Süper Lig

Spor Toto Süper Lig

Countries	Turkey
Confederation	UEFA
Founded	1959
First season	1959 Milli Lig
Number of teams	18
Levels on pyramid	1
Relegation to	TFF First League
Domestic cup(s)	Turkish Cup Turkish Super Cup
International cup(s)	UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League
Current champions	Fenerbahçe (2010–11)
Most championships	Fenerbahçe (18 titles)
Top goalscorer	Hakan Şükür (249 goals)
TV partners	Lig TV TRT (Highlights only)
Website	Süper Lig (Turkish)
2011–12 Süper Lig

The Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League. Eighteen clubs compete annually, where a champion is decided and three clubs are promoted and relegated to and from the 1. Lig. The season runs from August to May, with each club playing 34 matches. Matches are played Friday through Monday. It is sponsored by Spor Toto and therefore officially known as the Spor Toto Süper Lig. The competition formed as the Milli Lig in 1958. It was the first national league competition held in Turkey. Previously, league competitions took place in a few cities, including Adana, Ankara, Eskişehir, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri, and Trabzon. It is currently ranked 10th in the UEFA coefficients of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last five years. A total of 66 clubs have competed in the Süper Lig, but only five have won the title: Fenerbahçe (18), Galatasaray (17), Beşiktaş (13), Trabzonspor (7) and Bursaspor (1).

History

Football in Turkey stems back to the late 19th century, when Englishmen brought the game with them while living in Thessaloníki. The first league competition was the Istanbul Football League, which took place in 1904–05. The first champions were Imogene FC. The league went through several variations until the creation of the Milli Lig in 1959. Between the creation of the Istanbul Football League and Milli Lig, several other city leagues took place: Adana (1923), Ankara (1923), Eskişehir (1920), Izmir (1923), Kayseri (1936), and Trabzon (1923). The Milli Küme was the first step towards a national league competition. Started in 1937, the Milli Küme was an inter-city competition between clubs in Ankara, Istanbul, and İzmir. The competition lasted until 1950. The Federation Cup was created in 1956 and used as a cup competition to decide a champion. This champion would go on to participate in the European Cup. The cup competition was held for two years until it was replaced by the Milli Lig. Beşiktaş won both times, and represented twice Turkey in the European Cup during the two-year span.

The top clubs from Ankara, Istanbul, and İzmir competed in the 1959 Milli Lig. The first season took place in the calendar year of 1959, instead of 1958-59, because the qualifying stages took place in 1958. The clubs who competed in the first season were Adalet, Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, Beykoz, Fatih Karagümrük, Fenerbahçe, Istanbulspor, Vefa (Istanbul), Ankaragücü, Ankara Demirspor, Gençlerbirliği, Hacettepe (Ankara), Altay, Göztepe, İzmirspor, Karşıyaka (İzmir). Five of these clubs are competing in the 2010–11 Süper Lig (Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Ankaragücü, and Gençlerbirliği). The first champions were Fenerbahçe and the first Gol Kralı (Goal King) was Metin Oktay. No clubs were promoted or relegated during the first season.

The 2.Lig (Second League) was created at the start of the 1963–64 season and the Milli Lig or Turkish National League became known as the 1.Lig (First League). Before the creation of a second league, the bottom three clubs competed with regional league winners in a competition called the Baraj Games. The top three teams of the seven team group were promoted to the Milli Lig. After the creation of a new second division in 2001, known as the 1.Lig, the formerly titled 1.Lig became the Süper Lig.

Competition format

There are 18 clubs in the Süper Lig. During the course of the season (from August to May) each club plays the others twice (a double round robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head record, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the head-to head record and then goal difference determine the winner. The three lowest placed teams are relegated to the 1.Lig and the top two teams from the 1.Lig, together with the winner of play-offs involving the third to sixth placed 1.Lig clubs, are promoted in their place.

Qualification for European competitions

As of the start of the 2010–11 Süper Lig season qualification for European competitions is as follows: champions qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, runners-up qualify for the third qualifying round of the Champions League, third place qualifies for the third qualifying round of the Europa League, and fourth place qualifies for the second qualifying round of the same competition. A fifth spot is given to the winner of the Turkish Cup, who qualify for the play-off round of the Europa League. If the Turkish Cup winner has already qualified for European competition through their league finish, then the runners-up take their place in the play-off round. If the runners-up have also qualified, the next highest placed club in the league takes their place.

• 7   (7) Ukrainian Premier League (34.633)
• 8 (9) Portuguese Liga (33.796)
• 9 (11) Süper Lig (31.450)
• 10 (10) Eredivisie (29.796)
• 11 (12) Super League Greece (27.566)

Clubs

The following 18 clubs will compete in the Süper Lig during the 2011–12 season.

Club	Position in 2010–11	First season in top division	Number of seasons in top division	First season of current spell in top division	Top division titles	Last top division title
Beşiktaşa, b	0045th	1959	53	1959	13	2008–09
Bursaspor	0013rd	1967–68	42	2006–07	1	2009–10
Eskişehirspor	0077th	1966–67	25	2008–09	0	n/a
Fenerbahçea, b	0021st	1959	53	1959	18	2010–11
Galatasaraya, b	0038th	1959	53	1959	17	2007–08
Gaziantepspor	0134th	1978–79	25	1990–91	0	n/a
Gençlerbirliğia	01014th	1959	39	1989–90	0	n/a
İstanbul B.B.b	00612th	2007–08	4	2007–08	0	n/a
Karabükspor	0199th	1993–94	4	2010–11	0	n/a
Kayserispor	0086th	2004–05	7	2004–05	0	n/a
Manisaspor	01410th	2005–06	5	2009–10	0	n/a
Medical Park Antalyaspor	00911th	1982-83	16	2008–09	0	n/a
Mersin İdmanyurdu SK	0111st; 1.Lig	1967-68	11	2010–11	0	n/a
MKE Ankaragücüa	01213th	1959	48	1981-82	0	n/a
Orduspor	0205th; 1. Lig	1975-76	9	2011–12	0	n/a
Samsunspor	0242nd; 1.Lig	1969–70	29	2011–12	0	n/a
Sivassporb	01515th	2005–06	6	2005–06	0	n/a
Trabzonsporb	0052nd	1974–75	37	1974–75	6	1983–84

• ^a: Founding member of the Süper Lig
• ^b: Never been relegated from the Süper Lig

Past winners

Only five clubs have been champions since the beginning of the The Federation Cup in 1957 and Super League in 1959: Fenerbahçe (18), Galatasaray (17), Beşiktaş (13), Trabzonspor (6), and Bursaspor (1).

Year	Winner	Runner Up	Third Place
1959	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray
1959–60	Beşiktaş	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray
1960–61	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray	Beşiktaş
1961–62	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş
1962–63	Galatasaray	Beşiktaş	Fenerbahçe
1963–64	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray
1964–65	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray
1965–66	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray	Gençlerbirliği
1966–67	Beşiktaş	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray
1967–68	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray
1968–69	Galatasaray	Eskişehirspor	Beşiktaş
1969–70	Fenerbahçe	Eskişehirspor	Altay
1970–71	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe	Göztepe
1971–72	Galatasaray	Eskişehirspor	Fenerbahçe
1972–73	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe	Eskişehirspor
1973–74	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş	Boluspor
1974–75	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray	Eskişehirspor
1975–76	Trabzonspor	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray
1976–77	Trabzonspor	Fenerbahçe	Altay
1977–78	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor	Galatasaray
1978–79	Trabzonspor	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe
1979–80	Trabzonspor	Fenerbahçe	Zonguldakspor
1980–81	Trabzonspor	Adanaspor	Galatasaray
1981–82	Beşiktaş	Trabzonspor	Fenerbahçe
1982–83	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor	Galatasaray
1983–84	Trabzonspor	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray
1984–85	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş	Trabzonspor
1985–86	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray	Samsunspor
1986–87	Galatasaray	Beşiktaş	Samsunspor
1987–88	Galatasaray	Beşiktaş	Malatyaspor
1988–89	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray
1989–90	Beşiktaş	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor
1990–91	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray	Trabzonspor
1991–92	Beşiktaş	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray
1992–93	Galatasaray	Beşiktaş	Trabzonspor
1993–94	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor
1994–95	Beşiktaş	Trabzonspor	Galatasaray
1995–96	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor	Beşiktaş
1996–97	Galatasaray	Beşiktaş	Fenerbahçe
1997–98	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor
1998–99	Galatasaray	Beşiktaş	Fenerbahçe
1999–00	Galatasaray	Beşiktaş	Gaziantepspor
2000–01	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray	Gaziantepspor
2001–02	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş
2002–03	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray	Gençlerbirliği
2003–04	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor	Beşiktaş
2004–05	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor	Galatasaray
2005–06	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş
2006–07	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş	Galatasaray
2007–08	Galatasaray	Fenerbahçe	Beşiktaş
2008–09	Beşiktaş	Sivasspor	Trabzonspor
2009–10	Bursaspor	Fenerbahçe	Galatasaray
2010–11	Fenerbahçe	Trabzonspor	Bursaspor

Star rating system

Clubs are permitted to place a golden star above their crest on their uniforms for every five national championships won. For the 2010/11 season Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are permitted three golden stars, Beşiktaş are permitted two golden stars and Trabzonspor are permitted one golden star to be placed above their crest on their jerseys.

Team/stars	Winners	Runners-up	Years won
Fenerbahçe	18	17	1959, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011
Galatasaray	17	9	1962, 1963, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008
Beşiktaş	13	14	1957*, 1958*, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2009
Trabzonspor	6	6	1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984
Bursaspor	1	0	2010

*NOTE: Beşiktaş formally requested that championships won in the 1956/57 and 1957/58 versions of the Turkish Federation Cup be counted as Turkish Professional First Division championships to the Turkish Football Federation. The ruling on this matter was announced in a press release on March 25, 2002 which indicated that the championships won by Beşiktaş in the Turkish Federation Cup will be considered as national championships but the Turkish Federation Cup can not be considered as the precursor to the Turkish Professional First Division (later named Süper Lig) and as such these titles can not be categorized as a Turkish Professional First Division (or Süper Lig) titles. Based on this ruling, the Turkish Federation Cup wins by Beşiktaş count towards the star rating system, giving Beşiktaş two more championships for the purposes of the star rating system than the number of Süper Lig titles won by the club.

Participation in the league

53 seasons: Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray 48 seasons: Ankaragücü 41 seasons: Altay ,Bursaspor 39 seasons: Gençlerbirliği 37 seasons: Trabzonspor 29 seasons: Samsunspor 25 seasons: Eskişehirspor, Gaziantepspor, Göztepe 23 seasons: İstanbulspor 21 seasons: Adanaspor 20 seasons: Boluspor, Kocaelispor 19 seasons: Denizlispor 17 seasons: Adana Demirspor 16 seasons: Antalyaspor, Karşıyaka, Kayserispor 14 seasons: Vefa SK, Zonguldakspor, 13 seasons: Ankara Demirspor, Sarıyer, Çaykur Rizespor

12 seasons: Türk Telekomspor 11 seasons: Sakaryaspor, Malatyaspor, Mersin İdman Yurdu, Konyaspor, Diyarbakırspor 10 seasons: Altınordu, Etimesgut Şekerspor, İzmirspor 9 seasons: Feriköy, Orduspor 8 seasons: Beykozspor, Kasımpaşa, Keçiörengücü 7 seasons: Sivasspor 6 seasons: Ankaraspor, Fatih Karagümrük, Giresunspor, 5 seasons: Manisaspor, Vanspor, Zeytinburnuspor 4 seasons: İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor, Kardemir Karabükspor 3 seasons: Aydınspor, Bakırköyspor, Çanakkale Dardanelspor, Erzurumspor 2 seasons: Alibeyköyspor , Beyoğluspor, Elazığspor, Yeşildirek, Yimpaş Yozgatspor, Hacettepe , Kayseri Erciyesspor, Akçaabat Sebatspor 1 season: Balıkesirspor, Bucaspor, Kahramanmaraşspor, Kırıkkalespor, Petrolofisi, Siirtspor

All-time top scorers

For more details on this topic, see Süper Lig Top Scorers.

Rank	Player	Goals	Apps	Rate
1	Hakan Şükür	249	487	0.51
2	Tanju Çolak	240	276	0.87
3	Hami Mandıralı	219	465	0.47
4	Metin Oktay	217	253	0.86
5	Aykut Kocaman	200	353	0.57
6	Feyyaz Uçar	191	376	0.51
7	Serkan Aykut	188	337	0.56
8	Fevzi Zemzem	144	305	0.47
9	Cenk İşler	137	349	0.39
10	Ümit Karan	136	360	0.37

As of 22 May 2011 (Bold denotes players still playing in the league).

All-time most appearances

For more details on this topic, see Football records in Turkey.

Rank	Player	Apps	Years
1	Oğuz Çetin	503	1981-2000
2	Rıza Çalımbay	495	1980-1996
3	Hakan Şükür	488	1987-2000, 2003-2008
4	Kemal Yıldırım	476	1976-1995
5	Hami Mandıralı	475	1984-1998, 1999-2003
6	Recep Çetin	437	1984-2001
7	Bülent Korkmaz	430	1988-2005
8	Müjdat Yetkiner	429	1979-1995
9	Cüneyt Tanman	425	1973-1991
10	İsmail Arca	418	1966-1982

As of 22 May 2011 (Bold denotes players still playing in the league).

See also

• List of sports attendance figures — the Super League in a worldwide context
• List of foreign Süper Lig players
• Gol Kralı
• All-time Turkish Super League table
• Football records in Turkey
• 2011 Turkish sports corruption scandal

External links

• News About Turkish Football Leagues (English)
• Spor Toto Süper Lig Web oficial (Turkish)
• Turkish Football Federation website (Turkish)
• Football scores for Turkish Football Leagues (English)