AGONA Profile: Basaksehir, the ambitious Turks aiming for the big time
The AGONA Profile takes a closer look at Basaksehir FK, with Olympiacos due to play the Turkish club in the third qualifying round of the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League.
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In the second qualifying round, Olympiacos gave an impressive performance in the return leg against Viktoria Plzen by emerging 4:0 winners, but they will surely be given a run for their money by Basaksehir. Although the Turks have no European pedigree, they boast several well-known players on their roster, and their results do suggest that the club can push Olympiacos all of the way.
Basaksehir were incredibly close to winning the 2018/2019 Turkish Super Lig. Until the closing stages of the campaign, they occupied first place and were playing good football, but a late collapse allowed Galatasaray to sneak by and nab the trophy. In the decisive game, Basaksehir were defeated 1:2 by Galatasaray at the Turk Telekom Arena, a loss which officially confirmed the hosts as Turkish champions. Galatasaray won the league by a mere two points.
Over the past few years, Basaksehir have given the likes of traditional giants Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas a strong challenge in the Super Lig, finishing second in the 2016/2017 season as well and third in the 2017/2018 campaign. Basaksehir had also claimed fourth spot in both 2015 and 2016.
The club, founded originally in 1990, first earned promotion to the top Turkish tier in 2007. Up until 2014, the team went by the name of Buyuksehir Belediyespor, but it was changed to Basaksehir Futbol Kulubu ahead of the ensuing 2014/2015 season. Incidentally, Basaksehir have never won a trophy at the top level, coming second in the Super Lig twice and also losing in the final of the Turkish Cup on two occasions.
Basaksehir have only once played in the group stage of a major European competition, finishing in third place of Group C in the 2017/2018 Europa League. Last season, Basaksehir were in line to play Olympiacos in the Europa League playoff qualifying round, but they contrived to lose against Burnley in extra time. Robinho, who was once a world star when representing the Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan, is the player to watch. Fellow famous figures Gael Clichy, Gokhan Inler, Arda Turan and Demba Ba are also on Basaksehir’s books and offer vital experience and sheer quality to the team.
According to reports, Basaksehir are very much a pro-government organisation in favour of current leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but club president Goksel Gumusdag has rejected this claim.
Full name: İstanbul Başakşehir Futbol Kulübü
Founded: 1990
Chairman: Göksel Gümüşdağ
Home arena: Fatih Terim Stadium (Capacity 17,156)
Major titles won: 0
HEAD COACH
Okan Buruk, 45, only became the Basaksehir head coach this summer. As a player, Buruk was a member of the successful Galatasaray side which won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2000, and he also became a Turkish champion seven times. Buruk ended his career in 2010 as a player of Basaksehir.
Buruk is now considered one of the most promising coaches in the Turkish game. In 2013, he became the head coach of Elazigspor, subsequently managing Gaziantepspor, Sivasspor, Goztepe, Akhisarspor and Rizespor before being snapped up by Basaksehir in June of this year. Buruk steered Akhisarspor to Turkish Cup glory in 2018 as his club defeated Fenerbahce 3:2 in the showpiece final.
KEY PLAYERS
Yes, admittedly Robinho is now 35 years of age, but the gifted Brazilian is still capable of producing magical moments. In his heyday, the forward earned plenty of admirers across the globe with his silky skills, representing Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan in Europe after leaving Santos. Unfortunately for Robinho, his form began to take a large drop when an AC Milan player, and he returned to Santos on loan in 2014. Robinho has later played for Guangzhou Evergrande, Atletico Mineiro and Sivasspor as be gathered a reputation of a journeyman. He scored 12 goals and dished out five assists in 33 2018/2019 Super Lig matches.
Robinho has been a Basaksehir player since January 2019.
Arda Turan shot to stardom at Atletico Madrid. Four years ago, Barcelona signed the attacking midfielder for 34 million euros, but the Turk failed to settle with the Catalans and was consequently loaned out to Basaksehir in January 2018. Turan does appear to be well past his best, but the 32-year-old has undoubted talent and will be a threat to the Olympiacos defence. Turan, most comfortable on the left wing, can play anywhere across the attacking line. Transfermarkt currently rates his value at only one million.
Remember when 34-year-old Gael Clichy was a leading full-back in the English Premier League? Similar to Robinho and Turan, the Frenchman is approaching the twilight zone of his career, but his experience and forades on the left flank pose danger to the opponents. A three-time Premier League champion, Clichy transferred to Basaksehir in 2017, and he has played in a grand total of 56 Super Lig matches for the club while contributing with one goal and four assists.
