Big Three (Turkey)

Beşiktaş, Vodafone Arena

Fenerbahçe, Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium

Galatasaray, Türk Telekom Arena

The Big Three (Turkish: Üç büyükler)^[1] is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in the 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 51 out of 58 Turkish Football 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 has been 11th.

A handful of 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. And Bursaspor has won the Süper Lig in 2009-10.

The three-way rivalry

Beşiktaş

Fenerbahçe

Galatasaray

Locations of Big Three

Beşiktaş vs. Fenerbahçe

Beşiktaş vs. Galatasaray

Fenerbahçe vs. Galatasaray

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, Fenerbahçe 2008–2010, Galatasaray 2012-2016)

Managers who have managed the three clubs

• Mustafa Denizli (Galatasaray 1987-1989 & 1990-1992 & 2015-, Fenerbahçe 2000–2002, Beşiktaş 2008-2010)

See also

• Big Three (Netherlands)
• Big Three (Portugal)

References

1. "‘Üç büyükler’ dünyada ilk 50’ye girdi". ZAMAN. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.