Fenerbahce Worldwide

FenerbahceWorldwide.org Is Here!!!

2008-02-06T19:06:00.001-05:00

FenerbahceWorldwide.org Is Here!!!
By Nathan L. Redd

In case you missed the article below, we have officially moved to our new website - www.fenerbahceworldwide.org. It's everything you loved about the blog, but with a lot more news, stories, photos, and more! Come check it out!

The "New" Fenerbahce Worldwide!!!

2008-01-27T23:49:00.000-05:00

The "New" Fenerbahce Worldwide!!!
By Nathan L. Redd

You may have noticed lately that we've been a little slower to post news and articles around here. Although none of us claim to be "workaholics" we haven't become too lazy either. We've been working on the brand new Fenerbahce Worldwide site. Finally, after nearly eight months of planning and four months of development, it's almost ready! The new site, www.fenerbahceworldwide.org, will launch on Monday, January 28th.

The new site will be all of the things you have enjoyed about the blog, but lots more information and content. There will be more pictures, more news, more articles, more commentaries, etc. We'll be introducing interviews, expanded coverage and content, and more!

There will be some big changes with the new site, and we think you will like them. From taking a look at our visitors, we know that many Turk and non-Turk fans visit our site. We are thrilled to see so many visitors from Brasil, Spain, and so many other countries. In order to serve as many fans as possible, we knew we needed to expand our accessibility also. So, we are proud to announce that the new Fenerbahce Worldwide will feature full-length, complete sections in English, Turkish, and Portugese with plans to add Spanish later. We're also happy to announce the addition of Cristina Prado to our team. Cristina is a native of Sao Paolo, Brasil and like so many others, became a Fenerbahce fan through the team's Brasilian connections. Cristina and I will be providing content in Spanish and English, while she will also be writing in Portugese. Our other team member, Ozgur, will continue to provide content for us in English and now Turkish as well.

Another exciting change about the website is that you will be able to create your own free, personalized account. This feature will allow you to leave comments and converse with other Fenerbahce fans, while also providing exclusive access in the future to more content. While the new website is going to be a huge step up from the blog, it's only the beginning of what we hope to add in the future. Another feature that we'll be adding is guest contributors to the site. While Ozgur, Cristina, and myself all love Fenerbahce, we know that we don't have expertise in every area of the club and Turk futbol. Therefore, we will occasionally feature articles, commentaries, and features from experts on the club, Turk futbol, and even experts within the club itself.

We have one goal with Fenerbahce Worldwide, which is to take the club to as many people as possible using every outlet available. Our team now consists of two Turks, a Brasilian, and an American, indicating how global Fenerbahce has truly become. However, with both Fenerbahce and our website, we know the best is yet to come. We want you to be a part of it, and we hope you'll like the new site!

Turkcell Süper Lig Weekend Scores

2008-01-27T21:15:00.000-05:00

Turkcell Süper Lig Weekend Scores
By Nathan L. Redd

Saturday, January 26:

Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor 3 - 2 Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor
Besiktas 3 -1 Gaziantepspor

Sunday, January 27:

Vestel Manisaspor 3 - 2 Denizlispor
Kasimpasa 0 - 2 Kayserispor
Konyaspor 1 - 3 Ankaraspor
Sivasspor 1 - 4 Fenerbahce
Ankaragucu 0 - 4 Galatasaray

Monday, January 28:

Bursaspor v. Genclerbirligi - 19:00
Caykur Rizespor v. Trabzonspor - 20:00

Fener Hands Sivas First Home Loss of the Season

2008-01-27T17:36:00.000-05:00

Fener Hands Sivas First Home Loss of the Season
By Nathan L. Redd

Despite the thermometer reading, Sivas felt awfully hot today for Fenerbahçe. With gametime temperatures hovering around -5 degrees celcius, Fener heated up the Turkcell Süper Lig standings by handing Sivasspor their first home loss of the season. The 4-1 scoreline also moved Fener temporarily into first place until the Galatasaray result.

The icy pitch kept players moving tentatively, but Fener dominated early play. Time of possession was clearly on the Canaries' side early on with several opportunities to take command. After 28 minutes, Alex de Souza got the offense going with a shot past the goalkeeper to temporarily quiet the Sivas crowd. Eleven minutes later, Semih Şentürk devastated the home fans with a second goal that put Fener up 2-0 heading into the break. Much of the red and white-clad fans were feeling down as it appeared Sivas would lose its hold on the top spot in the Turkcell Süper Lig.

The second half started with a different look from the home side. Sivas came out attacking, looking to equalize and keep their hold on the standings. Several times they had chances to get on the boards early in the second half, and their attack finally paid off in the 58th minute. Musa Aydın put a shot just to the left of Volkan Demirel to cut the lead in half and energize the home fans. With renewed hope, Sivas continued to attack looking for an equalizing goal. With Sivas pressuring, Zico made two crucial moves to turn the tide in the game. He brought in Gokcek Wederson for Ugur Boral in the 65th minute. Then, nine minutes later, Zico replaced Semih Şentürk with Mateja Kezman. Kezman, with five goals in his last three apperances, continued his streak on Sunday. Only four minutes after checking in, Kezman devastated the home crowd with a beautifully-crossed ball from the left side. Kezman gained control and sent a right-footed bullet past the Sivas keeper to put Fener up 3-1. Eight minutes later Kezman added another goal, giving him seven goals in the last week and a half and putting Fenerbahçe up 4-1. The last goal ended the fantastic run at the top for Sivasspor.

The win put Fenerbahçe temporarily at the top of the standings before the end of the Galatasaray match. Fener still finds themselves only one point out of first place. With the win over Sivas, Fener has now scored nineteen goals in their last three games after receiving criticism for their lack of offense.

After the game, Zico told reporters "We absolutely deserved this victory. Despite not having the best conditions to play futbol, my players did what they had to and made sure that we stay at the top of the league." Regarding the fantastic play of Mateja Kezman, Zico stated "Kezman did his utmost to help his teammates. He is ready and I hope that he will continue at training hard."

Fener returns home next weekend to host Gençlerbirliği Oftaşspor. The two teams finished 1-1 in Ankara earlier this season.

Sivasspor - Fenerbahce Match Preview

2008-01-27T06:09:00.001-05:00

Sivasspor - Fenerbahce Match Preview
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

On the eve of very exciting developments for Fenerbahce Worldwide, Fenerbahce is also preparing for a very important day. Today is the day that Sivasspor, the unbeaten leaders of Turkcell Super Lig faces the real leaders: Fenerbahce.

The game has been hyped up a great deal during the week by the Turkish media, with the effects reaching as far as England, as exemplified by an article by the Guardian about Sivasspor. The expectation is high, and stakes are higher. Even though it is only the 20th week of the season, a defeat here, no matter how unlikely it is, would set back Fenerbahce 5 points, boost Sivaspor's confidence by continuing their undefeated state even in the face of Fener, and renew the determinations of both Besiktas and Galatasaray. However, being the all-star-like team they are, Fenerbahce players have more than enough talent between themselves to end the unbeaten run of Sivasspor, and they will be looking to prove this today.

Interestingly enough, Sivasspor is the team that conceded the least amount of goals this season, and Fenerbahce is the team with the most goals scored. There certainly isn't a lack of scoring ability for Fenerbahce lately, with the team scoring 15 goals in the last two games. However, Sivas has only conceded 3 goals in their home ground this season, So the score is anyone's guess at the moment, with both sides' fans favouring their teams.

Sivasspor has yet to win a match in the 6 meetings they have had with Fenerbahce, and Zico and his students will be looking to build on this record. Sivas is definitely in a position that deserves the applause they are getting, and considering the huge gap between the budgets of the teams like Sivasspor compared to the likes of the Istanbulian big 3, Bulent Uygun and his team are on their way to making history. However, no matter how strong they appear to be, it is not very credible for an Anatolian team to win the championship, unfortunately. The word on the street is that, as usual, Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce fans want their teams to come out on top, however if anyone is to win the title other than their own team, the consensus is that it should be Sivas.

No matter who wins, the football fans will watch some performances that are worthy of the top spot today. We as Fenerbahce Worldwide hope first and foremost that there will be no injuries in the game. Good luck to both teams, let the best team win!

Stephen Appiah Interview

2008-01-25T13:31:00.000-05:00

Stephen Appiah Interview

English-language website Goal.com has published an interview with Fenerbahce midfielder Stephen Appiah on their website. In the interview, Appiah talks about his native Ghana's performance in the African Cup of Nations Tournament thus far.

To read the interview, in its entirety, check out http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=560942.

Tumer Metin Signs with Greek Squad AE Larissa

2008-01-25T11:59:00.000-05:00

Tumer Metin Signs with Greek Squad AE Larissa
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce midfielder Tumer Metin has signed a deal with Greek squad AE Larissa, according to a statement released by the club on Friday. The deal ends Tumer's 19-month tenure with the Yellow Canaries.

Tumer signed with Fenerbahce in June 2006 after a successful stint at rivals Besiktas, where he spent five years. He played a pivotal part of Fenerbahce's 2006-2007 Turkcell Super Lig championship run. He's also been a member of the Turkiye National Team since 2005.

Fenerbahce was expecting to be without Tumer for much of this season due to injury and his pending Turk military commitment. The deal with AE Larissa is believed to delay his military commitment even further. Details of the deal have not yet been released.

AE Larissa currently plays in the Greek Super League. They finished last season in tenth place in the league, and currently sit in 13th place this season.

English Sides Interested in Kezman

2008-01-25T08:20:00.000-05:00

English Sides Interested in Kezman
By Nathan L. Redd

With the January transfer window closing soon, two English clubs have expressed an interest in Fenerbahce striker Mateja Kezman. According to English newspaper The Guardian, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur have both expressed an interest in the Serbian-born forward.

According to the report, Kezman would be available for a fee of approximately £5 Million, or just under $10 Million. A transfer of Kezman has been rumored for quite some time, and his four goals earlier this week may have put his name back in the eye of interested European clubs.

Despite transfer rumors, Kezman issued a statement recently indicating that he is not leaving Fenerbahce anytime in the near future. If Fener does not sign a new striker during the January transfer window, Kezman is likely to play a crucial role in the team's championship run.

Turkcell Süper Lig Weekend Schedule

2008-01-25T08:08:00.000-05:00

Turkcell Süper Lig Weekend Schedule
By Nathan L. Redd

Saturday, January 26:

Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor v. Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor - 13:30
Besiktas v. Gaziantepspor - 19:00

Sunday, January 27:

Vestel Manisaspor v. Denizlispor - 13:30
Kasimpasa v. Kayserispor - 13:30
Konyaspor v. Ankaraspor - 13:30
Sivasspor v. Fenerbahce - 14:00 (7 AM EST in the U.S.)
Ankaragucu v. Galatasaray - 19:00

Monday, January 28:

Bursaspor v. Genclerbirligi - 19:00
Caykur Rizespor v. Trabzonspor - 20:00

Photos from Fenerbahçe 10 - 3 Alanyaspor

2008-01-23T13:16:00.000-05:00

Photos from Fenerbahçe 10 - 3 Alanyaspor
By Nathan L. Redd

Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has an online gallery of photos from the Fener vs. Alanyaspor match on Wednesday. To check out photos from the game, click on http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay.aspx?cid=9244&p=1&rid=155 .

Goals for Everyone! Fenerbahçe Rolls 10-3 in Alanya

2008-01-23T12:46:00.000-05:00

Goals for Everyone! Fenerbahçe Rolls 10-3 in Alanya
By Nathan L. Redd

Gol....and Gol Again! Fans who packed tiny Milli Egemenlik stadium in Alanya hoping for offense got their money's worth on Wednesday. Fenerbahçe overwhelmed third division Alanyaspor 10-3 behind four goals from Mateja Kezman to advance to the knockout stage of the Fortis Türkiye Cup.

It took 30 minutes to get the offensive onslaught rolling, but thirteen goals in the last 60 minutes kept the scoreboard active this afternoon. With the huge clash against Sivasspor coming up this weekend, Zico gave most of the starters a break, opting for valuable playing time for key reserves. No one needed an offensive outburst more than much-maligned striker Mateja Kezman, who put four goals in the back of the net to lead all scorers. He was followed by Mehmet Aurelio who got the Canaries rolling in the 31st minute, then added another at the 66-minute mark. Ilhan Parlak also added two goals for Fener in the 52nd minute, and again just three minutes later. Kemal Aslan, having scored two goals last weekend against Gaziantepspor, kept his hot streak going with another goal today in the first half. Colin Kazim-Richards would add a final goal just before the end of regulation to put the Canaries in double-digits for the day.

Volkan Babacan, starting in goal today for Fener, conceded three goals to Alanya. They were the first goals scored by Alanya during their Fortis Türkiye Cup run.

Zico went with a starting eleven of Volkan Babacan, Yasin Cakmak, Gokcek Wederson, Mateja Kezman, Onder Turaci, Ilhan Parlak, Ugur Boral, Gokhan Gonul, Colin Kazim-Richards, Kemal Aslan, and Mehmet Aurelio. Ali Bilgin, Gurhan Gursoy, and Can Arat all saw time as substitutes.

The win means Fenerbahçe has scored 15 goals in their last two games, coming after media criticized the team for a lack of offense previously. The Canaries know, however, the real test comes this weekend when the team travels to Sivas to take on the league-leaders.

After the game, Kezman told reporters "I'm very happy about scoring four goals which made my team the leader of our group. It was not unexpected, as I have been working and training really hard for the last couple of weeks. I knew that my comeback would be that fantastic."

The last two games have temporarily silenced critics who claimed Fener was going through a slump of sorts. A win in Sivas on Sunday would go a long way toward silencing those critics for good.

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

Fortis Türkiye Cup Match Day: Fener vs. Alanyaspor

2008-01-22T21:54:00.000-05:00

Fortis Türkiye Cup Match Day: Fener vs. Alanyaspor
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahçe is on the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye Wednesday, as they return to the pitch for their next Fortis Türkiye Cup match against Alanyaspor. Kickoff is scheduled for 13:30 (6:30 AM EST in the U.S.). With the game in Alanya, Fenerbahçe will have a chance to enjoy the mild weather of Türkiye's southern coast before traveling to Sivas this weekend for their huge clash. Temperatures are expected to be around 18 degrees at kickoff in Alanya.

Alanyaspor will be looking to pull off what would likely be one of the biggest upsets in Fortis Türkiye Cup history. Alanyaspor plays in Iddaa League B Group 2 and currently sits fourth in the standings with 27 points through 17 games. Iddaa League B is the third division of Turk futbol.

Alanyaspor Manager Muharrem Uğur knows it will take the game of a lifetime from his players to claim any points against the Turk champions. The green and orange side will host the Turk giants at their home stadium, Milli Egemenlik Stadium, but with a capacity of only 2,500, it will hardly be an intimidating venue. As always with Fenerbahçe, there is a large number of Fenerli's expected to be in attendance.

Fenerbahçe is coming off a huge 5-0 win over Gaziantepspor over the weekend, and they hope to take the momentum from a win in Alanya into their huge matchup this weekend. Fener travels to Sivas in northern Türkiye this weekend to play the league leaders Sivasspor in what will be one of the biggest matches of the season thus far. Fener star Alex de Souza returned to the lineup last weekend and provided a much-needed offensive spark to the Yellow Canaries. The win showed that a healthy Fener side is as dangerous as any in Europe.

Fenerbahçe and Alanyaspor kickoff at 13:30 in Alanya, Türkiye on Wednesday. Check back with Fenerbahce Worldwide for a full recap on photos after the match.

Who Needs a Striker? Fener Rolls 5-0

2008-01-20T16:20:00.000-05:00

Who Needs a Striker? Fener Rolls 5-0
By Nathan L. Redd

Internet fan message boards have been going crazy lately with Fenerli's speculating about which striker the club should sign during the transfer window. Fenerbahçe answered with a resounding "who needs a striker?" with a dominating 5-0 win in Gaziantep on Sunday.

Fenerbahçe simply overwhelmed the Gaziantepspor goalkeeper with a barrage of shots early on. In the 14th minute, Semih Senturk nearly put Fener on the boards with a fantastic header that was stopped just short of the goal line. Despite the save, Fenerbahçe needed only ten more minutes to begin sending the scoreboards into a frenzy. Kemal Aslan, making a rare starting appearance, put Fener up 1-0. A cross from the right wing into the box found a series of deflections, but Aslan took a fantastic lobbing shot from the right side of the box that sailed over the heads of the defenders and goalkeeper. The goal quited the raucous Gaziantep crowd eager to cheer on the home red and black to a victory.

Eight minutes after Kemal's goal, Alex de Souza showed why he was sorely missed during his injury. Roberto Carlos sent a fantastic pass from the left side into the box, where Alex used a beautiful left-footed shot to send the ball past the goalkeeper, putting Fenerbahçe up 2-0. Despite the comfortable first half lead, the Yellow Canaries were just getting started. Three minutes later, Kemal Aslan would make his presence felt again. Kemal took a shot just right of the goal that would deflect off of Gaziantep defender Metin's arm into the goal, putting Fener up 3-0 with ten minutes left in the first half.

With a comfortable 3-0 lead, Fener could have put it in "cruise" in the second half, but the Canaries kept pressuring the Gaziantep defense with a onslaught of shots. Deivid de Souza would get the second half scoring started with a goal in the 56th minute adding to the day's dominant performance. Thirteen minutes later, Deivid would add a second goal to put the scoreline at 5-0, quieting the home fans and sending the Fener fans in attendance into a roar. "Today we showed everyone what we are capable of achieving. We were totally focused on the victory, so a 5-0-victory is not a surprise" he told media after the match.

Volkan Demirel found himself tested rarely in the match and was able to preserve the clean sheet. Mateja Kezman, Ali Bilgin, and Gokcek Wederson all entered the game as substitutes, but the damage was already done to the Gaziantep defense. Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel told reporters after the game "We all needed such a fantastic victory. We were frustrated about not getting the results we had wanted." With a gigantic game next weekend against league-leaders Sivasspor, Fenerbahçe could not have asked for a better result to build confidence and take pressure off the board from hearing about a new striker signing. Alex de Souza, returning from injury, again showed how valuable of a playmaker and scorer he is when healthy. Semih Senturk and Deivid de Souza again showed their reliability as offensive options headed into the Sivasspor match.

The win moves Fenerbahçe back into third place in the Turkcell Süper Lig with 41 points. Sivasspor, Galatasaray, and Besiktas all won this weekend to keep pace at the top. With only two points separating them from leaders Sivasspor, Fenerbahçe can potentially take over the league's top spot with a win next weekend. Galatasaray currently stands between Sivas and Fener with 42 points. They'll travel to the capital next weekend to take on seventh-place Ankaragucu.

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

Match Day: Fenerbahçe vs. Gaziantepspor

2008-01-19T22:19:00.000-05:00

Match Day: Fenerbahçe vs. Gaziantepspor
By Nathan L. Redd

After a disappointing 2-2 draw in Kadıköy last weekend, Fenerbahçe is in Southeastern Anatolia Sunday to take on Turkcell Süper Lig opponents Gaziantepspor. Kickoff is schedule for 15:00 (8:00 AM EST in the U.S.).

Fenerbahçe will be looking to keep pace with league-leaders Sivasspor and Galatasaray, while Gaziantepspor is hoping to stay in the top half of the table. Following Sivasspor and Besiktas wins on Saturday, Fenerbahçe will need three points and pending the Galatasaray game on Sunday, the Yellow Canaries could move into second place. Fener currently sits in fourth place with 38 points. Gaziantepspor is currently in ninth place, in the midst of a logjam in the middle of the table. With 24 points, Gaziantep is tied with two other teams and only one point behind sixth-place Denizlispor. Despite being close to the top third of the league, Gaziantep's defense has been suspect so far this season. They've scored 23 goals on the season, but have given up 24 to their opponents. Fenerbahçe has scored 32 goals on the season, but has struggled offensively in the Turkcell Süper Lig recently. With injuries to Stephen Appiah, Alex de Souza, Deniz Baris, and Tumer Metin unavailable, Fener will be looking for scoring options to regain their earlier form. After a crucial goal in the Fortis Turkiye Cup, Zico and company are hoping for increased confidence and offensive prowess from striker Mateja Kezman. Zico also indicated earlier that Alex de Souza may see playing time in Gaziantep on Sunday. He told FB TV "Alex is healthy enough to play against Gaziantepspor. He has been training hard to get back in form."

Fenerbahçe and Gaziantepspor kickoff at 15:00 (8:00 AM EST in the U.S.) in week 19 of Turkcell Süper Lig action. For those outside of Türkiye, the game is available on a pay-per-view basis live online at www.digiturkwebtv.com.

Has Fenerbahce Reached a Deal with Maldonado?

2008-01-18T14:41:00.000-05:00

Has Fenerbahce Reached a Deal with Maldonado?
By Nathan L. Redd

Several reports out of Istanbul Friday indicate that Fenerbahce may be close to finalizing a deal for Chilean star midfielder Claudio Maldonado. The 28-year-old defensive midfielder currently plays for Brasilian squad Santos FC.

Maldonado is highly regarded as one of the best players in South America and is known for his tremendous passing skill in addition to defensive tenacity. Reports earlier this week indicated that he may be close to signing with future Fenerbahce opponent Sevilla, but now rumors are circulating that Fener could sign him for a deal of 4 Million Euros. The deal is rumored to be a three-year contract and if true, the star could be in Istanbul this weekend to make it official.

We'll have more information on the rumored deal throughout the weekend as it becomes available.

Fenerbahce Clarify Appiah Situation

2008-01-18T14:34:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce Clarify Appiah Situation
By Nathan L. Redd

Earlier this week it was reported that Fenerbahce had frozen the contract of star midfielder Stephen Appiah. Reports began to circulate that speculated on the definition of such an action, implicating that Fener will cease to pay Appiah during the remainder of the deal.

Fenerbahce issued an official statement clarifying what the "freezing" of Appiah's contract means. In the statement, the club said "Following discussions between Stephen Appiah and club doctors, there is a consensus not to include him in the team for the second half of the season to better enable the process of treating his injury. As a result of his absence, an application has been made to the Turkish Football Association to adjust the quota of foreign players: our club would like to include another foreign player in the team for the six months when Appiah is due to be missing. There is no thought at all of cancelling or annulling the contract of Stephen Appiah." According to UEFA Champions League rules, Appiah can be removed from Fenerbahce's list and replaced by a new name before 1 February.

Fenerbahce is expected to move quickly to sign either a striker or midfielder during the current transfer window. Speculation has now shifted that Brasilian star Maldonado may be in Fener's transfer plans.

Fortis Türkiye Cup Match Day: Fenerbahçe v. Şanlıurfaspor

2008-01-16T08:14:00.000-05:00

Fortis Türkiye Cup Match Day: Fenerbahçe v. Şanlıurfaspor
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahçe returns to the pitch on Wednesday in Fortis Türkiye Cup action. The Sarı Lacivert host Turkish third division side Şanlıurfaspor at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Kick-off is slated for 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.).

While the game seems like a blowout on paper, Fenerbahçe is coming in after a disappointing 2-2 draw with a former second division side on Sunday. Şanlıurfaspor, however, will be looking to play the game of their lives against the most famous club in Türkiye. They'll bring confidence with them, as they have scored two draws against other Turkcell Super Lig teams, Gaziantepspor and Kayserispor. They also have a big 3-0 win over Alanya. Fener needs three points today to keep their Fortis Türkiye Cup championship hopes alive.

Anticipated lineups for Wednesday's matchup are:

FENERBAHÇE:
Volkan Demirel
Gökhan Gonul
Edu Dracena
Diego Lugano
Roberto Carlos
Deivid de Souza
Selçuk Sahin
Mehmet Aurelio
Ali Bilgin
Uğur Boral
Semih Senturk

ŞANLIURFASPOR:
Habip
Abdullah
Doğan
GökhanKül
GökhanG.
Burhan
Hayrullah
Ali
Şenol
Kamil
Fatih

Fenerbahce Suspends Appiah's Contract

2008-01-15T21:33:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce Suspends Appiah's Contract
By Nathan L. Redd

As reported earlier by Fenerbahce Worldwide's Ozgur Nazilli, Fenerbahce has suspended the contract of star midfielder Stephen Appiah as a result of his long-term injury. The move by the club frees up a spot under the Turkish Futbol Federation's foreign player limit.

Appiah has played in only six games this season as a result of the injury. He's been sidelined since suffering the original setback last spring. Appiah had surgery over the summer to repair torn ligaments in the knee, but has since developed a blood clot. The injury is expected to sideline Appiah at least until mid-summer.

Dr. Mehmet Kurdoglu stated "Treatment will immediately begin to dilute his blood. This will last for six months and during this period he shouldn't risk any contact that could cause bleeding to any part of his body." Kurdoglu added "It is risky for him to head the ball as even this could cause a cerebral hemorrhage. There is a 95 per cent chance that he will recover after the treatment and only a five per cent chance of a recurrence of the problem. At the moment he can only do light training."

Appiah was rumored to be making a return to Italy during the January transfer window, but the severity of his injury puts his future in question. Fenerbahce has suddenly found themselves in dire need of a midfielder and is expected to address the issue in the coming weeks.

Shocking News: Fenerbahce Officially Announces An Impending Transfer

2008-01-15T14:56:00.000-05:00

Shocking News: Fenerbahce Officially Announces An Impending Transfer
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Anyone who follows Fenerbahce news knows that the club has a rule that they abide by with no exceptions: Transfers are announced after they have been signed and they are for certain, not during the transfer process. This was true, until now. The official Fenerbahce website has declared, for the very first time in its history, that the club is working on transfers and further news will follow shortly.

As the fans know, Appiah has been sidelined for a long time now, and that looks to be the case for at least 6 more months, effectively diminishing the midfield strength of the team. When this was coupled with the departure of Tumer (which is not official yet but will happen, since his age doesn't permit him to play in Turkey anymore without doing his mandatory military service first) and the injuries of Deniz and Alex, a transfer had become a necessity for the continuing well being of the team. Fenerbahce has finally suspended the license of Appiah with the Turkish Football Federation, which means that they have freed up a foreign player quota. The official website, www.fenerbahce.org, broadcast this news tonight by Turkish time, and included a short yet immensely powerful side note in the article, in which they declared that the club was in the process of working on transfers and further explanation would follow shortly. This, although not too extraordinary for a football club, is a first in history for Fenerbahce, which has proven to be very exciting development, and is currently keeping fans awake and in front of their computers, mostly in Antu.com, to hear about the developments as soon as they happen.

More information and further developments will be made available on Fenerbahce Worldwide as events unfold.

Bolton, Portsmouth Chasing Kezman

2008-01-15T08:15:00.000-05:00

Bolton, Portsmouth Chasing Kezman
By Nathan L. Redd

According to various reports, English sides Portsmouth and Bolton are interested in Fenerbahce striker Mateja Kezman. Fenerbahce has yet to make a move during the January transfer window, but rampant speculation has indicated that Kezman may make a move out of Turkiye. The player also recently commented that he believed his tenure in Istanbul may be coming to an end, and he would welcome a move to Germany's Bundesliga.

Turkish magazine Fotomac reports that Bolton is prepared to make a 5 Million Euro offer for Kezman. Goal.com reports that Portsmouth is also interested. Both English clubs are familiar with Fenerbahce as they were vying to sign former Fener star Nicolas Anelka two seasons ago.

Fener Join Race for Lyon's Fred

2008-01-14T11:30:00.000-05:00

Fener Join Race for Lyon's Fred
By Nathan L. Redd

With the January transfer window in full swing, Fenerbahçe has yet to make a move in the market, but that could be about to change. According to Jean-Michel Aulas, Chairman of French Club Lyon, the Yellow Canaries are once again interested in star striker Fred. Paris Saint Germain, Middlesbrough, Tottenham Hotspur and Benfica are also believed to be vying for the Brasilian star's services.

Fenerbahçe was linked to Fred during last season's transfer window as well, but nothing materialized of a rumored deal. During an interview over the weekend, Fenerbahçe striker Mateja Kezman declared he is unhappy in Istanbul and is possibly seeking a move abroad. If so, his move would free up a spot for another foreign player to join the club, but Fener has not commented on any rumored deals this month as of yet.

Wild Finish in Kadıköy Results in 2-2 Draw

2008-01-13T22:38:00.000-05:00

Wild Finish in Kadıköy Results in 2-2 Draw

By Nathan L. Redd

Maybe Fenerbahçe should have spent more time scouting Türkiye Lig 1 last season. Newly-promoted İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor has had the Canaries' number this season not once, but twice. The second resulted in a 2-2 draw at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Sunday evening.

After a long, subpar first half that saw no goals, it appeared that the two sides might be headed toward a scoreless draw. Fenerbahçe reverted back to its mediocre form that it has exhibited in low-profile domestic games, with little emotion or intensity on the pitch. The Canaries played as if a late goal would save them and result in three points, despite coming back from their halftime camp in Antalya. After 74 minutes of stagnant futbol, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor shocked the home crowd when Ibrahim sent a corner toward the box that was headed in by Ilyas to give the visitors the first goal.

Before the home crowd could get over the shock, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor would find the back of the net again. IBBSpor's Gokhan put the cross-town side up 2-0 in the 81st minute, leaving the Fener fans wondering what the team had learned during their Antalya camp. However, a wild finish would salvage a point for the home side after a loss seemed imminent with only ten minutes remaining. In the 84th minute, Fener took a corner that saw Wederson send a fantastic shot into the box that Edu Dracena was able to head past the goalkeeper to finally put Fener on the scoreboard. Despite the goal, Fener had only a few minutes remaining to try to find a goal that they couldn't score in the first 84 minutes. Less than three minutes after Edu's goal, Gokhan Gonul sent a beautiful pass through to Deivid de Souza to tie the game at 2-2. The four goals in the final 15 minutes capped a wild finish that saw Fenerbahçe gain a point and stay near the top of the Turkcell Süper Lig standings.

Zico was obviously unhappy with his team's performance after the game. He told Lig TV "Actually I am not very satisfied with my players' performance tonight. We should have achieved more and done better against İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Despite this, what I find really positive is that my players did never give up on fighting, but of course we should not lose any more points. From this moment on we have to be more careful than before."

With the draw, Fener slipped into third place in the Turkcell Süper Lig with 38 points. Wins by Sivasspor and Galatasaray keeps the teams in first and second place, respectively. Besiktas's win moves them only one point behind Fener into fourth place in the league.

Lineups:

FENERBAHÇE: Volkan Demirel, Gökhan Gönül, Diego Lugano, Edu Dracena, Roberto Carlos, Deivid de Souza, Mehmet Aurelio, Kemal Aslan (substituted by Colin Kazım-Richards MIN. 60 ), Uğur Boral (substituted by Gokcek Wederson MIN. 60 ), Ali Bilgin (substituted by İlhan Parlak MIN. 73 ), Semih Senturk

İSTANBUL BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDİYESPOR: Hasagiç, Murat, Volkan, Efe (substituted by Mahmut MIN. 86), Erman (substituted by İbrahim Akın MIN. 57 ), İlyas, Tjikuzu, Kerim, Cesario, Sertan (substituted by Aydın MIN. 78 ), Gökhan Kaba

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

Fenerbahçe Starts Second Half with Confidence, Questions

2008-01-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

Fenerbahçe Starts Second Half with Confidence, Questions
By Nathan L. Redd

As Fenerbahçe gets ready to kick off the second half of the Turkcell Super Lig later today, the club is riding a high boosted by European and Super Lig success to close out the first half. However, many questions remain for Fener's second half with injuries looming and an unsure transfer market still in doubt.

After struggling to start the season, Fener closed out the first half on a five-game winning streak, tying first place Sivasspor with 37 points for the lead. The Canaries will kick off the second half against promoted side Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor, who defeated Fener 2-0 to open the season back in August. Although the team has regained its top form, there are many questions surrounding the future of several players. Stephen Appiah, once considered a possible transfer out of Kadikoy, may remain with the club after suffering an injury that could sideline him until the summer. Mateja Kezman is also being evaluated by several English and German clubs, making him a possible transfer target out of Turkiye. One-time Fenerbahçe targets Ronaldo and Afonso Alves appear headed for other destinations, keeping Fener fans wondering if any new faces are coming to Kadikoy during the January transfer window.

Another issue possibly facing Fenerbahçe could be team focus, although Zico has done a tremendous job recently of keeping the team grounded. With vital UEFA Champions League matches against Sevilla coming up and the club's first-ever trip to the knockout round, it could be difficult for Fener to focus on 100% effort against teams like Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor. If the team does lose focus, their trip to UEFA Champions League could be a short one and they could find themselves back in the UEFA Cup next year. If Fenerbahçe plays against teams like Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor with the same vigor and effort they put forth against Inter Milan, an 18th Turkcell Super Lig championship could be on the table for them.

Fenerbahçe kicks off their second half campaign on Sunday at 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.) against Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor. The game is at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy and is available online at www.digiturkwebtv.com for those living outside of Turkiye.

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule

2008-01-12T08:41:00.000-05:00

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule
By Nathan L. Redd

Saturday, January 12:

GENÇLERBİRLİĞİ OFTAŞSPOR vs. GENÇLERBİRLİĞI - 13:30
KASIMPAŞA vs. GAZİANTEPSPOR - 13:30
KONYASPOR vs. BEŞİKTAŞ - 15:00
ÇAYKUR RİZESPOR vs. GALATASARAY - 19:00

Sunday, January 13:

BURSASPOR vs. DENİZLİSPOR - 13:30
MKE ANKARAGÜCÜ vs. ANKARASPOR - 13:30
VESTEL MANİSASPOR vs. KAYSERİSPOR - 13:30
SİVASSPOR vs. TRABZONSPOR - 15:00
FENERBAHÇE vs. ISTANBUL BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDIYESPOR - 19:00 (12:00 Noon EST in the U.S.)

Halil Altintop Sees Potential Fenerbahce Future

2008-01-12T08:31:00.001-05:00

Halil Altintop Sees Potential Fenerbahce Future
By Nathan L. Redd

Two of Turkiye's best players playing abroad include brothers Halil and Hamit Altintop, who both call Germany their home. Hamit, at Bayern Munich and Halil, at Schalke 04, have been rumored to be coming back to Turkiye in the past. Recently Halil told Turkish newspaper Zaman that while he has no plans to return to Turkiye anytime soon, both he and his brother would like to play in the Turkcell Super Lig in the future, and Fenerbahce would be a welcome destination for both.

Halil told Zaman "I’m happy to be in Germany and play there. Currently, I’m not thinking about returning to Turkiye. Although they offered me very nice terms, I did not accept any offer. Building a good career is my first and foremost priority. But when the time comes in the future, I, with my brother Hamit, would like to play in Turkiye."

The Zaman interview went on to quote Halil Altintop as saying Fenerbahce had made an offer for him in the past. He stated that Fenerbahce is considered a top European club outside of Turkiye, and he felt that the best European players would consider offers to play in Kadikoy.

To read the Zaman article and interview, click on http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=131467 .

Fener Moves Up to #22 in Club World Rankings

2008-01-10T11:46:00.000-05:00

Fener Moves Up to #22 in Club World Rankings
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce picked up another accolade this week following their string of UEFA Champions League success. The Yellow Canaries rose to #22 in the Club World Rankings, up seven spots from their previous setting at #29. According to the Club World Rankings of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, Fenerbahce accumulated 187 points to jump seven spots.

The top spot in the rankings is held by a club Fener fans will get to know well. Sevilla, Fenerbahce's next UEFA Champions League opponent, sits at #1 in the rankings.

AC Milan Commits to Ronaldo

2008-01-09T23:36:00.000-05:00

AC Milan Commits to Ronaldo
By Nathan L. Redd

With the flurry of names mentioned as possible targets for Fenerbahce, none is bigger than AC Milan star Ronaldo. However, the Italian club has reportedly committed to keeping the superstar through at least the end of the season.

"Ronaldo will stay here surely through June 30, but if he's well both he and we will want to continue this relationship," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said Wednesday after AC Milan's training camp in Dubai. American TV network Fox Soccer Channel also confirmed the report Thursday evening. Galliani went on to say "I'm happy Ronaldo has returned. Now we have the entire squad available."

Ronaldo himself told reporters "My wish is to earn an important position in Milan ... what counts now is that I feel good and I want to start playing again."

Fenerbahce has been linked with a deal to bring the superstar to Kadikoy, but the club has denied any truth to the rumors. It is believed that President Aziz Yildirim and the board are scouting at least one other striker for a potential move to Turkiye during the transfer window.

Fener Target Alves May Stay in Holland

2008-01-09T23:28:00.000-05:00

Fener Target Alves May Stay in Holland
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce Worldwide reported Tuesday that Heerenveen (Holland) star Afonso Alves had linked himself with Fenerbahce. It appears that Heerenveen may have been seeking leverage from another Dutch suitor, AZ Alkmaar, instead.

Alves stated on his personal website this week that Fenerbahce and English side Manchester City were interested in signing the Brasilian-born striker. However, Brasil's Jornal dos Sports claims that Alves will sign with AZ Alkmaar as early as Thursday for approximately 15 Million Euros. Additionally, Brasilian TV Network Rede Globo claims Alves’s agent, Roberto Tibúrcio, is already in the Netherlands working out a deal with AZ president Dirk Scheringa.

With the January transfer window now in full swing, Fenerbahce has yet to make a move on the transfer front. Zico has indicated that several players could be leaving during the mid-season window, but the club has remained mum on any transfers thus far.

Roberto Carlos May Return to Brasil National Team

2008-01-09T23:14:00.001-05:00

Roberto Carlos May Return to Brasil National Team
By Nathan L. Redd

Despite retiring from the Brasil National Team over a year and a half ago, Fenerbahce superstar Roberto Carlos is considering a return to his native country's side. Carlos did an interview earlier this week with Brasilian magazine Invicto and talked about the negative end to his international career.

"My real image is that I have played 132 games with the national team, with only 16 defeats. I think people made up an unfair, disrespectful image," he told Invicto. "I want to return because I feel well. I do not even care about being in the starting line-up. I am going to work to win. I would return with my head up, and happy."

Carlos will be 37 years old when the 2010 World Cup arrives, but the Fenerbahce star remained confident about his ability. "I think I am in a position to play (in the 2010 World Cup). I am physically fit. The physical aspect is what is most important," he stated.

Carlos stressed that his current fitness is as good as its ever been, leading to a possible return to Brasil's National Team. "I am going through the best part of my career. When I think the time is right, I will call (Brasilian Manager Dunga) to talk, with no pressure, about his plans for me. I think that the player must take that initiative."

Dutch Star Hoping for Fenerbahce Move

2008-01-08T22:34:00.000-05:00

Dutch Star Hoping for Fenerbahce Move
By Nathan L. Redd

Dutch striker Afonso Alves has a rapidly rising profile in Europe and he's using it to his advantage. The star of Holland's Heerenveen Football Club is looking to make a move abroad during the January transfer window, and Fenerbahce sits at the top of his list.

According to Alves, Fenerbahce has offered a deal for the Brasilian-born star. Alves also claims that English sides Manchester City and Middlesbrough are interested. Fellow Dutch side AZ Alkmaar had hoped to sign Alves but are close to admitting defeat.

Setanta Sports quotes Alves as saying "I hope my transfer is decided this week,” said Alves. “I want to further my career and I want to remain in the picture of national coach Dunga. That won’t happen at Heerenveen.” Alves also stated on his personal website that Fenerbahce is prepared to offer 20 Million Euros to bring the star to Kadikoy. He said in an interview just over a week ago “I expect that my move to one of the two clubs will be sealed when I’m back in the Netherlands.”

Fortis Turkiye Cup Bore: Kayserispor 0 - 0 Fenerbahce

2008-01-07T01:24:00.000-05:00

Fortis Turkiye Cup Bore: Kayserispor 0 - 0 Fenerbahce
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Yet another weak performance was put forth by the Yellow Canaries today in the Fortis Turkiye Cup, when Fenerbahce faced Kayserispor for the second match of the group stages. As the score suggests, there was not much excitement going on in the match, and the only positive thing Fener came away with from the game was that none of the players suffered any injuries.

Kayseri has always been a tough opponent for Fenerbahce, as evidenced by the 2-1 defeat they suffered earlier this year at, again, the Kayseri home grounds. All the Anatolian teams put forth a special performance whenever they face the Big 3 of Istanbul, since all the players give their best to showcase themselves for the transfer period. As Kayseri is one of the strongest of the bunch, it was expected for Fenerbahce to have a tough time today. However, not many people expected such a weak display. Fenerbahce was falling apart everywhere on the pitch, and only the magnificent performance of Volkan Demirel kept the scoreline level.

Another problematic factor that possibly slowed down the gameplay was the weather condition. As also stated by the players after the game, the pitch was mostly frozen for the whole game, and when this was coupled with the -15 Degrees Celsius the players came to from the 20 Degrees Celsius of their training camp city Antalya, weather could easily be used as a mitigating factor of the poor performance. However, for a team that is aspiring to be a European giant, this definitely is not enough of an excuse. Players will travel all over Europe and face harsher conditions than they faced today in Kayseri in the years to come, both in the UEFA Cup and the Champions League. Will the frozen grass be an acceptable excuse then?

One lesson that was hopefully learned by the Board of Fenerbahce today was that this team definitely needs some transfers to support the current squad. As Zico has said earlier this week, the midfield is losing some valuable players this second half, since Tumer will be leaving the squad one way or another, and Appiah will at least be out with an injury for the next 6 months. Deniz and Alex are recovering from lesser injuries, but today we have seen how weak the midfield can be with the currently available players. Ugur Boral and Ali Bilgin are both hard working and talented players, but they are not ready to hold the midfield for as big a team as Fenerbahce yet. On top of that, today the brain of the team, Maestro Alex, was also unavailable, and we got the chance to (yet again) see how dull the football becomes without him to lead the flow of the game. The Board keeps denying every transfer rumor as soon as they start circulating, and holds some kind of a bizarre record in this area, with 24 denials for Ronaldo, 19 for Adriano, and 18 for Mehmet Topuz (Source: http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/spor/futbol/7975039.asp?gid=211&sz=53744 ). Hopefully, these denials are just tactics to keep the prices of the players they are interested in going up, and Fenerbahce is, contrary to what they keep declaring on the official website, making some transfer negotiations behind the scenes. The only glimmer of hope in this area is that Fenerbahce had denied the transfer of Roberto Carlos 9 times, before it finally happened.

Fenerbahce was poor on the pitch today, that much is certain. However, this is after all the Turkish Cup and not many fans care about it too much. Also, there are two more games Fener is going to play, and they will most likely qualify out of the group stages by winning these last two against lower league teams. The possibility of Fenerbahce not qualifying to the next stage is not what is worrying from today's match. What worries the fans is the level of performance when Alex is missing from the team. The only serious difference between today's team and the "Ace" team of Fenerbahce was Alex, and that apparently was enough to pull down the quality of the performance down a couple of notches. One cannot help but worry about the possibility of Alex suffering a serious injury and missing out a month or more...

If the Board does not act soon and bolster the midfield, and possibly also the strikers, of the team, Fenerbahce will have a seriously hard time of keeping up the success level of the first half. Our hope as the fans is that the remaining 25 days of the January transfer period will be used wisely and the team will be prepared, by the end of the month, for all but the most serious of the injury crises.

(Photo courtesy of Hurriyet.com.tr)

Match Day: Fortis Turkiye Cup

2008-01-06T07:32:00.001-05:00

Match Day: Fortis Turkiye Cup
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce is in snowy, cold Kayseri today as they try to work toward ending one of the longest cup droughts in club history. The Fortis Turkiye Cup resumes today with Fenerbahce taking on Kayserispor at Ataturk Stadium.

The Fortis Turkiye Cup, formerly known as the Turkiye Cup and the Federation Cup, has been an on-going tournament in Turkish futbol since 1962. Fener rivals Besiktas are the current holders of the championship, having defeated Kayseri Erciyesspor last season. Fenerbahce's failure to finish in the top two last year only exacerbated the Canaries' drought. Despite their overall success, Fener has not captured the Cup title since the 1982-1983 season. They came close in 2005 and 2006, finishing second to Galatasaray and Besiktas, respectively. Since the Cup began in 1962, Fenerbahce has won the Fortis Turkiye Cup only four times, putting them behind Galatasaray, Besiktas, and Trabzonspor.

As Fenerbahce wraps up their Antalyan mid-season camp, many questions hover over the team as the January transfer window is underway. The future of Fener stars Mateja Kezman, Stephen Appiah, Tumer Metin, and Mehmet Aurelio has been questioned, while Zico has publicly eluded to some new faces (such as Ronaldo) coming to Kadikoy during the season's second half as well. Additionally, original first team goalkeeper Serdar Kulbilge is nearly ready to return to the team's lineup for the season's second half, challenging rising star Volkan Demirel for the starting spot.

Fenerbahce will enter Sunday's game as the second place team in the Turkcell Super Lig, tied with Sivasspor with 37 points. Kayserispor is not far behind, sitting in fifth place with 26 points, but eight points behind fourth place Besiktas. Both teams will not only look to continue their Fortis Turkiye Cup run, but get their squads prepared for the stretch run of the Turkcell Super Lig.

Kickoff of Fenerbahce vs. Kayserispor in the Fortis Turkiye Cup is set for 19:00 (12:00 Noon EST in the U.S.) on Sunday in Kayseri. Bünyamin Gezer has been announced as the referee for today's match by the Turkish Futbol Federation.

Fenerbahce May Be In The Transfer Market After All

2008-01-04T17:03:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce May Be In The Transfer Market After All
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Fenerbahce fans love their team to death, that much is certain. However, if they were asked, one of the first things they would complain about is how the club denies every transfer rumour, even if they are in bid for that player, until the signing has been realized for certain. Every fan knows that more than half of the transfer rumours in circulation are fraud, and they are more annoyed with the newspapers who circulate them than the club board who denies them, but they would like to at least know a bit more about the transfer possibilities, before the players actually show up on the pitch, which is usually when the fans find out about them.

Zico was featured in a TSYD (Turkiye Spor Yazarlari ve Spor Kulubu Dernegi - Turkish Sports Writers and Sports Clubs Foundation) organization with Roberto Carlos, and gave the fans a new hope in terms of seeing new faces in the second half of the year. Zico was quoted as saying "Alex and Deniz are recovering from their injuries, however if I am going to lose both Appiah and Tumer in the second half, I will be asking for a transfer to be made to support the midfield." What do you know, Fenerbahce migh actually be in the transfer market after all!

Other than the transfer news, Zico said that he and his staff has been given a very positive working environment in Fenerbahce, and that it has been helping both the technical staff and the players. Zico also commented on how the Fener players are committed to their work and how respectful they are of him, and praised them on their professionalism.

Camp Updates from Antalya

2008-01-04T15:46:00.001-05:00

Camp Updates from Antalya
By Nathan L. Redd

As Fenerbahce continues it's mid-season training camp in Antalya, Fenerbahce TV has sent a crew to follow the team through its preparations. "Kamp Günlüğü" will provide updates on the team from Antalya. Kamp Günlüğü airs on Friday at 23:00 (4 PM EST in the U.S.) and will re-air Saturday at 14:00 (7 AM EST in the U.S.) on Fenerbahce TV. You can watch Fenerbahce TV free online at http://fbtv.mail2web.com/

Fenerbahce, Ronaldo Possibly Close to Deal?

2008-01-04T11:58:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce, Ronaldo Possibly Close to Deal?
By Nathan L. Redd

One of the biggest names being talked about during the January transfer window is AC Milan star Ronaldo, who has been linked to Fenerbahce and a number of European and South American powers. According to Brasilian website Globosporte.com, the Canaries could be close to a deal to bring the striker to Kadikoy.

Globosporte quotes Fener Manager Zico as having said he wants Ronaldo in the Fener lineup for the UEFA Champions League run. Fenerbahce has denied the report thus far. Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports that Fenerbahce has in fact offered a deal to AC Milan to bring the maligned striker to Turkiye.

Fenerbahce Linked to CSKA Moscow's Wagner Love

2008-01-04T11:52:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce Linked to CSKA Moscow's Wagner Love
By Nathan L. Redd

With the January transfer window in effect, rumors are flying about who is coming and who is going from Kadikoy. One name that continues to be mentioned is Wagner Love, the Brasilian-born striker from CSKA Moscow. Fenerbahce got a fantastic chance to evaluate Love during their two matches against CSKA in the UEFA Champions League. Love reportedly grew weary of being in Moscow and was most certainly destined to leave.

Fenerbahce is rumored to be interested in bringing in at least one additional striker during the January transfer window. The club has denied interest in most of the players being rumored and has not confirmed a desire to bring in any new transfers definitively.

Izmir Fans Visit Fenerbahce Worldwide Office

2008-01-04T11:42:00.000-05:00

(L-R: Başar Gencel, Nathan Redd, Beth Mitchell-Gencel)

Izmir Fans Visit Fenerbahce Worldwide Office
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce Worldwide was honored to have two of Fenerbahce's biggest fans visit our office this week. Başar Gencel and his wife, Beth Mitchell-Gencel, were in Louisville, USA on holiday and stopped by the office to spend some time with the crazy American Fenerbahce fan. Başar and Beth are loyal Fenerbahce supporters in Izmir, while Beth is a native of Louisville, USA - the home of Fenerbahce Worldwide.

Their visit marks the second visit from Izmir fans in recent months who were visiting Louisville. While we don't offer the opportunity to meet anyone famous when visiting the FW office, we do offer free coffee upon request. Our office is very exquisite and fabulous - similar to Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, but with a smaller seating capacity and slightly less hooliganism.

Crystal Palace Reportedly After Kazim-Richards

2008-01-01T21:11:00.001-05:00

Crystal Palace Reportedly After Kazim-Richards
By Nathan L. Redd

It seems that Fenerbahce found a gem when they signed young star Colin Kazim-Richards from England last summer. Although the star is reportedly very happy in Turkiye, English side Crystal Palace plans to make a bid for the up-and-coming striker.

According to ClubCall.com, Crystal Palace Boss Neil Warnock hopes to make a move for Kazim-Richards during the January transfer window. Warnock knows Colin well from their tenure together at Sheffield United, Colin's home before his Fenerbahce move.

The club is hoping to make a splash with a big signing during the upcoming transfer window. Although the Croydon, England club has spent time in the Premiership, they are currently in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship - the second division of English football. They are currently in 8th place in the standings.

German, English Sides Vying for Kezman

2008-01-01T21:01:00.000-05:00

German, English Sides Vying for Kezman
By Nathan L. Redd

As reported earlier, Mateja Kezman's time in Kadikoy could be winding down according to his comments in an interview earlier this week. Fenerbahce Worldwide reported that Kezman would welcome a move to Germany's Bundesliga. Now, EyeFootball.com reports that Bundesliga clubs Hamburg and Schalke 04 are interested in the Serbian striker. Additionally, the website claims that Italian power Roma and English side Fulham are pursuing him as well.

According to EyeFootball.com, Hamburg officials have already contacted Fener about a possible transfer and/or loan for Kezman. The article cites Kezman's value at approximately £6 million (around $11.9 Million).

Kezman is still under contract with Fenerbahce, but he lost his first team position earlier this season. He also missed over a month of action with an injury.

Ghana Midfielder Wants Appiah's Number Retired

2008-01-01T20:53:00.001-05:00

Ghana Midfielder Wants Appiah's Number Retired
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce star Stephen Appiah will miss the African Cup of Nations Tournament in his home country next month, but his presence will be felt if Andre Dede has any say. Dede, a midfielder for Ghana's Black Stars National Team, wants Appiah's number 10 shirt temporarily retired during the tournament. He has asked the Ghana Football Federation to comply with his request next month, according to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

"Capito is a special person for all the players in the national team and I think our recent successes can be attributed to him," Dede told Ghanasoccernet. "He serves his country as if his life depends on it and we, the younger ones, are learning from it too and that is what has made him the player he is today."

Dede is serious about his request to honor the Fenerbahce star. "I am pleading with the authorities not to use his jersey during the Nations Cup to show him that Ghanaians really appreciate the work he has done and that his jersey will be available anytime he wants. I think from this he will know how highly Ghanaians and his colleagues hold him and when this thing is done for him he will be very happy."

Appiah is a huge star in his home country, but he's gained a reputation for not letting his success go to his head. After spending some time with him earlier this season, I can certainly attest that Appiah has not lost his humility or sense of humor. Dede claims the superstar has been a mentor to him and the other young Ghana players as well. "Since I joined the Black Stars he has made every effort to make sure I feel part of the team by encouraging and advising me and I know this is how he has dealt with other players too. His absence is a blow to the country but we can't fold our hands and do nothing. We will fight to bring glory to Appiah's name."

Ghana will host the African Cup of Nations Tournament in February 2008.

Zico, Roberto Carlos Pick Up Turkish Awards

2008-01-01T20:45:00.001-05:00

Zico, Roberto Carlos Pick Up Turkish Awards
By Nathan L. Redd

Turkish newspaper Zaman has awarded Fenerbahce Manager Zico "Futbol Coach of the Year" and Roberto Carlos "Futbol Player of the Year" for 2007. Their year-end Turkish sport awards were announced in Tuesday's edition. To read their entire article (in English), click on http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=130504

Happy New Year from Fenerbahce Worldwide!

2008-01-01T01:25:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year from Fenerbahce Worldwide!
By Nathan L. Redd

As our friends in Turkiye and across Europe wake up to 2008, the clock has just turned on another year here in the United States. From Fenerbahce Worldwide, I'd like to wish a very happy new year to all of our loyal visitors and friends around the globe. I'm excited about what 2008 holds for Fenerbahce in the Turkcell Super Lig and UEFA Champions League, and we have some big changes coming for Fenerbahce Worldwide as well. As wonderful as 2007 was, 2008 promises to be even greater.

Happy New Year / Mutlu Seneler to each of you!

Kezman Would Welcome Move to Bundesliga

2007-12-30T17:26:00.001-05:00

Kezman Would Welcome Move to Bundesliga
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce striker Mateja Kezman has endured a tumultuous season in Kadikoy. He missed much of the first half with an injury and lost his starting spot to rising star Semih Senturk. His difficulties have led to speculation that Kezman's time in Turkiye could be winding down.

Kezman recently conducted an interview with media outlet Express in which he seemed resigned to knowing that his time in Turkiye may be limited. Kezman stated he would welcome a move to another European league like the German Bundesliga. In the interview, Kezman stated “I still have a contract with Fenerbahce and know that the club are happy with me. I scored important goals last year particularly in the Cup and the Champions League. However, I think you can only play in the Turkish league for a certain amount of time." It's widely believed that the Turkcell Super Lig is a difficult league for strikers because of the defensive nature of the league, but other top goal scorers have flourished, including the rising star Semih Senturk this year.

When asked about a potential move to the Bundesliga, Kezman told Express “I love it. The style of play is similar to that in the Eredivisie where I had a super time with PSV, so I don’t think I’d find it too difficult to adapt. I think that within the next three years a German club will win a European trophy. The league has some real superstars like Ribéry, van der Vaart, Kuranyi and Pantelic. It would be an honor to play alongside such big names."

Despite his struggles and loss of starting position, Kezman remains confident in his abilities. “When I am fit, I’m among the top five strikers in Europe. If a club wants me then it’s no problem. The financial things will take care of themselves.”

Speculation in Istanbul has been that Kezman may be on his way out during the January transfer window. It is believed that Fenerbahce will make several moves, and AC Milan star Ronaldo has been mentioned as a possible newcomer to Turkiye. Fener has not issued any specific statement recently regarding the status of Mateja Kezman.

Fener Denies Aurelio-Valencia Swap

2007-12-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

Fener Denies Aurelio-Valencia Swap
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce issued a statement late this week denying the transfer speculation involving midfielder Mehmet Aurelio. Rumors had begun circulating that Aurelio could be swapped with Spanish side Valencia in exchange for striker Nikola Zigic. Fener had been linked with an interest in Zigic in the past.

Fenerbahce denied any current interest in Zigic, as well as any agreement to send Aurelio packing. In addition, the club denied any interest in CSKA Moscow's Brasilian star Wagner Love. "The report that our player, Roberto Carlos, has met with Love is false as well. Fenerbahçe does not employ its players for its transfer work, which is conducted by the transfer committee and technical committee," the statement said.

Fenerbahce issued a myriad of statements denying potential transfer rumors this week, including one that would send Can Arat to Konyaspor next month. While it is believed that Fener will make some transfer moves during the January transfer window, a move to send Mehmet Aurelio away from Kadikoy is highly unlikely. The Brasilian-born star has been a target for several European clubs in the past, but the midfielder has Turkish nationality and is a star for Fatih Terim's Milli Takim Turkish national team. Because of the foreign player rule, Fenerbahce is unlikely to part with either Aurelio or Wederson, another Brasilian-born star with Turkish nationality. If Aurelio or Wederson were to leave the Sari Lacivert, Fenerbahce would likely have to replace them with other Turkish stars rather than foreign-born players - a move the club is not likely to make.

Zico Hosts Charity Match in Brasil

2007-12-28T23:53:00.001-05:00

Zico Hosts Charity Match in Brasil
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce Manager Zico took advantage of the holiday break by returning to his homeland of Brasil and hosting a charity match in Rio de Janeiro this week. Ironically, the game featured an all-star cast taking on former players from Flamengo, one of Zico's old clubs and a reported rival with Fenerbahce for the services of AC Milan's Ronaldo.

The match took place in Maracana Stadium in Rio - a venue where the record for goals scored is owned by Zico himself. More than 35,000 spectators turned out to see the Fenerbahce Manager take on world superstars such as Inter Milan's Adriano, Barcelona midfielder Deco, and Japanese star (and former Zico player) Hidetoshi Nakata. Zico led his former Flamengo teammates to an 8-5 win over the world stars.

(photo courtesy of Alalam News)

Ghana Confirms Appiah Will Miss African Cup of Nations

2007-12-28T23:45:00.001-05:00

Ghana Confirms Appiah Will Miss African Cup of Nations
By Nathan L. Redd

In a report on the BBC's website on Friday, Ghana National Coach Claude LeRoy confirmed that Fenerbahce star Stephen Appiah will miss the African Cup of Nations in February. LeRoy told BBC Sport "Even without Stephen we'll try to do our best to win the competition. That's why I want him to join us for our training camp and if possible to be with us during the tournament as well. We will use him as a special advisor because he can bring a lot to the team even without playing."

Ghana is seeking their fifth African Nations Cup in 2008. The tournament will be hosted by Ghana this time around, and the news has reportedly devastated Appiah. LeRoy knows that the home team's chances have been severely hampered by Appiah's absence. He went on to tell BBC Sport "It's terrible news for all the Ghanaian people because it won't be the same team without him. It was difficult for me to sleep when I heard the news that he was out. It's a huge problem."

Stats from the Super Lig's First Half

2007-12-28T23:43:00.001-05:00

Stats from the Super Lig's First Half

Turkish Daily News recently published an article (in English) citing some of the fundamental stats from the Turkcell Super Lig's first half. To read the article, click on http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=92383

Appiah Could Be Exiting Kadikoy

2007-12-28T23:27:00.001-05:00

Appiah Could Be Exiting Kadikoy
By Nathan L. Redd

After missing most of the 2007-2008 season, rumors are circulating that Fenerbahce's Stephen Appiah may be leaving the club soon. According to one report in Turkish newspaper Milliyet, Fenerbahce has requested to void the contract of Appiah based on his current health and fitness. Appiah missed the end of last year's championship campaign and has been sidelined for nearly all of this season with a knee injury. He underwent surgery to correct the problem, but more medical issues have arisen for the Ghana star. According to one report, a circulatory issue is not only threatening Appiah's current fitness level, but possibly could shorten his career.

Appiah went to Torino, Italy recently to seek a second opinion on the potential surgery after hearing from Turkish doctors. The midfielder seemed resigned to possibly skipping the surgery, and he's been adamant about his ability to return to the pitch this season. He recently issued a statement saying he hopes to play for his native Ghana in the African Cup of Nations which begins in early February.

Fenerbahce may be preparing for life after Appiah by looking at transfer options during the January transfer window. The club could be seeking a definitive answer on Appiah's future as they look forward to bringing new talent into Turkiye.

Fener Target Ronaldo Not Going to Brasil

2007-12-28T23:20:00.000-05:00

Fener Target Ronaldo Not Going to Brasil
By Nathan L. Redd

After rampant speculation recently involving potential Fenerbahce target Ronaldo, AC Milan has issued a statement denying that the star is headed for his home country. Brasilian squad Flamengo publicly announced they were in negotiations with AC Milan to bring Ronaldo to Brasil. Flamengo Vice-President Kleber Leite stated earlier this week "We've had preliminary conversations, noting that he wants to change the direction of his life."

AC Milan quickly issued a statement on the club's official website shortly thereafter. The statement read “A.C. Milan denies to have started a negotiation with Flamengo for the transfer of Ronaldo; therefore also denies to have authorized the same Brazilian club for an eventual agreement with the footballer.”

It has been widely speculated that Ronaldo will leave AC Milan this year, and Fenerbahce has been a possible destination mentioned for the star.

End of the First Half: The Season So Far, Part 2

2007-12-24T21:18:00.001-05:00

End of the First Half: The Season So Far, Part 2
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Now that the holiday season has crept in, the Turkish Super League news will also go into a deep slumber, with the occasional transfer rumor making the silence a little more bearable. However, there is always the first half of the season to discuss, and Fener fans will not tire easily from hearing about it, seeing as how it has been the most successful first half ever for the century-old club.

Nevertheless, the first few weeks of the season were far from being glamorous for Fenerbahce. Even though Fener had qualified for the Champions League by beating Anderlecht, there were protests, although muffled, amongst the fans against the poor form the team was showing in the league. Truth be told, the discontent could not be easily labeled as unwarranted, since Fenerbahce was 7 points behind their arch-rivals Galatasaray, with only 2 wins out of the first 6 six league games. The situation was far from hopeless, but the fans, dreading being pushed out of the title race this early on, were going as far as asking for the resignation of Zico. This was hardly news for Fenerbahce, or for any other Turkish club for that matter, since it is almost the custom to kill off the manager first, whenever things get bad. This had been extra true for Fenerbahce for the past year and a half, as most people saw Zico as an "intern" who did not know enough of "European" football, and were ready to see him get fired as soon as he made even the slightest mistake.

Now, about 4 months after those troubled times in the Turkish Super League, almost all the fans are pressuring the Fenerbahce Board to renew the contract of Zico as soon as possible, and it is not because they have suddenly started liking the way he dresses. After the weak performances of the first 6 weeks, Fener players pulled themselves together and managed to win 9 out of the next 11 games of the first half of the season, including 3 derby wins. When this was coupled with the historical success Fener achieved at the Champions League, the fans were more than happy to keep seeing Zico at the head of Fenerbahce. The question is: How long will Zico enjoy this positive wave before the general attitude changes for the worse again? This might seem like an unnecessarily negative way of looking at things, but anyone who has watched the Turkish League with a critical eye can see this trend easily: Things go well, all the players and the manager are heroes in the eyes of the public and they should all be awarded the key to the city, things change for the worse, we should have the heads of everyone responsible, starting from the manager of course, and start looking at new players and/or manager(s) to attract to the club, in order to start the vicious cycle all over again. This has always been the case with the Turkish clubs, and it will most likely be the case for the foreseeable future.

So what triggers this inefficient cycle? Or rather, what keeps the gears oiled so the events always unfold this way, regardless of the team in question? What can be, and most likely, should be done in order to prevent this from happening? How did Fenerbahce manage to break this unfruitful chain, and to what extent did this contribute to the success they are enjoying this season?

Check back in a few days for the answers to all of the aforementioned questions in Part 3 of our "Season So Far" series here on Fenerbahce Worldwide.

Happy Holidays from Fenerbahce Worldwide

2007-12-24T18:38:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays from Fenerbahce Worldwide
By Nathan L. Redd

One of my favorite things about operating this website is checking the visitor statistics every day - seeing how many visitors we have, where they are from, etc. We have a lot of visitors from Turkiye, USA, England, Canada, and Brasil obviously, but nearly every time I check I'm surprised to see visitors from El Salvador, Japan, Israel, Kuwait, Iran, Palestine, Iceland, Australia, and everywhere else you can imagine. Sometimes as I'm looking at the locations, I sit and wonder who these people are, what their lives are like, etc. Chances are if you are reading this, I've probably sat and thought about you and what brought you to this blog. I can honestly say that I am thankful for each and everyone of you who visit this site, whether it is once or daily.

As most of you know, I am American and was born to American parents. I had very little connection to Turkiye before becoming a Fenerbahce fan. Although my nationality and passport says that I'm American, my heart is Turkish. Because of this, I consider myself fortunate to celebrate Christmas as well as Bayram/Eid, etc. That is what I love about being a part of the Fenerbahce Cumhuriyeti (Fenerbahce Republic). I spoke very little Turkish when I started this website, and my Turkish is still spotty at best now. However, being a Fenerbahce fan is more than belonging to a specific nationality, religion, or race. It doesn't matter where you live, what holidays you celebrate, or what your personal convictions are - Fenerbahce is larger than us all. The Fenerbahce Republic welcomes us regardless of what our backgrounds are. I experienced this firsthand when I attended my first Fenerbahce match just two months ago. If I had a nickel for every time another fan told me "you are my brother" I would be a wealthy man. However, this had very little to do with me. They would do the same for you as well. That is what makes Fenerbahce the greatest club on Earth - the fans themselves. The Fenerbahce Republic welcomes us all.

I say this because we are ALL Fenerbahce. Some of us will celebrate Christmas today, some will celebrate Bayram/Eid, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or another holiday. However, we are all united as part of the Fenerbahce Cumhuriyeti.

No matter where in the world you are as you read this, I hope these holidays are wonderful for you and your family. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Bayram/Eid, Hannukah, or something else, I hope and pray that the holidays bring you joy and happiness. From my friend Ozgur Nazilli and myself, thank you for visiting our website. Merry Christmas and Iyi Bayramlar to each of you!

End of the First Half: The Season So Far, Part 1

2007-12-23T20:46:00.000-05:00

End of the First Half: The Season So Far
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Now that the first half of the 2007-2008 Turkish Super League is over, one can look back and see that it has been an interesting 17 weeks for the big 3 (Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Galatasaray). Before these weeks are analyzed from the perspective of Fenerbahce, I would like to first congratulate Sivasspor and pay my respects to the Board, the manager, and the players of that team. Everyone who has even followed the Turkish League for one season knows that the title will most definitely go to one of the big three. If by some big miracle the Istanbulian three manages to miss the title, the recipient will certainly be Trabzonspor, who is considered by some as the 4th member of the big 3. However, this year, Sivasspor, whose budget is probably a tenth of Fenerbahce's, have managed to secure the top spot going into the break, with some very solid performances over the past 17 weeks. Even though their Manager Bulent Uygun had made a declaration stating that "they cannot be Champions", they certainly look like they will be contending the coveted title until the very end. So a sincere congratulations from the Fenerbahce Worldwide staff to Sivasspor, for beating all the odds and financial troubles to finish the first half as the leader of the League.

Now that we have done our job as partly-objective futbol fans, we can go back to focusing on Fenerbahce.

As a friend of mine who is much older than I am and also is a fellow Fener fan was saying to me just a day ago, "we are lucky to be living in this time as Fenerbahce fans". When I think back to older times, I can easily see his point. Before, just a few years ago, Fener fans were very disillusioned with their team and even though they continued supporting Fenerbahce, the tagline of the games were "Ah it's Fenerbahce, what did we expect?". Fener had a very unfortunate tendency to lose very easy games back then, as exemplified by the catastrophic defeat against Pendikspor. However, the picture would not improve against the big teams, since whenever Fenerbahce went out to Europe, the result would be a huge disappointment for each and every Fener fan.

Now, a new era is slowly creeping in for Fenerbahce. The winds of change are blowing away the bad memories into the distant past, and bringing in the golden age for both Fenerbahce, and consequently for the Fener fans. This year has been the most successful year ever in the 101 year history of the Yellow and Navy, and we are lucky enough to be witnessing it. Fenerbahce first qualified for the group stages of the Champions League by beating, in both the home and the away game, Anderlecht, who is a constant participant in the European tournaments. Then, the real miracle happened and Fener enjoyed an immensely successful Champions League run, starting with the 1-0 victory against the Italian giants Inter, and ending with the 3-1 victory against the 2005 UEFA Cup winners CSKA Moscow. This run earned Fenerbahce 11 points, which also was the most ever points won by a Turkish team in the Champions League.

Contrary to the glamorous European campaign, the league was not going so well for Fenerbahce, with the Yellow Canaries trailing as much as 7 points behind the leaders at one point back in the earlier weeks. However, Fenerbahce managed the unthinkable, at least, unthinkable for the people who knows Fener's past, and the Yellow and Navy players pulled themselves together, and kept it together, both in the European Champions League and the Turkish League, which resulted in them qualifying out of the group stages in the Champions League, and finishing the first half of the league at the top, with the same number of points as the leaders Sivasspor. This feat, which Fenerbahce had never managed before, is why this year is inarguably the most successful year for Fenerbahce so far. The only thing on the minds of the fans now is that hopefully Fenerbahce will be able to keep this pace up and be as successful in the second half too.

With this, we are concluding the first part of our "The Season So Far" series. Check back in a few days to read the rest of the series on Fenerbahce Worldwide.

Goal Galore at Kadikoy: Fenerbahce 3 - 2 Trabzonspor

2007-12-22T15:41:00.000-05:00

Goal Galore at Kadikoy: Fenerbahce 3 - 2 Trabzonspor
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

5 goals in 35 minutes, and a 3-2 scoreline was what ensured the winning streak of Fenerbahce to continue, and let the players go on the winter break with clear heads.

The match was as fast as they get in the Turkish Super League, with the opening coal coming in only the 4th minute. Deivid, with inarguably the best goal of the game, found the back of the net from outside the penalty area with a scorcher. After that, the goals just kept coming, with the scoreboard showing 3-2 at the 35th minute. However, the goals ended as abruptly as they had started, and the final score was the same as it was at the end of the first half, even though it looked like both sides would score more in the second half.

Both teams, from the very beginning, were concentrated fully on attacking. Fenerbahce was, as usual, out to win the match, especially since it was played in Kadikoy. However, Trabzon had the same aim too, and therefore had a very open playing style to get some scoring chances. When this was coupled with the fact that both Edu and Lugano were unavailable for the game, Trabzon scored two easy goals, which even though was not enough to let them come away with some points, still kept Fenerbahce on edge until the very end.

This game has been a good chance to see how vital a role both Edu and Lugano plays in the success of Fenerbahce. Onder and Yasin are both promising players, but we have seen that they are not yet ready to take over the central defense positions, which are the most unforgiving positions of all. A player in an attacking position can miss many scoring opportunities and he will be seen as a "good" player at the end of the game as long as he scores one. However, as a defender, you have to be perfect, because even if you cut off 10 attacks, you will be criticized at the end even if you have missed only one which led to a goal. Therefore, I applaud the decision of the Fenerbahce board, and thank them for bringing two such strong defenders. We have seen today that yes Alex, Roberto Carlos, and Zico have all played very important roles in the success of Fenerbahce this year, but the Edu-Lugano duo have been the unnamed heroes of this year's campaign.

All in all, it was an entertaining match for both of the parties involved. Fener fans have of course walked away happier, since they collected all 3 points, and also increased their winning streak to 5 straight games. Hopefully, the break will not be too much of a distraction, and Fenerbahce will return to the league in full force, with possibly a one or two additions to the squad.

(Photo courtesy of Hurriyet.com)

Fenerbahce - Trabzonspor: Match Preview

2007-12-21T17:36:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce - Trabzonspor: Match Preview
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Now that the suspense over the European Champions League draw is over (which handed a pretty tough opponent to Fenerbahce, but then again, at this stage of Champions League, who isn't a tough opponent?), Fener fans can finally concentrate back on the Turkish League, with no European games for the next 2 months.

Fenerbahce have been going through one tough match after the other for the past few weeks, and did very well so far, with 4 consecutive wins in the Turkish League, crowned by a CSKA Moscow win. However, Fener's work is far from being done for the first half of the season, with still a derby-like match to go against Trabzonspor.

Trabzon, touted as the 4th biggest team in Turkey by many, has always been a tough game for Fenerbahce. For the past few years, Fenerbahce has been beating Trabzon, but never with a comfortable margin. Looking at the past, Fener have not lost a single league game to Trabzon for 6 years, with the most recent victory of Trabzon being a 2-1 win in December, 2001. However, during this 6 year period, Fener only managed to win 2 games with a margin of 2 goals or more, and the most recent one was back in 2004. This shows that even though Fener has an advantage over Trabzon, the players had to grind out the victory each and every time, with Trabzon never giving an easy time to Fenerbahce.

The last game between the two sides was back in May 2007 in İzmir, which ended in a 2-2 draw. That game was especially significant for the Fener side, as it also marked the point at which Fenerbahce had won the 2006-2007 Turkish League.

Fenerbahce's team has undergone a big change in the past 7 months since the last game against Trabzonspor, which cost them the likes of Tuncay, who had scored the first goal against Trabzon in the 2-2 draw, but fortified them with a living legend, Roberto Carlos, who brought in more than just his experience. With the coming of Carlos, Fenerbahce has become a different team. It is true that the efforts of Zico and Alex also played important roles in this change towards the better Fenerbahce is going through, but no one can argue against the fact that the presence of Roberto Carlos instills courage and self belief in every Fener player on the pitch, which made it possible for them to beat a European giant, Internazionale, and qualify out of the Champions League groups with a record number of 11 points.

Fenerbahce has built a good momentum now, and Zico and his players will be looking to keep it rolling into the winter break. However, Trabzonspor has also been regrouping and climbing up the spots in the Turkish League, with two wins in the last two games.

It will surely be a difficult game for Fener, especially since the defensive duo of Edu and Lugano are both unavailable for the game due to yellow cards. However, Fenerbahce are still the favorites to come out on top, as they always are in home games.

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule

2007-12-21T12:18:00.000-05:00

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule
By Nathan L. Redd

Friday, December 21:

Vestel Manisaspor v. Besiktas - 20:00

Saturday, December 22:

Ankaragucu v. Kayserispor - 14:00
Konyaspor v. Kasimpasa - 14:00
Fenerbahce v. Trabzonspor - 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.)

Sunday, December 23:

Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor vs. Gaziantepspor - 14:00
Caykur Rizespor v. Denizlispor - 14:00
Bursaspor v. Ankaraspor - 14:00
Sivasspor v. Genclerbirligi - 15:30
Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor v. Galatasaray - 19:00

Sevilla Pleased with Fenerbahce Draw

2007-12-21T12:05:00.000-05:00

Sevilla Pleased with Fenerbahce Draw
By Nathan L. Redd

After drawing each other in the first knockout round of UEFA Champions League, both Fenerbahce and Spanish side Sevilla seem pleased with the matchup. Following the Friday morning draw, Sevilla Director Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo spoke with the media.

"We cannot be unhappy. Our first choice would have Olympiakos, then Celtic and then Fenerbahçe. We have to respect a side that has very good players. They will make things very tough for us, but the positive thing is that we avoided Liverpool, Roma and Lyon. We are delighted that we finished top of our group because Arsenal finished second and they have drawn AC Milan."

Sevilla's Victor Orta spoke about the problems that Fenerbahce's Brasilian contingent could give them. "They are a team that have spent a lot of money and will probably strengthen again in the winter market," he said. "They have a few Brasilians, with the main one being Alex, and they are important. They have Aurelio, Roberto Carlos and Deivid too. Fenerbahçe are a strong team that like to attack and we wil have to be cautious of the atmosphere in the away game, but I think that technically we will have the edge."

Sevilla It Is!

2007-12-21T07:59:00.000-05:00

Sevilla It Is!
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce got the draw many fans hoped for, as the Turk Champions will face Spanish side Sevilla in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League. The draw, held in Switzerland this morning, will match Fenerbahce vs. Sevilla in the first leg on either February 19 or 20. The first leg will be played at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy.

The second leg of Fenerbahce vs. Sevilla will be played on either March 4 or 5 in Sevilla, Spain. The other matchups for the final 16 are as follows:

Celtic (Scotland) vs. Barcelona (Spain)
Lyon (France) vs. Manchester United (England)
Schalke (Germany) vs. Porto (Portugal)
Liverpool (England) vs. Inter Milan (Italy)
Roma (Italy) vs. Real Madrid (Spain)
Arsenal (England) vs. AC Milan (Italy)
Olympiakos (Greece) vs. Chelsea (England)

İyi Bayramlar, Arkadaşlarım!

2007-12-20T23:26:00.000-05:00

İyi bayramlar, Arkadaşlarım!
By Nathan L. Redd

We'd like to take a moment to wish our Turk brothers and sisters "İyi bayramlar" from Fenerbahce Worldwide. We hope that our readers around the world, both Turk and otherwise, enjoy this wonderful festival with friends and family.

To all of our Turkish-speaking readers and visitors, Kurban Bayramınızı kutlar, nice mutlu bayramlar dilerim!

Appiah Could Be Sidelined for Three More Months

2007-12-20T23:17:00.000-05:00

Appiah Could Be Sidelined for Three More Months
Fener Star Facing Major Knee Surgery
By Nathan L. Redd

Stephen Appiah has missed nearly all of the 2007 season so far, and it's possible that the midfielder could miss the entire season altogether. After consulting with specialists in Istanbul, Appiah is considering surgery on his injured knee that is expected to sideline him for three more months. The Ghana star wants to consult another specialist in Italy, however, before making the decision.

"I have had several tests and meetings with my doctors here in Turkiye over the past 48 hours and there has been nothing conclusive,” he says. “I’m actually feeling fine physically. However, I am traveling to Italy on Thursday to meet another specialist in this area for further analysis.”

Appiah suffered the original injury during the 2006-2007 championship campaign for Fenerbahce. After sitting out much of the first half of the season, Appiah returned last month but played sparingly and has since missed several more games. If he does decide to undergo surgery, he would not miss most of Fenerbahce's season, but also that of his native Ghana's 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. Appiah, however, seems willing to put off the surgery to play in his homeland's tournament. “I want my fellow countrymen and women to know I will do all it takes to be available for Ghana when the Africa Cup of Nations starts. I really want to help my country win the trophy on February 10.”

A Loose Analysis of Turkish Futbol

2007-12-20T23:14:00.001-05:00

A Loose Analysis of Turkish Futbol
By Nathan L. Redd / Emre Kizilkaya

Our good friend Emre Kizilkaya has written an excellent piece called "A Loose Analysis of Turkish Futbol" on his website. Please check out Emre's article at http://istanbulian.blogspot.com/2007/12/loose-analysis-of-turkish-football-and.html

Fener Target Adriano Heading to Sao Paolo

2007-12-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

Fener Target Adriano Heading to Sao Paolo
By Nathan L. Redd

Inter Milan star Adriano, rumored to be on Fenerbahce's wish list, is heading to his native Brazil for the rest of the season. Adriano will join Sao Paolo FC on loan from Inter Milan for six months.

Fenerbahce Worldwide correspondent Cristina Prado is in Sao Paolo and broke the news earlier this week (I've always wanted to say that.....and yes, we really do have a correspondent and she really is in Sao Paolo now :) ). Adriano will finish his contract with Sao Paolo - the contract ends on June 30, 2008. "I'm very happy with this deal," he told reporters. "Since my first day at the club, everyone has treated me very well. It will be an honor to win titles for this club. I'm going to work very hard for this and to return to the Brazil team."

It has been rumored for several months that Fenerbahce was one club in pursuit of the Brasilian star. Chelsea and West Ham United in England were also mentioned as potential destinations for the much-criticized star. Fenerbahce's Diego Lugano starred for Sao Paolo before joining the Sari Lacivert. Only time will tell if Adriano will do the same.

Rumors Continue Linking Ronaldo to Fenerbahce

2007-12-19T23:09:00.000-05:00

Rumors Continue Linking Ronaldo to Fenerbahce
By Nathan L. Redd

Rumors linking Brasilian superstar Ronaldo to Fenerbahce first began earlier this season, but the buzz is heating up once again as the winter break nears. Italy's La Repubblica reports that Fener has offered AC Milan £4m for the striker.

Ronaldo is under contract with AC Milan until the end of the season, but sources close to the club have revealed the team may be willing to let him go during the January transfer window. The star has missed nearly all of this season due to injury. He is currently sidelined with a calf injury.

La Repubblica reports that Fener is willing to offer Ronaldo a six-month contract worth approximately £2.5m. The £4m fee would be a buyout Fenerbahce would pay to AC Milan to release him in January.

Fenerbahce has denied transfer rumors in recent days involving a number of players, but the club has made no official statement regarding Ronaldo. Stay tuned to Fenerbahce Worldwide as more developments unfold.

Genclerbirligi Match No Cause for Concern

2007-12-16T16:12:00.001-05:00

Genclerbirligi Match No Cause for Concern
By Nathan L. Redd

"Did Fenerbahce really just win today?" Yes, it was one of those games for Fener on Sunday. We've seen them before and to their defense, every team has them. They were completely dominated for much of the game, looking tired and out of place. But there was one glaring difference this time: Fenerbahce pulled out a 2-1 victory.

One of the biggest knocks on Fenerbahce in recent years is a lack of focus and concentration in the Turkcell Super Lig. Critics say they take a European spot for granted and therefore play to their opponents level domestically. That criticism may be true, and Fenerbahce has had their share of duds in recent years. The Canaries started this season by dropping a 2-0 decision to newly-promoted Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor. Denizlispor has had their number several times over the years. Today appeared to be one of those domestic Fenerbahce duds. But there was one difference - Fenerbahce won this one. It may be a sign of what is to come for this club.

Anyone who watches Turk futbol knows that the style of play is very different. It's very aggressive and less fluid than many other European leagues. Contrary to the beliefs of many Turks, I for one feel that the level of competition is fantastic and that the league as a whole is underrated. But I agree that it's very different. Fenerbahce faces the same problem that Galatasaray and Besiktas face. With only one other champion from the afore-mentioned Istanbul three since 1959, there is an image problem for many Turk clubs. The Istanbul big three expect a European spot every year (and usually get it), while most other Turk clubs don't believe they can ever win it. The resulting factor is that many of the less-optimistic clubs play for a draw against the Istanbul three. Any point against Fener, Galatasaray, or Besiktas suits them just fine. When the Istanbul three venture out to face some of the lesser-known clubs, the games often result in a locked-down, grind-it-out style of futbol. In the few years that I've been watching Fenerbahce, I've known them to drop several of these games each year. However, good teams win bad games. It's true in any sport, which is exactly why I'm thrilled with Sunday's win.

Last weekend Fenerbahce was coming off an emotional 2-0 domination of rivals Galatasaray. Four days later, they disposed of CSKA Moscow to earn their first-ever spot in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds. Next week they'll face old rivals Trabzonspor as they get ready to take off for the winter break. The team was tired and uninspired for the "trap game" against Genclerbirligi. They played like a team not thrilled to be on the pitch, but they pulled it out in the end. That's a characteristic of good futbol teams and to be honest, something we didn't see from Fenerbahce in seasons past. Great European teams have games like this - games where they play terrible and shouldn't win. No team, despite how good they are, can play to a superior level for 34 domestic games as well as numerous European games, cup games, etc. It's those games where they look less than excited to be playing futbol that day. Often, they are matches where they are outplayed for much of the contest. I've seen AC Milan do it, I've seen Chelsea and Arsenal do it, and I've seen nearly every other traditional European power do it. But the great teams somehow win those games that they shouldn't. Just one year ago, Fenerbahce would have likely left town with no points after a game like this. This time, thanks to Semih Senturk, Fener comes back to Kadikoy with three points and five days off before they host Trabzonspor. It's way too early to say, but Fener's ugly win in Ankara may be a sign that this team is ready to take the next step in their quest for European glory. Great teams win ugly games, and at the end of season, an ugly win is still a win.

Photos from Fenerbahce 2 - 1 Genclerbirligi

2007-12-16T11:10:00.000-05:00

Click here to view Hurriyet's photo gallery from Fenerbahce's 2-1 victory over Genclerbirligi:
http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay.aspx?cid=8335&rid=155

Semih the Savior in Ankara

2007-12-16T10:39:00.000-05:00

Semih the Savior in Ankara
Fener Grinds Out Ugly 2-1 Win Over Genclerbirligi
By Nathan L. Redd

Despite being dominated in many facets throughout the game, Fenerbahce was able to grind out a 2-1 win over Genclerbirligi Sunday afternoon. The win moves Fenerbahce up with 34 points, tied with second-place Sivasspor.

The match was defined by sloppy play and controversy in Ankara. Fenerbahce, coming off two emotional wins over Galatasaray and CSKA Moscow, looked unenthused and fatigued. Sloppy passing and out of position defending helped Genclerbirligi get on the boards first with a goal by Burhan in the 10th minute. A perfectly deflected pass in the box was sent back to Burhan who put a bullet past Volkan to give the home side the lead.

The Genclerbirligi goal would energize the 16th-place side while Fener appeared to hang their heads for most of the first half. Two controversial calls that should have given Fenerbahce an opportunity to draw even were missed. Genclerbirligi goalkeeper Gokhan Tokgoz attempted to put the ball in the air to kick it out when Alex de Souza stepped in to knock the ball away. The ball bounced behind the goalkeeper and Alex put it in goal to seemingly tie the game up. However, the goal was waived off by the referee. Further review showed that Alex did not come in contact with Tokgoz. Another missed call saw a handball in the box by Genclerbirligi that everyone in the stadium noticed, except the referee. After the handball (shown in the photo above), the player was so aware of his offense that he stopped and appeared to wait for the referee's whistle, which never came. The first half would see Genclerbirligi maintain their 1-0 lead going into the break.

The second half started much like the first half ended. Sloppy passing from Fenerbahce and a lack of energy again allowed Genclerbirligi to take control. The home side dominated the game through the first half, and the second half appeared it would be no different. A number of yellow cards were handed out, and Gokhan Gonul would get an opportunity to tie the match with an open path in the box to send the ball past Tokgoz. With no defender in front, Gonul was taken down from behind by a defender in the box, which should have resulted in a penalty kick. Again, the call was missed and Fener would have to press on.

Semih Senturk has been the hero for Fenerbahce on so many occasions this year, and number 23 would come to the rescue again in Ankara. Sixty-six minutes in, Semih was able to put the ball just over the head of Tokgoz at the top of the goal to get the equalizer. With at least a draw seeming likely, Fener went on the attack looking for more. Semih's goal was an obvious momentum-changer, as the counter-attacking from Genclerbirligi that we had seen in the first half seemed to disappear. Fener created more opportunities in the last 25 minutes, something they sorely lacked in the first half. Finally, five minutes before the end of regulation, Fener would get the second goal they needed. A beautifully placed free kick to the left side of the box found Semih Senturk again waiting, where he put a magnificent header past Tokgoz who was caught off-guard and off-balance. The second goal from Semih sealed the win for Fenerbahce, who will leave Ankara with three points.

Despite being in the relegation zone, Genclerbirligi played superb futbol through the first 65 minutes of the game, keeping Fenerbahce from find any real opportunities to score. Magnificent play from both Isaac Promise and Burhan Eser nearly created a 2-0 lead for the Ankara side on several occasions. The home side was active and energetic, not resembling a team fighting to avoid relegation at the bottom of the table. Fenerbahce clearly looked tired and unproductive, but Genclerbirligi took advantage and contributed to Fener's problems in the first half. Bulent Korkmaz had his side well-prepared, but the momentum-changing first goal from Semih took the life out of Genclerbirligi.

The win gives Fenerbahce 34 points on the season so far, tied with second-place Sivasspor. It's Fenerbahce's tenth win of the season, tied with Galatasaray and one short of Sivasspor's 11th. Fener will now head back to Kadikoy and get ready to host rivals Trabzonspor next weekend. Trabzon defeated Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor earlier in the weekend to jump up to seventh place in the standings.

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

Champions League Compilation: All Fener Goals

2007-12-16T04:12:00.000-05:00

Champions League Compilation: All Fener Goals
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Here is a good opportunity to re-live all those joyous moments of this year's Champions League group stage for Fenerbahce.

This is a video posted to YouTube by a Fenerbahce fan, so the credit is not mine. I decided to share it with the Fenerbahce Worldwide readers, since a compilation of all our goals is not so easy to find.

Enjoy!

The Genclerbirligi Perspective

2007-12-16T00:24:00.000-05:00

The Genclerbirligi Perspective
By Nathan L. Redd

Our good friends at The Round Ball in Ankara have a website that covers news and on-goings with Ankara teams Genclerbirligi and Ankaragucu. Like myself, they are also non-Turks who love Turk futbol (I'm not the only strange one).

The Round Ball in Ankara is also completely in English. To check out their perspective on Sunday's Fenerbahce opponent, visit their site at http://ankarafootball.blogspot.com/

Fenerbahce: The New Prince of Europe

2007-12-15T18:17:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce: The New Prince of Europe Represented Amongst The Top 10 Goals
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

The group stages of the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League is over, and Fenerbahce fans are still celebrating the most successful Europe campaign of the 101 year old Yellow-and-Navy Club, which they are entitled to. After all, Fenerbahce collected many honors during this year's Europe campaign, one of which is the "Most points won by a Turkish team in the group stages of the Champions League".

While Fener fans have unofficially named their team "The new Prince of Europe" amongst themselves, it looks like UEFA does not disagree either. Yesterday (14th of December), UEFA released the top 10 goals scored in the group stages, and the Canaries are represented with 2 amongst the 10, an honor only shared by the reigning champions Milan.

The phenomenal volley by Deivid, which marked the only defeat of the Group G Leaders Inter Milan, found its way to the top 10, alongside the 25 meter scorcher from Alex in the last game of the group against CSKA Moscow.

Here are the two representatives of Fenerbahce in the top 10 strikes:

Deivid Against Inter:

Alex Against CSKA:

Fenerbahce is making history nowadays, no-one can really argue against that, and will be continuing their Europe campaign in February. Regardless of what the outcome will be then, Fener fans will remember this year's Champions League with a big grin on their faces.

(The link to the UEFA.com article on the top 10 goals: http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/kind=67108864/newsid=637737.html )
(Photo courtesy of Hurriyet.com)

Volkan Silencing Critics With Superior Play

2007-12-15T08:37:00.000-05:00

Volkan Silencing Critics With Superior Play
By Nathan L. Redd

"He doesn't belong on a top team like Fenerbahce." "He's not a Super Lig-level goalkeeper." "His mistakes will cost Fenerbahce a championship." Volkan Demirel heard all of those statements and more last year. The 26-year-old Istanbul native took more hits than a mafia target last season after then-starter Rustu Recber was injured in a national team match. He was then passed up for the starting spot by third-string goalkeeper Serdar Kulbilge. As Tuncay Sanli, Umit Ozat, Serkan Balci, Mehmet Yozgatli, and Rustu Recber left Kadikoy during the summer, the quiet rumblings of concern were that Fenerbahce didn't have a top-notch goalkeeper. Then starter Serdar Kulbilge went down with a knee injury.

Enter the new Volkan Demirel. After a tumultous 2006-2007 campaign, Volkan quietly improved his game. His concentration, focus, and reflexes closely resemble his one-time mentor, Rustu. But as Rustu quietly drifts into retirement age across the Bogazici in Istanbul, Volkan is entering the prime of his career. Fenerbahce is making history in UEFA Champions League, advancing to the knockout stage for the first time in club history. The team also dominated rivals Galatasaray last weekend in Kadikoy. While Roberto Carlos, Semih Senturk, and veteran Alex de Souza have played major roles in the team's success, Volkan may be the team MVP through the first half. He's allowed only 14 goals through 15 games so far this season. Fourteen of the Super Lig's 18 teams have given up more goals so far. Most of the goals have been beyond his control, and Volkan has been at the top of his game when it mattered most. A clean sheet against world powers Inter Milan. Zero goals given up to Galatasaray. One of the previously-believed "weak spots" for Fenerbahce has quickly become a strength.

As he becomes more experienced with the first team as well as Turkiye's Milli Takim, Volkan is more focused and playing smarter futbol. He seems oblivious to the criticism, but he's quietly learned from his mistakes. After conceding what could have been a disastrous goal to CSKA Moscow earlier this week after a mistake by defender Edu Dracena, Volkan quickly re-focused and became a wall in goal for Fener. "We were trying very hard to score first, but conceding a goal actually woke us up" he said after the match. "I promised our fans to do my utmost. On Saturday we did not allow Galatasaray to score a single goal against us and my teammate Edu just made a mistake. As a result of this mistake I was not able to keep it. However, it makes us realize that we have to show a better performance" he told Fenerbahce TV.

Semih Senturk has become a dominant Super Lig scoring threat. Roberto Carlos may actually be playing better than expected. Colin Kazim-Richards, Ugur Boral, and Gokhan Gonul have all emerged as budding stars for the Yellow Canaries. Alex de Souza and Mehmet Aurelio have both provided their usual leadership for the team. While the fans relish in the team's offensive success so far, the best performance may be happening at the other end of the pitch. As a result, Zico may be faced with a difficult decision to make once Serdar Kulbilge returns from injury. Fenerbahce finally have a luxury in goal that they haven't had in quite some time.

Key Matchups Highlight Weekend Schedule

2007-12-15T08:14:00.001-05:00

Key Matchups Highlight Weekend Schedule
By Nathan L. Redd

As the first half of the Turkcell Super Lig begins to wind down, the battle for first place and to avoid relegation is just heating up. Several key matchups highlight this weekend's fixtures. The match of the week took place on Friday night, as Sivasspor's reign at the top of the Super Lig was short-lived. Galatasaray re-took the league lead at Ali Sami Yen last night. The Lions rebounded from their humiliating loss to Fenerbahce last weekend with a 2-0 win in Istanbul. GS scored back-to-back goals late in the match to claim the three points. The win puts them in first place with 35 points, one point up on Sivasspor.

Fenerbahce has a chance to move into a tie for second place with Sivasspor on Sunday. The reigning champs are in Ankara to take on Genclerbirligi during the Sunday afternoon game. While Fener is looking to move back toward the top spot, Genclerbirligi is currently sitting in the relegation danger zone at 16th place. The capital side has been a disappointment this season and are looking to keep their heads above water. While it appears to be a one-sided contest from first glance, it will be interesting to see if Fenerbahce can keep their focus and hustle after two back-to-back emotional games with Galatasaray and CSKA Moscow. The Canaries also have a rivalry game next weekend as Trabzonspor comes to Kadikoy.

The last game of the weekend is another superb matchup featuring fourth-place Besiktas hosting sixth-place Ankaragucu. Besiktas has two wins and a draw in their last three games, while Ankaragucu has slumped a little with one loss , one draw, and one win. Ankaragucu currently is tied with Konyaspor and Kayserispor with 22 points each.

In another battle to avoid relegation, Ankaraspor hosts Caykur Rizespor on Saturday. Ankaraspor currently sits in 17th place, while the Teamen from Rize are one spot out of the relegation zone. One of the biggest surprises of the first half of the season is the performance of two of the Super Lig's newly-promoted sides. Both Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor and Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor sit in the top ten of the table. Neither side looks to make their Super Lig debut a short one. Both teams are on the road this weekend, with Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor visiting disappointing Trabzonspor. The Black Sea team is usually a perenial championship contender, but the maroon and light blue side is in the bottom half of the standings in 11th place now. A Trabzon win could help them jump as high as seventh place, however, including leap-frogging their promoted opponents Saturday night.

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule

2007-12-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule
By Nathan L. Redd

Friday, December 14:

Galatasaray v. Sivasspor - 20:00

Saturday, December 15:

Gaziantepspor v. Konyaspor - 14:00
Ankaraspor v. Caykur Rizespor - 14:00
Trabzonspor v. Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor - 19:00

Sunday, December 16:

Kasimpasa v. Vestel Manisaspor - 14:00
Kayserispor v. Bursaspor - 14:00
Denizlispor v. Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor - 14:00
Genclerbiriligi v. Fenerbahce - 15:30 (8:30 AM EST in the U.S.)
Besiktas v. Ankaragucu - 19:00

Fenerbahce UEFA Knockout Phase Game One

2007-12-12T23:25:00.001-05:00

Fenerbahce UEFA Knockout Phase Game One
By Nathan L. Redd

Following Fenerbahce's historic 3-1 victory on Wednesday, it was announced that the club will host their first knockout phase game. The first leg will be played at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy on either February 19 or 20. The second leg will be played on either March 4 or 5.

Photos from Fenerbahce 3 - 1 CSKA Moscow

2007-12-12T16:59:00.000-05:00

Photos from Fenerbahce 3 - 1 CSKA Moscow
By Nathan L. Redd

Turkish media outlet Hurriyet has uploaded an extensive gallery of photos from Fenerbahce's historic win on Wednesday. To check out more photos from the game, click on http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay.aspx?cid=8255&rid=155

Celebration in Kadıköy!!!

2007-12-12T16:38:00.000-05:00

Celebration in Kadıköy!!!
3-1 Victory Makes History for Canaries
By Nathan L. Redd

No one knows how to throw a party like Fenerbahce, and the club will certainly send fans celebrating in the streets of Kadıköy tonight. Fenerbahce defeated CSKA Moscow 3-1 Wednesday to advance to the knockout stage of UEFA Champions League. The victory marks the first time in team history to advance this far.

Fener knew they had to win to put away any doubt of not advancing. The team came out attacking, with four shots in goal in the opening minutes to show CSKA they were here to win. Fener dominated ball possession at nearly 70% early on, rapid-firing shot after shot at the short-handed Russian side. However, it would be CSKA who would jump on the boards first. A mistake by Edu Dracena as goalkeeper Volkan Demirel came out of goal caused an own goal to put CSKA up 1-0. The fans at Sukru Saracoglu gasped in shock, but fortunately (especially for Edu) it wouldn't matter on this day. Two minutes later Alex de Souza took a fantastic pass off the chest, then sent a bullet past the CSKA goalkeeper for a marvelous goal to tie it at 1-1.

As the first half wound down, UEFA Champions League rookie Ugur Boral would prove to be the hero of the day. In stoppage time of the first half, the midfielder took a fantastic shot from the left side past CSKA to put Fener up 2-1. With fans eyeing the ongoing PSV Eindhoven vs. Inter Milan score, Fener gave their faithful a little breathing room going into halftime.

The second half would see CSKA come out attacking to find an equaliser, but Volkan Demirel was magnificent in goal yet again to keep the visitors from finding another goal. Fenerbahce would have several more opportunities as both Ugur Boral and Selcuk Sahin took blistering shots that hit the crossbar. Ugur Boral, however, would get one more chance to put it away and he would capitalize on it. As Inter Milan put away PSV Eindhoven guaranteeing Fenerbahce's advancement, the midfielder would score once more in the 90th minute to put Fener up 3-1. He came out of the game shortly thereafter to a thunderous applause as Mateja Kezman replaced him.

With the final whistle blown, Fenerbahce advanced to the knockout stage of UEFA Champions League for the first time. A few months ago, the promise of such victory seemed thrilling. However, the Canaries are playing superior futbol and seem like they have no intentions of ending their European dreams just yet.

Fenerbahce finished with 24 total shots to only eight for CSKA Moscow. Of those shots, 13 were on target for Fener with only three for CSKA. Fenerbahce controlled the possession 53% to 47% for the game. Gokhan Gonul picked up the only yellow card for Fener. Zico's starting eleven for the game was Volkan Demirel, Semih Senturk, Diego Lugano, Roberto Carlos, Mehmet Aurelio, Alex de Souza, Selcuk Sahin, Ugur Boral, Edu Dracena, Gokhan Gonul, and Deivid de Souza. Colin Kazim-Richards, Mateja Kezman, and Gokcek Wederson all came on as substitutes late in the game.

Check back with Fenerbahce Worldwide for more analysis, commentary, and photos of Fenerbahce's historic win!!!

(all photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

UEFA Match Day: Fenerbahce vs. CSKA Moscow

2007-12-11T23:03:00.000-05:00

UEFA Match Day: Fenerbahce vs. CSKA Moscow
By Nathan L. Redd

Wednesday could become "History Day" in Kadikoy if all goes as planned. Fenerbahce has a chance to advance to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in club history. While celebrations in Istanbul will be planned throughout the night, CSKA Moscow has other plans. Although eliminated from UEFA Champions League, the Russian side has a chance to change their fate with a gigantic upset at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

CSKA Moscow's Russian domestic league season has ended, and it will be interesting to see which team shows up Wednesday. Fans hope the Russian side puts their past behind them and plays as if this is their European championship. On the other hand, a disappointing year could get worse as turmoil seems to have settled with some of the team's top players. It will be a tremendous task to beat Fenerbahce in Kadikoy.

Fenerbahce Boss Zico is careful not to let his players celebrate prematurely. While advancing to the next round seems probable, several scenarios still have to play out for the Yellow Canaries. Simply put, if they win, they're in. However, a draw would have them relying on either a draw or loss by PSV Eindhoven. PSV hosts group champs Inter Milan in Holland on Wednesday. Zico is eager to remind his guys that while Fener is significantly more talented on paper, CSKA played them to a 2-2 draw earlier this year in Moscow. He's hoping the draw in Russia will keep his players from taking anything for granted.

Carvalho, Jo, and Vagner Love all played a significant role in CSKA's first leg against Fenerbahce. Now, all three are out for the last match and reports in Moscow indicate the Brasilian trio could be leaving Moscow permanently during the break. Vasily Berezutsky is also out for CSKA, while Elvir Rahimic, Yuri Zirkov and Dudu are all suspended for the match. Tumer Metin is out for Fenerbahce and Stephen Appiah's status is listed as questionable. Serdar Kulbilge is still out with a knee injury, while Deniz Baris is questionable with a groin injury. Gokcek Vederson is also battling the flu and his status is not known.

Fenerbahce and CSKA Moscow kick it off at 21:45 (2:45 PM EST in the U.S.) live from Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy. The game is available live on pay-per-view from UEFA.com.

FB TV's "Countdown" Live from Fenerium Wednesday

2007-12-11T22:47:00.002-05:00

FB TV's "Countdown" Live from Fenerium Wednesday
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce TV's "Countdown" will broadcast a live special episode on Wednesday. Prior to Fenerbahce's gigantic clash against CSKA Moscow, "Countdown" hosts Ipek Ustaoglu and Kivanc Ozkok will broadcast live from Fenerium at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy.

The show will go live at 18:00 from the stadium and is open to the public. If you're not in Istanbul, you can watch "Countdown" free online at http://fbtv.mail2web.com/.

Pre-game warmups Fenerbahce

2007-12-11T22:47:00.001-05:00

Our good friend Erol Asim filmed this short clip during Fenerbahce's warmups prior to the match vs. Galatasaray over the weekend. Thanks, Erol!

Fenerbahce Worldwide on FB TV's "Countdown"

2007-12-11T22:33:00.001-05:00

(L-R: Fenerbahce Worldwide's Nathan L. Redd, Ipek Ustaoglu, Kivanc Ozkok)

Fenerbahce Worldwide on FB TV's "Countdown"
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce Worldwide was again featured on Fenerbahce TV's "Countdown" program during the most recent episode. Our good friends Ipek Ustaoglu and Kivanc Ozkok are loyal supporters of Fenerbahce Worldwide and have featured our website on their program four times in the last two months.

"Countdown" airs every Friday night at 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.) on Fenerbahce TV. Special episodes also air during the week for UEFA Champions League matches and other European games for Fener. You can watch Fenerbahce TV online and free at
http://fbtv.mail2web.com/.

Turkiye Shows USA Who's Boss

2007-12-09T22:28:00.000-05:00

Turkiye Shows USA Who's Boss
By Nathan L. Redd

There's football and then there's futbol. Turkiye reminded the USA that futbol still reigns supreme outside of America with a dominant 2-0 win on Sunday. The Turkiye U-17 National Team beat the Americans on their own soil with a big victory in Bradenton, Florida.

The Americans were coming in feeling confident after a 2-0 victory over Brasil this weekend - a team that beat Turkiye handily earlier in the week. Turkiye, however, showed the USA that they still have a lot to learn when it comes to futbol. The match was the final in the USA Development Academy Nike Friendlies.

Ali Cukadar scored both goals for Turkiye in the first half. Turkiye had many opportunities as soon as the match started, earning a corner kick in the sixth minute that Ogulcan Gokce headed just over the bar. Cukadar started his dominance a few minutes later, as he passed his defender and picked up a cross from Omer Karanci cross, sending the ball sailing past U.S. goalkeeper Samir Badr. As the first half wound down, Kamil Tevfik sent a long pass for Berkin Aslan. Aslan saw Cukadar alongside him in the box, sending a beautiful pass across that Cukadar was able to put in from two yards away.

After the match, USA's Carlos Martinez said “I think we had trouble finding a rhythm today. They took advantage of the scoring opportunities they created, and we didn’t put ours away. That’s how futbol goes sometimes."

Turkiye vs. USA Match Statistics:

Participants: U.S. Under-17 MNT ‘92 vs. Turkey
Competition: Development Academy Nike Friendlies, Under-17/18 Competition
Location: IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.
Date: December 9, 2007
Weather: Warm, 83 degrees

Lineups: USA: 1-Samir Badr; 2-Zachary Herold, 3-Tyler Polak, 4-Joshua Sylva, 6-Jared Watts; 5-Marlon Duran, 7-Jaime Gutierrez, 8-Edson Lemus, 9-Jack McInerney, 11-Aaron Horton, 13-Andrew Craven

Turkiye: 2-Gokay Iravul, 4-Ogulcan Gokce, 5-Furkan Seker, 6-Baris Yardimci, 8-Orhan Gulle, 10-Berkin Kamil Arslan, 11-Gokhan Tore, 12-Sercan Hacioglu, 15-Ali Cukadar, 16-Armagan Kus, 17-Ferhat Karakaya

Statistical Summary:
Shots: 7 (USA) / 19 (Turkiye)
Shots on Goal: 5 (USA) / 9 (Turkiye)
Saves: 6 (USA) / 4 (Turkiye)
Corner Kicks: 5 (USA) / 6 (Turkiye)
Fouls: 17 (USA) / 16 (Turkiye)
Offsides: 4 (USA) / 2 (Turkiye)

Misconduct Summary: TUR – Gokay Isitan (cautious) 51st minute
USA – Alex Bramall (caution) 56.
USA – Donovan Henry (caution) 62.
TUR – Gokay Iravul (caution) 64.
TUR – Baris Yarimci (caution) 75.
TUR – Kamil Tevfik (caution) 82.

Officials: Referee: Oscar Ortiz
1st Assistant: Syril Madukanya
2nd Assistant: Mark Cahen
4th Official/Reserve: Jeff Gontarek

(some content courtesy of US Soccer)

Turkiye U-17 On American Television Tonight

2007-12-09T11:19:00.000-05:00

Turkiye U-17 on American Television Tonight

By Nathan L. Redd

Turkiye's U-17 Milli Takim will make a rare appearance in the United States on Sunday night. The team will play USA (ABD) on Sunday night at 8 PM EST. The game will be broadcast live on America's Fox Soccer Channel.

Led by Manager Senol Ustaomer, the team is led by Fenerbahce youth stars Ozgur Cek, Sertac Eren, and Dogukan Genc. The game is expected to be a hard-fought match for Turkiye. After suffering a 7-2 loss to Brasil, the Turks suffered a 4-3 setback to Russia over the weekend. USA (ABD) is coming off a historic 2-0 win over Brasil on Saturday. All games are being played in Bradenton, Florida, in the United States.

More Photos from Fenerbahce 2 - 0 Galatasaray

2007-12-09T11:15:00.001-05:00

Our good friend Berfu Ozlen took these photos at Fenerbahce's 2-0 win over Galatasaray on Saturday. Thanks, Berfu!

(all photos courtesy of Berfu Ozlen)

Photos from Fenerbahce 2 - 0 Galatasaray

2007-12-09T11:10:00.001-05:00

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

Comments from Our Friend Volkan Balli

2007-12-09T11:05:00.000-05:00

Comments from Our Friend Volkan Balli
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce Director of Futbol Operations Volkan Balli has been a great and loyal friend to Fenerbahce Worldwide. After Fenerbahce's 2-o win over Galatasaray, Volkan Bey talked to media in Istanbul.

"It was truly a terrific night for Fenerbahce. I thank our fans for their great support tonight. On Wednesday we have one of the most important games in our history. There is no time to celebrate this victory, we have to focus on the Champions League as soon as possible."

Zico's Comments on Fenerbahce's 2-0 Win

2007-12-09T11:02:00.001-05:00

Zico's Comments on Fenerbahce's 2-0 Win
By Nathan L. Redd

After Fenerbahce's gigantic 2-0 win over rivals Galatasaray, Coach Zico spoke with the media and talked about his team's effort and Deivid de Souza's red card. "I am very pleased with our performance tonight. I thank everyone who contributed to our victory tonight which is absolutely a result of great teamwork. Tonight I find it positive that we managed to score an early goal but that did not make us lose our concentration."

Zico was upset with the red card shown to Deivid de Souza and told reporters "I cannot comment about the red card that was shown to Deivid. I did not see the position clearly because I was talking with Edu at that moment. I haven't spoken with Deivid yet, but I am sure that he'll explain me everything. He is really upset that he left the team alone in such an important derby."

Derby Dominance: 2-0 Fener Win Moves Canaries Closer

2007-12-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

Derby Dominance: 2-0 Fener Win Move Canaries Closer

By Nathan L. Redd

The biggest derby in the world once again did not disappoint....at least for Fenerbahce fans. Fener took control earlier and picked up an insurance goal in the second half to dispose of their arch-rivals Galatasaray 2-0.

As if the fans needed more reason to be vocal, Fenerbahce rising star Semih Senturk scored the game's first goal in the 5th minute to give the home side the early lead. Fenerbahce would keep pressing throughout the first half with several opportunities to score. Two shots in the first half gave Deivid de Souza a clear shot at goal, but both shots sailed off the mark. The Fenerbahce defense was superb in the first half, limited the Lions of Galatasaray to only a few opportunities to equalize. Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, who has been the recipient of so much criticism in the past, once again played a spectacular game never giving Galatasaray much opportunity to get on the board. The performance was even more impressive considering Volkan missed much of the week's training sessions with a sickness.

The second half saw both teams on the attack. After a quiet first half, Galatasaray found themselves attacking early and often on the Fenerbahce side of the pitch. Volkan, Rigobert Song, former Yellow Canary Servet Cetin, and several other Lions would work hard to get their team back in the match. However, several mistakes by the Lions' goalkeeper would allow Fenerbahce opportunities to increase their lead. Just over ten minutes into the second half, a spectacular shot on goal by Fener was stopped but not contained by the goalkeeper, finding Deivid de Souza on the left side of the goal to easily put the ball back in the net. With a 2-0 lead, Fenerbahce was confident and ready to put the game out of hand.

Both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray would have more scoring chances as the second half wound down, with one spectacular left-footed shot from Roberto Carlos outside the box sailing just high. Behind the superior play of Volkan Demirel, however, Galatasaray never got on the board, preserving the magnificent 2-0 victory for Fenerbahce.

The game featured several scuffles between the teams and several cards handed out. Ugur Boral, Semih Senturk, Edu Dracena, and Deivid de Souza all picked up yellow cards. Rigobert Song, Volkan, Yaman, and Arda Turan picked up yellow cards for Galatasaray. Deivid de Souza was sent off with a red card in the 78th minute, but it would be too late for Galatasaray to capitalize. After the game, Deivid told reporters "I certainly did not deserve to be punished with a red card tonight. I was discussing with a Galatasaray player, if the referee had had to show a card, he would have punished both of us but he chose to show the card only to me which was quite an unfair decision."

Mateja Kezman made his first appearance for Fenerbahce in over a month, replacing Semih Senturk in the 72nd minute. Kezman had been out of service following knee surgery in late October. Obviously glad to be back on the pitch, Kezman stated after the game "We attached a great importance to this derby and now we are of course very happy that we managed to defeat Galatasaray infront of our great fans. I congratulate all of my friends on this fantastic victory. It was not easy for me to recover from that serious injury but I'm doing my utmost to lead Fenerbahce to victories." Colin Kazim-Richards and Gokcek Wederson also came on as substitutes for Zico's side.

Saturday's edition of "The World's Biggest Derby" was the first for superstar Roberto Carlos. He told reporters after the match "Tonight we really could have scored more goals against Galatasaray. Now all I can say is that we are always the favorite of every game we play. I really wanted to score against Galatasaray, but it did not happen. I'm happy that I helped my team with my leadership." Volkan Demirel, one of the stars of the match, told reporters "We dedicate this precious victory to our great fans who never let us alone. This derby was like a festival. This week I could not participate all training sessions because of my sickness, but I was ready to play no matter how ill I was."

Semih Senturk has become a rising superstar in the Turkcell Super Lig, emerging as a major scoring threat for Fenerbahce. His goal in the first half was his first career goal against arch-rivals Galatasaray. "I have been dreaming of scoring a goal against Galatasaray which made me a real canary now. I'm so happy and want to dedicate my goal to my family" he said after the match.

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

All Eyes on Istanbul This Weekend

2007-12-06T22:40:00.000-05:00

All Eyes on Istanbul This Weekend
By Nathan L. Redd

The eyes of the sports world turn to Istanbul this weekend for the world's biggest derby. Sukru Saracoglu Stadium takes center stage as it hosts one of the most intense and passionate sporting events in the world - Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray. It was once a battle for Turkish pride, but now with Fenerbahce fans around the globe, it's become a much larger event.

Fenerbahce is looking to continue their recent domination of their fierce rivals. Not only did the Yellow Canaries win the Turkcell Super Lig title last season, but they completed a perfect 16-0 sweep in all sports against their cross-town rivals. This year's battle will be no less heated, as Galatasaray currently holds the lead in the table. A Fenerbahce win, however, would move the Kadikoy Canaries only one point behind their arch-nemesis.

Both teams come into the match scorching-hot in the Super Lig. Fenerbahce has lost only one game all season, while Galatasaray has yet to put a loss on their record. Players on both sides will try to downplay the game's importance, but every man on the pitch knows that this match is much more than a game. For the Turks on both rosters, it's a battle that often divides best friends, spouses, and even fathers and sons. For newcomers like Roberto Carlos and Lincoln, it will be the derby of all derbies that either has ever played in.

"The Derby" has had no shortage of controversy and smack talk over the years. From Galatasaray Manager Graeme Souness's flag-planting incident at Sukru Saracoglu to Fenerbahce's 6-0 massacre, the rivalry has had no shortage of spectacular and intense moments.

Digiturk satellite dishes from Budapest to Brasil will be tuned in this Saturday. Internet connections from Louisville to Lyon will be watching "The Derby," and Turkish restaurants and pubs from Montreal to Milano will be packed with fans. There is no bigger derby in the world than Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray, and it's nearly time to get it on...

Would You Like to Be on TV?

2007-12-04T12:06:00.001-05:00

Would You Like to Be on TV?
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce Worldwide was contacted Tuesday morning by a television crew from Copenhagen, Denmark. The crew will be in Istanbul this week to cover THE Derby - Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray, and they are hoping to interview a number of Fenerbahce fans for a piece they are doing on the passion of Turk futbol fans.

If you are interested in being interviewed for the show, send me an e-mail at nathan.redd@louisville.edu. Please include your e-mail address. You must be able to speak English and be in Istanbul this weekend. Let's represent Fenerbahce well!

Roberto Carlos Hoping to Rejoin Brasil

2007-12-04T11:59:00.001-05:00

Roberto Carlos Hoping to Rejoin Brasil
By Nathan L. Redd

According to media outlet Eurosport, Fenerbahce superstar Roberto Carlos may come out of international retirement to join the Brasil National Team. Carlos told reporters this week "If the coach needs me and calls me in for a conversation, I can think about the chance of wearing the national team jersey again. I am physically perfect and I know that I can help the team with my experience."

The Fener defender left international duty in 2006 to give a chance to some of Brasil's younger up-and-coming players. However, he pointed to some regret he had about his decision. "I very much wanted to continue playing for Brasil but after the World Cup in Germany, I preferred to leave the place to other players like Gilberto and Kleber who are being tried out in that position." Nevertheless, Carlos welcomes a return to help his native country out if he is needed. "If Dunga calls me to talk I will see then what happens next. I think I can still give a good contribution to the national team."

Is Appiah Headed to Juventus?

2007-12-04T11:41:00.001-05:00

Is Appiah Headed to Juventus?
By Nathan L. Redd

The on-going transfer speculation saga involving Stephen Appiah continues, as a new report states that he may be headed for Italian side Juventus during the January transfer window. Ghana Sports News and Italian media outlet Corriere Dello Sport report that Fenerbahce may be sending Appiah to Juventus on loan with a deal to keep him in Torino after the season.

Fenerbahce has consistently denied any talks of Appiah's departure, and Corriere Dello Sport is less than reputable when it comes to transfer rumors. Fenerbahce has specifically addressed transfer rumors regarding Appiah in the past, stating that they have no intention of letting him leave Kadikoy.

Australia Interested in Zico as National Coach

2007-12-02T18:05:00.001-05:00

Australia Interested in Zico as National Coach
By Nathan L. Redd

According to a report in Saturday's Adelaide Now newspaper, the Australian National Team is potentially interested in Fenerbahce Manager Zico as their next national team coach. The "Socceroos"are looking for a new boss but the Football Federation of Australia claims to have a shortage of money to lure a top-name coach.

The FFA is reportedly $10.93 million in debt, but they are still hoping to pay out top dollar to lure a new coach to Australia. Fabio Capello is one name being mentioned for the job, but the FFA seems poised to make a run at Zico. The organization confirmed their interest on Friday, partially due to Zico's success in Asian football with Japan. The problem, according to the report, is that Zico is under contract with Fenerbahce until June 30, 2008.

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Scores

2007-12-02T17:58:00.000-05:00

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Scores
By Nathan L. Redd

Friday, November 30:

Genclerbirligi 2 - 1 Trabzonspor

Saturday, December 1:

Konyaspor 1 - 0 Ankaragucu
Kasimpasa 0 - 2 Bursaspor
Denizlispor 0 - 1 Fenerbahce

Sunday, December 2:

Ankaraspor 2 - 0 Sivasspor
Kayserispor 1 - 1 Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor
Vestel Manisaspor 1 - 0 Gaziantepspor
Galatasaray 2 - 2 Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor
Besiktas 1 - 1 Caykur Rizespor

Photos from Fenerbahce vs. Denizlispor

2007-12-02T00:21:00.000-05:00

Turk media outlet Hurriyet has posted an extensive gallery of photos from Fenerbahce's 1-0 win over Denizlispor on Saturday. To check out more photos from the match, click on http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay.aspx?cid=7920&p=1&rid=155

Fenerbahce Grinds Out Win in Denizli

2007-12-02T00:04:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce Grinds Out Win in Denizli
By Nathan L. Redd

It wasn't pretty, but Fenerbahce returned home from Denizli with three points on Saturday. Fener dispatched Denizlispor 1-0 behind a lone goal from Ali Bilgin.

Zico made several changes in the starting lineup to give some of the regular starters a break. Ali Bilgin, Yasin Cakmak, and Ugur Boral all got the start in the first eleven. Alex de Souza, Diego Lugano, and several other starters got a rest on Saturday with two huge games coming up for Fener. After the match, Ugur Boral spoke about his thankfulness to return to the starting eleven. "'Our coach Zico has stressed that he trusts me and wants to let me play against Denizlispor. I haven't been in the starting eleven for quite a long time, but I have always kept on working hard to stay fit and ready. The other Fenerbahce footballers are also a great example: Selcuk and Kemal have been playing for Fenerbahce for long years and they are always fit and ready to play. Of course I get a little frustrated when I don't get a chance to play but in the end we are all professionals."

The game's only goal came from Ali Bilgin ten minutes before halftime. Fenerbahce had opportunities to add an insurance goal in the second half, but their opportunities failed to result in another goal. After the match, Fenerbahce Manager Zico said "Today the most important fact was to win the precious three points against Denizlispor. To secure our position in the league, we were obliged to win Denizli. We had lots of chances to score but we could not use those chances in the best possible way. We could have scored lots of goals today but I am happy that we have won today, that is what matters to me the most."

The win proved to be huge for both Fenerbahce and Denizlispor. Fenerbahce moves within three points of both Sivasspor and Galatasaray at the top of the table. Denizlispor remains in fifth place with 21 points, tied with Ankaragucu who lost 1-0 to Konyaspor on Saturday. Sivasspor visits the capital to take on Ankaraspor on Sunday, while Galatasaray hosts Super Lig rookies Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor.

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet.com.tr)

Match Day: Fenerbahce vs. Denizlispor

2007-12-01T08:49:00.000-05:00

Match Day: Fenerbahce vs. Denizlispor
By Nathan L. Redd

The Yellow Canaries are in southwestern Turkiye today to take on the Denizlispor Roosters in a clash of top five Turkcell Super Lig teams. While Fenerbahce is looking to cut into the lead of Sivasspor and Galatasaray, Denizlispor is off to a fantastic start in the 2007-2008 season. After only three wins in their first ten games, the Roosters have now won three in a row to climb within three points of fourth-place Besiktas. A win today would also pull Denizli within one point of Super Lig champions Fenerbahce. Denizlispor has never finished better than fifth in the Turkcell Super Lig which they did twice, in 2002 and 2004.

Fenerbahce begins a difficult campaign of tough games ahead. After today's match against Denizli, they'll take on rivals Galatasaray next weekend followed by a UEFA Champions League match against CSKA Moscow a few days later in Kadikoy.

Fenerbahce and Denizlispor kickoff at 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.) from Denizli Ataturk Stadium. The game is available on a pay-per-view basis at www.digiturkwebtv.com.

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule

2007-11-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule
By Nathan L. Redd

Friday, November 30:

Genclerbirligi 2 - 1 Trabzonspor

Saturday, December 1:

Konyaspor vs. Ankaragucu - 14:00
Kasimpasa vs. Bursaspor - 14:00
Denizlispor vs. Fenerbahce - 19:00

Sunday, December 2:

Ankaraspor vs. Sivasspor - 14:00
Kayserispor vs. Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor - 14:00
Vestel Manisaspor vs. Gaziantepspor - 14:00
Galatasaray vs. Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor - 15:30
Besiktas vs. Caykur Rizespor - 19:00

Fenerbahce Arrives in Denizli

2007-11-30T22:52:00.001-05:00

Fenerbahce Arrives in Denizli
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce arrived in Denizli on Friday afternoon, one day ahead of their clash with the Denizlispor Roosters. Fenerbahce will looking to pick up three points and cut their deficit in the Turkcell Super Lig in half. The Yellow Canaries are currently six points behind Sivasspor and Galatasaray for the top spots in the Turkcell Super Lig.

Denizlispor is not far behind, currently sitting in fifth place. A win at home could move them only one point behind the reigning champions. Fenerbahce and Denizlispor will kick off at 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.) from Denizli Ataturk Stadium.

(photos courtesy of Fenerbahce.org)

Our Hearts Go Out to Turk Families

2007-11-30T08:28:00.000-05:00

Our Hearts Go Out to Turk Families
By Nathan L. Redd

Our hearts go out to Turkiye and especially the families of the victims from today's plane crash near Yesilyurt. Upon hearing the news this morning, we were saddened and shocked by such a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and the wonderful people of Turkiye at this time.

Fenerbahce Denies Lugano Transfer Rumors

2007-11-29T11:19:00.000-05:00

Fenerbahce Denies Lugano Transfer Rumors
By Nathan L. Redd

As expected, Fenerbahce issued a statement Thursday denying the rumors of defender Diego Lugano's transfer to Italian side Juventus. It was reported earlier this week that some officials connected to Juventus had expressed a desire in bringing the Uruguayan national to Torino during the January transfer window.

Fenerbahce, in the statement, declared "We want to underline the fact that we are not planning to sell any of our players to another club right now. Most importantly, Fenerbahce has not received any offer considering Lugano's transfer to another club. We want to inform everyone that these transfer rumours are completely false."

With the statement confirming what was previously believed, fans can expect to see Lugano in a yellow and navy uniform for a long time to come.

Is Ronaldo Considering a Move to Kadikoy?

2007-11-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

Is Ronaldo Considering a Move to Kadikoy?
By Nathan L. Redd

When his contract with AC Milan expires at the end of the year, Brasilian superstar Ronaldo will be looking for a new destination. He's been linked with a move to lowly American side Los Angeles Galaxy to join his friend David Beckham, but one report indicates that he might wear the yellow and navy next year.

Media outlet Controcampo reports that Fenerbahce's Roberto Carlos is trying to persuade his fellow Brasilian to join him in Kadikoy next year. "Ronie, join me in Istanbul," said Roberto Carlos according to the report. "At Fenerbahce, you will be covered in gold."

Ronaldo was linked to a move to Kadikoy last season but no deal was ever made. The lure of a shorter season with less pressure in American "soccer" could tempt Ronaldo. However, the competition level is among the world's lowest and Ronaldo could be looking for more international glory. With the number of Brasilians on the roster and legend Zico commanding the team, Ronaldo could very well be interested in moving to the European giants Fenerbahce instead.

Fener Puts Knockout Stage On Hold

2007-11-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

Fener Puts Knockout Stage On Hold
Fans Must Wait to Celebrate
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce went to Milano on Tuesday hoping to celebrate their first trip to the UEFA Champions League knockout round. Instead they returned home with questions and a humbling 3-0 loss to Inter Milan.

Selcuk Sahin tried to put Fener on the board early with a shot just two minutes in, but his ball missed the mark. Ten minutes later Roberto Carlos had an effort on goal that was saved. The first half was less fluid than the first leg in Istanbul, and neither team could find the back of the net. Fenerbahce looked tentative and more stressed than a team in good shape to qualify. Both teams had chances to score, but neither could find the ball through to put themselves up. The halftime scoreline remained 0-0 giving Fenerbahce confidence heading into the break.

With PSV Eindhoven jumping out to a decisive lead over CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce knew they would need to grab three points in Milano to seal their position in the next round. However, Inter used the second half to take charge and book their spot instead. The second half began with a number of fouls, and Fenerbahce's Diego Lugano picked up the first yellow card of the game in the 50th minute. Alex de Souza would have an effort on goal four minutes later that missed the mark. Less than a minute later, however, Inter's Julio Cruz found the back of the net to put the Italian side up first. A cross into the box was deflected off of Cruz past Volkan Demirel.

Zico would attempt to strengthen his midfield a few minutes later, bringing in Stephen Appiah for Mehmet Aurelio. Instead, four minutes later, superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored to give Inter a decisive 2-0 lead. Cristian Chivu provided a beautiful cross into Ibrahimovic that he soared past Volkan Demirel into the back of the net. Looking for an offensive spark, Zico would replace Semih Senturk with Colin Kazim-Richards a few seconds later for Fenerbahce's second substitution. A sloppy game continued as both teams committed a number of fouls, and Fener defender Gokhan Gonul picked up a yellow card in the 78th minute.

Looking for a last-ditch effort to pick up two quick goals, Zico made his final substitution in the 83rd minute by replacing Deivid de Souza with Tumer Metin. Colin Kazim-Richards would take a shot five minutes later, but his ball was off-target. As the game went into stoppage time, Inter would add a third goal by Luis Antonio Jimenez, providing the Inter player with his first-ever goal in European competition. Alex de Souza would get one more look two minutes later, but the final whistle was blown shortly after providing Inter with a decisive 3-0 lead. With the win, Inter booked their spot in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. PSV Eindhoven also defeated CSKA Moscow to move within one point of Fenerbahce for the second and last spot.

Fenerbahce must make fans wait to celebrate, as they must take care of business in two weeks against CSKA Moscow in Kadikoy. PSV Eindhoven will host Inter Milan in their final game. A win by Fenerbahce will guarantee them a spot in the next round. A draw, accompanied by a PSV / Inter draw, would also book them a spot. A loss by PSV to Inter would make the Fenerbahce scoreline unimportant and advance them as well.

The game ended with both teams getting a number of shots. Inter finished with 16 shots to Fener's 11, but only three of Fenerbahce's shots were on target. A total of 29 fouls were committed in the game; 18 of which came from Inter. The Milano side also controlled the ball for 53% of the time compared to Fener's 47%.

After the game, Inter Manager Roberto Mancini said "It was a nice birthday gift from my team because it was not an easy game at all. We made it look easy at the end of the game but it was very difficult, at least until we scored the first goal. Fenerbahce were very organized and are very good at keeping possession with their technically skilled players. It was very difficult to break through and everything changed only after breaking the deadlock."

Before the match, Mancini indicated that the team had worked hard to try to stop Alex de Souza from taking over. Mancini was pleased after the win for his team's efforts. "Alex is very difficult to mark because he moves a lot from attack to a deeper position, that's why I fielded [Cristian] Chivu in midfield so he could help the defenders when Alex was moving back. Mancini also was confident that his opponent would join them in the knockout stage. "I think Fenerbahçe will beat CSKA and will qualify regardless of our result" he told reporters after the game.

Fenerbahce Manager Zico was disappointed in his team's performance, but he knows they still have a shot to advance. "We played well only for 45 minutes when we were very well-balanced. We started the second half well and had a good chance with Alex. But then we conceded the first goal, lost our calm and started to miss many easy passes. Against a team like Inter you risk conceding many goals if you play like that. They scored three and could have scored even more in the final part of the game. This game was important but not decisive, the decisive one is against CSKA in December. However we have to be calm and confident because we are in this situation only by our own merits and I think we can make the decisive step against CSKA. When you concede a goal you have to react because a match lasts 90 minutes, not 45. I think we have to play as we did in the first half today but then we didn't have to give up once we were 1-0 down" Zico told reporters.

Fenerbahce must now put the loss behind them and get back to business in the Turkcell Super Lig. The Sari Lacivert will travel to Denizli this weekend to take on the Denizlispor Roosters. That game is scheduled for Saturday at 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.).

(Photos courtesy of Fenerbahce.org)