Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş. The three clubs that come to mind when one speaks of football in Turkey. They are also known as the “Big Three.” In fact, all three are Istanbul clubs. But they have histories stretching back nearly 120 years. They are the teams with the most league titles.
They have supporters across the country. Wherever they play, it never really feels like an away match because they have fans in every city. Until recently, Fenerbahçe had the largest fan base. But after a long spell without success, statistics show that Galatasaray has taken first place.
Still, the fact that Fenerbahçe failed to win a single championship during Ali Koç’s seven-year presidency after Aziz Yıldırım, while Galatasaray won four titles in a row, has been a nightmare for Fenerbahçe supporters. Because, unlike the other two clubs, Fenerbahçe is called the “Fenerbahçe Republic.” This identity matters deeply to them. And what has set Aziz Yıldırım in motion again is precisely the resentment among Fenerbahçe fans of having been left in Galatasaray’s shadow.
A NATO CONTRACTOR WHO ALSO SPENT TIME IN PRISON
Aziz Yıldırım is a businessman. He is 73 and from Diyarbakır. He was particularly involved in NATO and defense industry tenders. For this reason, he is also known as the “NATO contractor.” He was first elected Fenerbahçe president in 1998. But the breaking point in his life came on July 3, 2011. On that date, Yıldırım was arrested on charges of “establishing a criminal organization to fix matches in football.” It was the period of operations targeting military officers under the names Ergenekon and Sledgehammer, mostly run by the Gülen movement. After spending one year in prison pending trial, Aziz Yıldırım was released. He declared all-out war against the charges against him. And he was acquitted. He continued as president until 2018. Until Ali Koç arrived. Now there is an elective general assembly on June 6-7, and Yıldırım is once again a candidate.
MANAGEMENT ON ONE SIDE, FANS ON THE OTHER
When Aziz Yıldırım first became president of Fenerbahçe in 1998, there were still three years before Tayyip Erdoğan would emerge as a dominant figure in politics. Erdoğan, too, is a Fenerbahçe supporter. No club executive openly becomes too intertwined with politics. Yet politics always keeps a close eye on them. Club executives may have personal political preferences known only to their innermost circles. Fans, however, are different. They believe in expressing everything openly, loudly, and without restraint. Following Aziz Yıldırım’s arrest, the Fenerbahçe stands became the scene of protests against the government. Erdoğan and the Fenerbahçe terraces have never quite been on the best of terms. Then again, the same is more or less true for Galatasaray and Beşiktaş supporters as well. No matter how cautious club administrations may be, controlling the terraces is never easy.
CAN YILDIRIM MAKE A COMEBACK?
Yes, he can. The six league titles won during his 20-year presidency remain his greatest asset. His promises to pull Fenerbahçe football out from under Galatasaray’s shadow are also stirring excitement among supporters. Football has now become a game played with astronomical budgets. Euros and dollars fly through the air. Before long, staggering transfer fees will dominate the conversation. Already, speculation has begun over whom Yıldırım might work with should he return.
