Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (in English: Galatasaray Sports Club) or Galatasaray SK is a Turkish sports club based in İstanbul which is famous for its football section. Founded in 1905 by Ali Sami Yen and his fellows from the prestigious Galatasaray High School, Galatasaray currently has 16 Turkish league championships, and also won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2000. Galatasaray also topped the world club ranking to be named "Best Football Club in the World" in January of 2001.[1]
Galatasaray is one of only two teams to have won the UEFA Cup without being beaten in a single match and is also the first team to win the competition after finishing third place in the Champions League group stage. In winning the UEFA Cup during the 1999-2000 season, beating Arsenal of England on penalties, Galatasaray became the first Turkish football club ever to win a European trophy. Galatasaray also holds the world record of most games won in a row at home (24 games in a row: 13 May 2001 - 8 December 2002).
The club's ground, Ali Sami Yen Stadyumu, reopened for the 2004-05 season, and a massive renovation project of one of its stands was completed in the fifth week of the 2005-2006 season. Galatasaray clinched their 16th League title after they beat Kayserispor 3-0 as Fenerbahçe SK were held to a draw. Galatasaray qualified for the Champions League group stage for the 2006-07 season.

History
Galatasaray was founded in the autumn of 1905 by Galatasaray Lycee students as a football club. Galatasaray's first president was Ali Sami Yen. Their first match was against Kadıköy Faure School and they won this match 2-0.[2] There were discussions about the club's name, in which some suggested Gloria (victory) and others Audace (courage), but it was decided that its name would be Galatasaray. According to researcher Cem Atabeyoğlu, Galatasaray took its name from one of its first matches. In that match, Galatasaray won 2-0 over Rûm club and the spectators called them "Galata Sarayı efendileri" (in English: Gentlemen of Galata Palace), and, after this event, they adopted that name and started to call their club "Galata Sarayı". In 1905, during the era of the Ottoman Empire, there weren't any laws for associations so the club couldn't be registered officially, but, after the 1912 Law of Association, the club registered legally.[3]
Galatasaray's most successful era came in the 1990s, when the club won the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. They were aided in this by one of Turkey's best generation of home grown footballers (who went on to finish third in the 2002 FIFA World Cup) and their intimidating ground, which many Western European teams disliked travelling to. During this period their matches with club teams from England caused the most controversy; this culminated in a 2000 UEFA Cup tie against Leeds United, in which both legs were marred by violence. In Istanbul, two Leeds fans were stabbed; they later died. [2] Since then, much has been done to improve safety at Galatasary's matches and in games against English clubs; a 2006 UEFA Champions League tie against Liverpool occurred without any trouble. On November 6, 2002, Galatasaray lost 6-0 to their eternal rival Fenerbahçe, but the club took its revenge by beating its rival 5-1 in the Turkish Cup final of 2005. The record between the two sides, still belongs to Galatasaray: in 1911, at their own ground, Fenerbahçe was beaten 7-0 by an incomplete Galatasaray squad (there were seven players available instead of eleven, due to a stormy day in Istanbul which made it impossible for some players to cross the Bosphorus to the Asian side). Galatasaray is the only team to have won the Turkish league title, the Turkish Cup, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in the same season (1999-2000).

Rivalries
The club's arch-rival is the neighbouring club Fenerbahçe S.K.. The Fenerbahçe–Galatasaray rivalry is considered as one of the world's biggest rivalries, and derbies between the clubs are considered as "Derby of Turkey" or "The Turkish Delight Derby". Another major rival is Beşiktaş J.K., who are also located in İstanbul, in the Beşiktaş district. Galatasaray also shares some rivalry with Trabzonspor, dating back to their neck to neck championship races during the late-1970s.

Presidents

• Ali Sami Yen (1905 - 1918) (1925)
• Refik Cevdet Kalpakçıoğlu (1919 - 1922) (1934)
• Yusuf Ziya Öniş (1922-1924) (1950 - 1952)
• Ali Haydar Şekip (1925)
• Ahmet Robenson (1926)
• Adnan Ibrahim Pirioğlu (1927)
• Necmettin Sadak (1928 - 1929)
• Abidin Daver (1929 - 1930)
• Ahmet Kara (1930 - 1931) (1933)
• Tahir Kevkep (1931 - 1932)
• Ali Haydar Barsal (1932 - 1933) (1933 - 1934)
• Fethi Isfendiyaroğlu (1933)
• Saim Gögen (1936 - 1937)
• Sedat Ziya Kantoğlu (1937 - 1939) (1944)
• Nizan Nuri (1939)
• Adnan Akıska (1939)
• Tevfik Ali Çınar (1940 - 1942)
• Osman Dardağan(1942 - 1943)
• Muslihittin Peykoğlu (1944 - 1946)
• Suphi Batur (1946 - 1950) (1965 - 1968)
• Ulvi Yenal (1953) (1962 - 1964)
• Refik Selimoğlu (1954 - 1956) (1960 - 1962)
• Sadik Giz (1957 - 1959)
• Selahattin Beyazıt (1969 - 1973) (1975 - 1979)
• Prof. Dr. Mustafa Pekin (1973 - 1975)
• Prof. Dr. Ali Uras (1979 - 1984) (1984 - 1986)
• Dr. Ali Tanrıyar (1986 - 1988) (1988 - 1990)
• Alp Yalman (1990 - 1992) (1992 - 1996)
• Faruk Süren (1996 - 2001)
• H. Mehmet Cansun (2001 - 2002)
• Özhan Canaydın (2002 - Present)

[Blue Blood]

Happy Birthday Hakan Şükür

We celebrate our dear captain Hakan Şükür’s birthday and wish him a very happy birthday, good health and happiness.

[Blue Blood]

Shabani Nonda Signed the Contract

The new player of Galatasaray Professional Football Team Shabani Nonda has signed a contract in order to participate Galatasaray in a ceremony held at Florya Metin Oktay Facilities Turgay Vardar Press Room on Friday, 31st August.

Board Member Haldun Üstünel, Galatasaray Football A.Ş. General Manager Adnan Sezgin and Team Manager Mustafa Turgun attended to the press conference, at which Nonda was presented to press agents.

Shabani Nonda, who will wear uniform number 20, said: “I ** very proud of being a member of Galatasaray. I have come one of the biggest teams of Europe. I ** so happy for the special interest of Galatasaray. I will demonstrate in the pitches how successful I will. I only know the 3 big teams in Turkey. I know Ümit Karan and Hakan Şükür, they are both very good players. I’m at 30 years old and I’ve faced so many things in my football life. I believe that there would be a nice competition among us and this competition will be the advantage of our team.

[Blue Blood]

Turkcell Super League: 4th Week Referee

Referees, who will manage 4th week matches of Turkcell Super League 2007-2008 Season, have been announced.

According to the announcement made by Football Association Central Referee Board, Mustafa Kamil Abitoğlu will manage the struggle Vestel Manisaspor vs. Galatasaray, which will be played on September 2, Sunday at 9.00 p.m. at Manisa.

[Blue Blood]

Seyrantepe Adjudication was Realized

The last tournament of the adjudication for the sports complex at Seyrantepe was realized at Ankara by TOKİ (Whole Residence Management)

4 companies, which propose last Monday, were invited to the second stage of the adjudication. Eren Talu Architecture – Alke Partnership, Sembol-BF Partnership Group, Bozoğlu-Ural-A&Z Partnership Group and Kuzu Construction participated to adjudication.

The best offer was suggested by Eren Talu Architecture – Alke Partnership.

Çağatay Göktayoğlu said that they would evaluate the offers and then explain the result of the adjudication in the near time.

[Blue Blood]

Galatasaray 1 - Ankaragücü 0

Galatasaray met with Ankaragücü at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in the 3rd week of Turkcell Super League. With the goal of Lincoln at 22nd minute, we left the game as the winner side.

Match Info
Match: Turkcell Super League - 3rd Week
Stadium: Ali Sami Yen Stadium
Date: 26 August Sunday / 9.45 p.m.
Referees: Vedat Yüksel, Mustafa Emre Eyisoy, Özgür Çetiner, Hakan Sivriservi
Injured players:
Weather Forecast: It is open on the match day in Istanbul. Temperature is 33 °C in the daytime and 24 °C at night.

Live Broadcast
TV: Lig TV


Squads
Orkun, Uğur, Servet, Song, Volkan, Ayhan, Sabri, Lincoln, Arda, Hakan, Ümit

Goal
22' Lincoln (1-0)

First Half
1' The match has started with the stroke of Galatasaray.

5' A yellow card was shown to Song.

7' Hakan Şükür missed the target.

14' Servet's kick was out above the goal post.

18' Ayhan was punished by a yellow card.

22' Goalllll goal goal goaaallllllllllllllllll goal goal goal goaallllll... Lincoln scored… Goal Goal goal goal goalllllllll. Lincoln's left-foot stroke went to the nets: 1-0

28' Krita was shown a yellow card.

45' First half of the match ended with the score of 1-0.

Second Half
The match ended with the priority of Galatasaray. Our team continues its leadership.

[Blue Blood]

Our New Transfer: Hakan Balta

Galatasaray Football A.Ş. has signed a contract with Hakan Balta for 3 years.

Hakan Balta, who was transferred from Vestel Manisaspor, will wear the uniform number 22.

Name: Hakan Kadir
Surname: Balta
Uniform Number: 22
His Position: Defence
Date of Birth: 23.03.1983
Place of Birth: Germany, Berlin
Team which he came: Vestel Manisaspor
Height: 1.84
Weight: 80

[Blue Blood]

GALATASARAY SPORTS CLUB AND BEYLERBEYI A.Ş.

Beylerbeyi is of strategic importance in ensuring that the players that we train in Galatasaray Infrastructure become valuable assets, thus minimizing Galatasaray's transfer burden, in reducing the need for foreign players, in bringing to life the project to create a basis for producing exportable players and in providing an opportunity to join the professional ranks for players we cannot play at Galatasaray.

Beylerbeyi's Targets

The completion of their preliminary professional training in Beylerbeyi Sports Club by talented aspirant players who have completed their infrastructure training in Galatasaray Sports Club, so that they can join the Galatasaray Professional team.

The transfer of talented players playing in clubs throughout Turkey and in international Turkish clubs determined as a result of research carried out by Galatasaray Sports Club to Beylerbeyi A.Ş. and their preparation in a short period for the Galatasaray professional team.

To facilitate the transfer to Galatasaray of players playing for Beylerbeyi A.Ş. that officers from the Galatasaray Sports Club Professional Football branch deem qualified and to market the remaining players to other clubs in order to provide financial support for Beylerbeyi A.Ş.

To ensure that Beylerbeyi A.Ş., which is currently competing in the 3rd Professional Football league, progresses to the 2nd League, so that the Galatasaray technical staff can better observe the development and abilities of talented players and can make better judgements about their capacity.

History

The Beylerbeyi Sports Club Association was established in 1903 by Ruşen Erman, Cahit Ceren and Mashar İnanöz. In 1911 it was registered for football and rowing. In later years it operated in many branches of Turkish sports including boxing, judo, basketball, swimming and underwater sports. In football it competed in the 1st Amateur League, the Istanbul Local League, the Turkish 2nd League and the Turkish 3rd League at various dates. It was the breeding ground for many Turkish football stars including Sabahattin Erman (Ordu, National), Şeref Has (Fenerbahçe), Metin Erman (Beşiktaş), Ruhi Erman (Hacettepe), Birol Peker (Beşiktaş-Fenerbahçe), Gazanfer Utkan (Kasımpaşa), Beran Omay (Galatasaray), Lütfü Isıgöllü (Beşiktaş) and Murat Kanal (Galatasaray). The chairmen of Beylerbeyi Sports Club, which has been furthering the cause of Turkish sports for about a century, have included Ruşen Erman, Cahit Ceren, Ömer Özruha, Ali Ersoy, Mehmet Pekmezci, Sedat Usta, Mehmet Topçuoğlu, Cengiz Kaptanoğlu, Ünal Başaran, Sinan Vardar, Muzaffer Oflaz, Mustafa Yazıcı, Mehmet Kargı and Osman Büyük.

Board of Directors of Beylerbeyi Sports Club Members

Selahattin Saraçoğlu
Chairman Cengiz
ÖzyalçınVice-Chairman
Kemal Erimtan
Vice-Chairman
Niyazi YelkencioğluVice-Chairman Azim
ÇiğılGeneral Secretary
Levent Akın
Accountant Member
Mete Vardar
Treasurer Member
Niyazi Yelkencioğlu
Fatih Gökşen
Bülent Tulun
Bülent Ünder
Gökhan Göynümer
Hakan Özkaykı
Bekir Çilsal
Ahmet Özger
Emir Oflaz

Reserve Members

İlhan Başaran
Nedim KarasuA
hmet Pektaş

Members of the Audit Committee

Mahinur Dengiz
Selçuk Arkun
Murat Nur

Reserve Members of the Audit Committee

İlker Aktaş
Tuncer Demirören
Osman Hardal

[Blue Blood]

5th Week | Galatasaray: 6 - Konyaspor: 0

Galatasaray defeated Konyaspor with the score of 6-0 in the game played without any spectators at the 5th week of Turkcell Super League and keeps on its leadership.

The goals of Galatasaray were scored by Carrusca, Hakan Şükür, Ümit Karan, Hasan Şaş and Shabani Nonda (2)… The details of the game as follows…

Match Info
Match: Turkcell Super League – 5th Week
Stadium: Ali Sami Yen Stadium
Date: 16 September Sunday / 9.00 p.m.
Referees: Bülent Yıldırım, Cem Satman, İsmail Köse / 4. Referee: Zafer Önder İpek
Injured players: Arda, Sabri (Galatasaray); Eren, Koray (Konya)
Weather Forecast: It is half cloudy on the match day in Istanbul. Temperature is 27 °C in the daytime and 17 °C at night.

Live Broadcast
TV: Lig TV

Squads

Galatasaray
Orkun, Uğur Uçar, Song, Servet, Volkan Yaman, Barış Özbek, Linderoth, Carrusca, Lincoln, Hakan Şükür, Nonda

Substitutes
Aykut, Ismael Bouzid, Hakan Balta, Okan Buruk, Ayhan, Hasan Şaş, Ümit Karan

Konyaspor
Özden, Erkan, El Saka, Burak, Da Silva, Batista, Sedat, Erman, Neca, Murat Hacıoğlu, Sabin

Substitutes
Oğuzhan, Ömer, Gomez, Ahmet, Veysel, Mustafa, Washington

Goals
4' Shabani Nonda (1-0)
28' Shabani Nonda (2-0)
32' Carrusca (3-0)
81' Hakan Şükür (4-0)
88' Ümit Karan (5-0)
90' Hasan Şaş (6-0)

Yellow Cards: Song (Galatasaray), El Saka, Burak (Konyaspor)
Red Card: Sabin (Konyaspor)

[Blue Blood]

UEFA Cup | FC Sion: 3 - Galatasaray: 2

Galatasaray, meeting with FC Sion in the 1st Round 1st Match on an away game, left the game with the defeat score of 3-2. The goals of Galatasaray were scored by Lincoln and Linderoth.

Match Info
Match: UEFA Cup – 1st Round 1st Match
Stadium: Stad de Geneva
Date: 20 September Wednesday / 9.15 p.m.
Referees: Carlos Megia Davila, Jesus Calvo Guadamuro, Vicente Egido Rozas / 4th Referee: Rafael Ramirez Dominguez
Injured players: Arda, Sabri (Galatasaray)
Weather Forecast: It is half cloudy on the match day in Cenevre. Temperature is 19 °C in the daytime and 10 °C at night.

Live Broadcast
TV: Atv

Squads

FC Sion
Vailati, Kali, Nwaneri, Alioi, Paito, Chedli, Vanczak, Obradovic, Dominguez, Adeshina, Buehler

Substitutes
Sabario, Reset, Geiger, Mijadinovski, Raphael, David Gonzalez, Zakrzewski

Galatasaray
Orkun, Uğur Uçar, Song, Servet, Volkan Yaman, Carrusca, Lincoln, Linderoth, Hasan Şaş, Hakan Şükür, Shabani Nonda

Substitutes
Aykut, Barış Özbek, Serkan Çalık, Ayhan, Mehmet Topal, İsmail Bouzid, Ümit Karan

Yellow Cards: Uğur Uçar (Galatasaray), Kali (FC Sion)
Red Card: None

Goals
7' Dominguez (1-0)
10' Vanczak (2-0)
32' Alioi (3-0)
39' Lincoln (3-1)
67' Linderoth (3-2)