Galatasaray Vs. Fenerbahce: Turkey's Longest Soccer Feud

Istanbul is a divided city, split into European and Asian sides by the waters of the Bosporus. Although both halves of the city are Turkish, they each have their own way of life, and those seeking cheap holidays to Turkey will find a warm welcome on either side. But this division is epitomized by the long-running feud between Turkey's two most popular soccer clubs, Galatasaray SK and Fenerbahce SK.
This rivalry stretches back over a hundred years, to the first game between the two teams in 1909, which Galatasaray won 2-0. Since then, the two clubs have been evenly matched. Fenerbahce has a slight edge in games wonbetween the two , but Galatasaray has more international honors, including championships at the 2000 UEFA Super Cup and 2000 UEFA Cup Final, something no other Turkish team has done. Each club has won the Turkish Super Lig national championship 17 times, a record no other team is even close to.

There is also a bit of a class warfare aspect to the rivalry. Galatasaray SK was founded by students at the elite Galatasaray high school on the European side, and enjoys a more upper-class and cosmopolitan reputation. Fenerbahce SK was born in the ancient neighborhood of Kadikoy on the Asian side and named after a lighthouse on its coastline (fener means lighthouse in Turkish). It was originally a working-class club that met in secret to avoid harassment from the harsh Ottoman authorities, who disapproved of games. Fenerbahce still retains some of the feel of its blue-collar origins, although both clubs now have fans from all walks of life, all over Turkey and beyond.

Besides soccer, both organizations field teams in other popular sports, such as rowing, basketball, volleyball, sailing, boxing, and more (SK stands for spor kulubu or sports club). Many of Turkey's best athletes and Olympians are members of these teams. Naturally, the rivalry between the soccer teams has spilled over into other sports, and any meeting between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray teams is guaranteed to produce high feelings.
If you're looking into cheap holidays to Turkey, check the schedules online. Tickets are not expensive, and attending a match between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray will give you an uniquely Turkish experience.

By: Graham A I Taylor

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Graham Taylor has worked in the travel industry for over 15 years. He particularly enjoys writing about package holidays.