought them so much despair at the end of last season. With everything on the line, Fener could only grab a draw in the final game of the 2005-2006 season vs. Denizlispor which gave the Turkcell Super Lig title to Galatasaray. The Canaries were hoping to use the experience as motivation this season, but Fener leaves Denizli with another draw, 0-0 today vs. the Roosters.

Fener had been on a fantastic winning streak following the 1-0 Newcastle loss, which included some of the best offensive football Fener fans had seen this season. Mateja Kezman made his return to the pitch today, but it was not enough to spark the Canaries' offense at Denizli Ataturk Stadium. Kezman made his entrance at the 63 minute mark, replacing Deivid de Souza. Volkan Demirel once again got the start for the injured Rustu Recber.

Fener now must face the most difficult part of the fixture so far, with rivals Besiktas, Trabzonspor and Galatasaray coming in the next few weeks. The Yellow Canaries also resume UEFA Cup play shortly.

The Biggest Fenerbahce Fan

This is a website typically devoted to Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu and its fans, but it would be insulting and improper of me not to mention the biggest Fenerbahce fan, Kemal Ataturk - the father of modern Turkiye.

Today commemorates the 68th anniversary of Ataturk's death. Ataturk was one of the world's greatest leaders and is beloved by Turks today as much as he was during his lifetime. As mentioned previously, Ataturk was also a tremendous fan and supporter of Fenerbahce.

I am not Turkish, but I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Ataturk and the nation that he built. Those of you that know me know that Turkiye has a very special place in my heart, aside from me being a Fenerbahce fan. The world could use a leader like Ataturk today; someone with vision and leadership who also deeply cares about his people. My wife and I hope to someday live in the great nation of Turkiye that he built.

If you are reading this, and especially if you have any connection to Turkiye, please take a moment to think about Ataturk and what he did not only for Turkiye, but for the world.

Sivasspor - Fenerbahçe (Fortis Türkiye Kupası)

Watch the four Fenerbahce goals from Tuesday's win over Sivasspor in the Fortis Turkish Cup. Thanks to my good friend Ugur Pembecioglu for posting this.

Winter Winners: Fener Overcomes Snow, Sivas 4-0

When Fenerbahce got off the plane in Sivas on Monday, they had no idea they'd be facing two opponents the following day: Sivasspor and Old Man Winter. Fener, however, was good enough to beat them both. In a constant snowfall, Fenerbahce defeated Sivas 4-0 on the road for their second win of the Fortis Turkish Cup thus far.

The game had interesting storylines going in, as Fener left practically the entire starting eleven behind in Kadikoy. They wouldn't need them though, as two goals each from Deivid de Souza and Semih Senturk would provide enough offense. Deivid struck first at the 14-minute mark, while Semih struck again at the 30-minute mark. The second half saw a second goal from Semih at 73 minutes, and a second goal from Deivid at 79 minutes.

Fenerbahce's side usually reads like a "who's who" of Turkish Football. Today, however, it was more like "who's that?" Fenerbahce left enough players behind to field a solid European club, while adding several young players from the youth side for the trip. With Rustu, Kezman, etc. still healing, Zico rolled the dice on this new young lineup and it paid off.

The win keeps the momentum rolling for Fener as they look toward the Denizlispor Roosters in this weekend's Turkcell Super Lig competition. Fener hopes to have most of the starters back for this game.

Starting Eleven

The Fenerbahce vs. Sivasspor match is underway in Sivas. Fenerbahce has gone with the following eleven to start: Serdar, Ümit, Aurelio, Kerim, Can, Önder, Semih, Deniz, Kemal, Olcan, Deivid.

Short-Handed Fener Ready for Sivasspor

When Fenerbahce takes the pitch today, we'll see a much different look from Zico's newly-revitalized offense. Among the 17-man roster, Zico has included five players from the youth ranks to assist the heavily-injured squad. Tuncay Sanli, Tumer Metin, Rustu Recber, Mateja Kezman, Edu Dracena, Alex de Souza, Stephen Appiah, and Diego Lugano will be unavailable for today's game. The injured list is practically an all-star squad of the Turkcell Super Lig. The eight unavailable players could probably defeat many teams by themselves.

Instead, Zico will have the use of Volkan Demirel, Serdar Kulbilge, Ümit Özat, Mehmet Yozgatlı, Marco Aurelio, Kerim Zengin, Can Arat, Önder Turacı, Semih Şentrürk, Deniz Barış, Kemal Aslan, Olcan Adın, Deivid de Souza, Mehmet Kutay Şenyıl, Umut Güzelses, Osman Kürşat Duman and Alper Balaban. Certainly a different roster than Fenerbahce fans are used to seeing.

I anticipate that this game today will only help us improve. Zico will get playing time from players who normally don't see the pitch often. Additionally, it affords Fener the opportunity to develop some of the young talent in their system. I expect a sloppy game due to the lack of chemistry, but I also expect a hard-fought game. Many of the infrequently-used players want a chance to prove themselves and earn playing time. The young players are hoping to make a name for themselves. As many of our starters watch the game from afar, the new guys will work hard to show they belong.

Kickoff is at 1 PM EST today in Sivas.

Fener Arrives in Sivas; Ready for Fortis Turkish Cup

Fenerbahce arrived in Sivas on Monday afternoon, one day ahead of their Fortis Turkish Cup game 2 vs. Sivasspor. The Yellow Canaries will take on Sivasspor on Tuesday, November 7 at 1 PM EST. In their previous Fortis Turkish Cup game earlier, Fenerbahce defeated Gaziantepspor. Fener is hoping to have the services of Mehmet Yozgatli, Mateja Kezman, and Rustu Recber who have all been sidelined by injuries recently.

Janusz Michallik LiveChat tidbit...

On Monday, former US National star Janusz Michallik held a live chat on ESPNSoccernet.com. Janusz played 44 games with the US National Team from 1991 to 1994 and won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991 and US Cup in 1992. He won indoor National Championships with Louisville and Canton in 1986 and '87 respectively before enjoying a career in the MLS with the Columbus Crew and the New England Revolution.

Here is a little tidbit from Janusz's live chat. I wonder who this could've been....:

Nathan (Louisville, USA): Janusz, I am an American and a Fenerbahce fan, however, I am attending my first Serie A match December 23 in Florence - Fiorentina vs. Messina. Any suggestions for me?

Janusz Michallik: (10:56 AM ET ) Yes, make sure your support for Messina is well known throughout the match. Yellow and red is the way to go when sitting amongst Viola supporters. Just kidding :) Enjoy the game!

Two Highly Recommended Websites

I want to take a moment to give a special thanks to my friends Ahmet Turgut and Ugur Pembecioglu. Ahmet runs a wonderful website called www.turkishsoccer.com that is updated daily. Ahmet provides tremendous insight into the Turkcell Super Lig and does a fantastic job of covering the league as a whole, not just the Turkcell "Big Four." Ahmet was also so kind to feature some of my content on his site recently. Ahmet is a native of Izmir and has more experience covering the Turkcell Super Lig than I could dream about. Ahmet's site is completely in English and features some great links and a message board, as well.

My friend Ugur Pembecioglu is a successful businessman in Istanbul and fellow Fenerbahce fan. Ugur has a fantastic blog - http://since1907.blogspot.com/ that does a tremendous job of covering Fenerbahce futbol, etc. Ugur's blog is in Turkish. Ugur also posts many Fenerbahce video highlights through www.youtube.com and posts a link on his blog. I sincerely appreciate Ugur for doing this, especially for us fans here in America that cannot see many Fener games.

Sag Olun, arkadaslar.....please visit www.turkishsoccer.com and http://since1907.blogspot.com/ when you get a chance.

Fenerbahçe - Gaziantepspor 03.11.2006

Watch the four Fenerbahce goals vs. Gaziantepspor. Special thanks to my friend, Ugur Pembecioglu for posting this.

Kadikoy Kings: Fenerbahce Wins 4-1

The question going into Friday night's game was about Fenerbahce's ability to play under pressure as the Super Lig's top team. The answer was exactly what Canary fans were hoping for. Fener received goals from Stephen Appiah, Alex de Souza, Tumer Metin, and Deivid de Souza to put away Gaziantepsor 4-1. It was their second win over Gaziantepspor in 10 days, after defeating them in the Turkish Fortis Cup earlier.

Fenerbahce was again short-handed without the services of Mateja Kezman, Mehmet Yozgatli, and Rustu Recber. Kezman and Yozgatli have resumed training after their injuries, but Zico kept them out of this weekend's match for precautionary reasons. Rustu Recber is healing from a back injury and hopes to rejoin the team soon. Zico went with the starting eleven of Volkan, Appiah, Tuncay, Tümer, Önder, Alex, Deniz, Uğur, Lugano, Edu, and Deivid.

Visiting Gaziantepspor hoped to pick up three points and move into third place in the league, but Appiah's goal early in the second half dampened their spirits. Gaziantep responded with an equalizer ten minutes later, but goals from Alex and Deivid put the game away shortly after. Mehmet Aurelio replaced Deivid in the 88th minute, and Tumer Metin scored in extra time to give the host Canaries some insurance.

Fenerbahce's win gives them a three-game winning streak with upcoming UEFA Cup games and the Denizlispor Roosters up next in the Turkcell Super Lig.