Big Three (Turkey)
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The Big Three (Turkish: Üç büyükler)[1] is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in Turkey, all three based in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. The football teams of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray have a great rivalry, and are usually the main contenders for the title. Combined they share a total of 55 out of 62 Turkish Super League Championships. None of them have been relegated from the Süper Lig either, having been participants in all editions since 1959 season; the lowest position any of them has earned is 10th, Fenerbahçe, while Beşiktaş and Galatasaray's lowest positions have been 11th.
Only three other clubs outside the big three have won the Turkish league, with Trabzonspor having the fourth most national titles behind the Big Three in the Turkey with 6 in total,Bursaspor won the Süper Lig once in 2009-10 season, while Istanbul Basaksehir winning the 2019-2020 season. Galatasaray have the most cups.
The three-way rivalry
Beşiktaş vs. Fenerbahçe
Beşiktaş vs. Galatasaray
Fenerbahçe vs. Galatasaray
Trophies
| Team | Major National | International | Grand Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSL | TC | TSC | National Total | EL | USC | International Total | ||
| Galatasaray | 22 | 18 | 16 | 56 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 58 |
| Fenerbahçe | 19 | 6 | 9 | 34 | - | - | - | 34 |
| Beşiktaş | 15 | 9 | 8 | 32 | - | - | - | 32 |
- Last update following the 2018–19 season.
Players who have played for the three clubs
Refik Osman Top (Beşiktaş 1912–1913 & 1923-1924, Fenerbahçe 1913–1915 & 1923, Galatasaray 1915-1917 & 1921-1922 & 1923 & 1924)- Ali Soydan (Galatasaray 1951-1957, Fenerbahçe 1959–1960, Beşiktaş 1963-1964)
- Saffet Sancaklı (Beşiktaş 1987–1991, Galatasaray 1994-1995, Fenerbahçe 1996–1998)
- Sergen Yalçın (Beşiktaş 1991–1997 & 2002-2006, Fenerbahçe 1999–2000, Galatasaray 2000 & 2001-02)
- Ahmet Yıldırım (Fenerbahçe 1993–1994, Galatasaray 1999-2001, Beşiktaş 2001-2005)
- Emre Aşık (Fenerbahçe 1993–1996, Galatasaray 2000-2003 & 2006-2010, Beşiktaş 2003-2006)
- Mehmet Yozgatlı (Galatasaray 1999-2000, Fenerbahçe 2004–2007, Beşiktaş 2007-2008)
- Burak Yılmaz (Beşiktaş 2006–2008 & 2019–2020, Fenerbahçe 2008–2010, Galatasaray 2012-2016)
- Caner Erkin (Galatasaray 2009–2010, Fenerbahçe 2010–2016, Beşiktaş 2016-)
Managers who have managed the three clubs
- Mustafa Denizli (Galatasaray 1987-1989 & 1990-1992 & 2015-2016, Fenerbahçe 2000–2002, Beşiktaş 2008-2010)
See also
- Big Three (Belgium)
- Big Three (Costa Rica)
- Big Three (Greece)
- Big Three (Netherlands)
- Big Three (Peru)
- Big Three (Portugal)
References
- ^ "'Üç büyükler' dünyada ilk 50'ye girdi". ZAMAN. 2 November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.