Alex de Souza and Deivid de Souza Extend at Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce's Alex de Souza and Deivid de Souza extended their contracts with Fenerbahce SK. They have had very disappointing performances this year and both of them have suffered serious injuries. Also, Turkish media has recently reported that these two players are in bad terms as a result of their wives' verbal fights.



Additionally, Turkish media has also reported that Alex and Luis Aragones do not get along well and the extension of Alex's contract shows that Aragones's future at the club is dubious.

Turkish Super League Table

Played Wins Losses Draws For Against Points
1. Sivas 29 17 9 3 46 19 60
2. Beşiktaş 29 17 8 4 48 24 59
3. Trabzon 29 15 8 6 40 28 53
4. Galatasaray 29 15 7 7 51 33 52
5. Fenerbahçe 29 14 6 9 50 31 48
6. Bursa 29 13 9 7 38 31 48
7. Kayseri 29 10 11 8 29 21 41
8. Ankaraspor 29 11 7 11 35 32 40
9. Gaziantep 29 10 9 10 36 39 39
10. Antalya 29 9 8 12 30 36 35
11. Gençlerbirliği 29 9 8 12 31 37 35
12. Ankaragücü 29 9 6 14 31 42 33
13. Eskişehir 29 8 9 12 36 39 33
14. Denizli 29 9 5 15 33 44 32
15. Konya 29 8 8 13 27 37 32
16. Büyükşehir Bld. 29 8 6 15 28 41 30
17. Kocaeli 29 7 5 17 38 60 26
18. Hacettepe 29 4 7 18 20 53 19

Luis Aragones Having Tough Times at Fenerbahce

After the Vicente del Bosque experience at Besiktas, I thought no Turkish team would transfer a Spanish coach again. But I was wrong when Fenerbahce appointed Aragones this year. Like del Bosque, he has been an absolute failure in Turkey. It is perhaps as a result of the players' mentality in Turkey. The team has no discipline whatsoever and the players seem to ignore his instructions. The Turkish media labels him as "grandpa," since he looks very solemn, quiet, and unresponsive during the team's matches. Something tells me that he won't be around next year.

Platini in Turkey

UEFA PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN TURKEY


ISTANBUL (A.A) - 22.04.2009 - The head of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) arrived in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Wednesday.

UEFA President Michel Platini is visiting Turkey as the guest of Turkish Football Federation.

"I will take the UEFA Cup from FC Zenit of Russia, the champion of last year, and give it to Istanbul Municipality to be displayed," Platini told reporters at the airport.

Platini said that he would visit the Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium (in the Anatolian side of Istanbul) and see the preparations for the UEFA Cup final.

The UEFA president will visit the stadium on Thursday together with executives of the Turkish Football Federation and UEFA Vice President Senes Erzik.

Platini will then participate in the hand-over ceremony of the UEFA Cup at the Esma Sultan Mansion in Ortakoy neighborhood (the European side of Istanbul). Executives of Russia's Zenit team will hand over the cup to Platini, who will later give it to Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas.

UEFA President Platini, Vice President Erzik and Mahmut Ozgener, the chairman of the Turkish Football Federation, will hold a press conference after the hand-over ceremony.

The UEFA Cup final will take place at the Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on May 20.

Source: http://haber.turk.net/ENG/2264107/-SPO--UEFA-PRESIDENT-ARRIVES-IN-TURKEY

From Glasgow Rangers to Kocaelispor: Maurice Ross

I heard that Maurice Ross was known as a "troublemaker" while he was in Rangers. I also heard that he was called to the Scottish national team by Berti Vogts at a really early age. Then, he spent some time Wolverhampton Wanderers, Milwall and Viking. He is now in the Turkish league, playing for Kocaelispor. He seems to have adapted well, playing as a right back. If Kocaelispor manages to avoid relegation, I hope he can stay and add to the diversity in the league.

Harry Kewell to Fulham?

Turkish media has reported recently that Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is interested in securing the services of Harry Kewell from Galatasaray. He has done absolutely well in Galatasray this year and deserves to be the player of the year. He is one of the few players who are trying their best to win the game!!! Especially his goal against Bordeaux in the second round of the UEFA Cup was unforgettable.

Can Sivasspor be the Next Champion in Turkey?

They tried it last year and failed to succeed. Sivasspor, a surprisingly successful in Turkish football in recent years, is also the leading team in Turkey this year. What is especially surprising about this team is that they are probably the only team in Turkey that has a sound scouting system. Fabio Bilica and Yannick Kamanan especially are two important results of that system.

If they claim the title this year, they will be the fifth team to win the Turkish Premier League in history (After Galatasaray, Besiktas, Fenerbahce, and Trabzonspor).

Players to watch: Sezer Badur, Mehmet Yilmaz, Hayrettin Yerlikaya, Mamadou Diallo (from Guinea), and Abdurrahman Dereli.

Bosphorus Derby Disappointment: Galatasaray 0 - Fenerbahce 0

April 12, 2009. Locale Istanbul Ali Sami Yen Stadium.

Galatasaray and Fenerbahce derbies are the most talked-about and controversial matches in Turkish football and their impact is extremely high in the country. This year's games were no different. Completely a classic. Today's match produced 4 red cards, but no goals, while both teams have decreased their chances for the title. From Gala Emre Asik, Arda Turan and from Fener Diego Lugano and Semih Senturk were sent off in the last minute of the match for violent behavior.



It is quite likely that both teams will end up sacking their managers, Luis Aragones an Bulent Korkmaz, at the end of the season, and in the case of Fener go through a serious process of rebuilding in the squad.

What was particularly surprising in today's game was Arda and Semih, two great friends in the national team, had to quarrel and be sent off.



Here are the final moments of the Game:

Galatasaray - Fenerbahce derby emvrouille!
Uploaded by Tthuglife69

Tobias Linderoth

He could have been a big hero for Galatasaray fans, but unfortunately his injuries prevented him from being so. I have always admired the Swede's tenacity, professionalism, and willingness to play for his team. But it just didn't happen for him in Turkey. Galatasaray board is seriously thinking to terminate his contract, and I've heard that he might be moving to Elfsborg, back to Sweden. What is interesting with Linderoth is that during the 1,5 years he spent at Galatasaray, he had about 5-6 weeks to play. The rest of the time, he was always injured. I know how big a deal he is among the Swedish fans!

Sinan Ayranci

It is said that a prospective Zlatan Ibrahimovic lives in Sweden. Brommapojkarna's Sinan Ayranci, who is of Turkish descent, is in Galatasaray's transfer list. He is a towering striker. He has 1.90 cm height. Turkish media has reported that he is also in the transfer list of Juventus and Internazionale.

Cassio Lincoln (and an Interview!)

Turkish media have reported today that Galatasaray's Cassio Lincoln is once more out of the team's coach Bulent Korkmaz's squad. Galatasaray will play against Gaziantepspor on April 6 in Gaziantep Kamil Ocak Stadium.

And a relatively new Lincoln interview and the dispute with Bulent Korkmaz.

Turkey vs. Spain

Turkey's high hopes to qualify for WC 2010 were demolished by Spain. After losing the game at Barnebau (1-0), the Turkish team once more lost to Spain in Istanbul Ali Sami Yen Stadium (2-1).
Here is a report from Goal.com.


Spain's Riera And Silva Could Start On The Wings Against Turkey - Report

The pair were part of the practice side that trained today before the team left for Turkey...
Mar 30, 2009 9:42:48 AM

Spain could start with both Albert Riera and David Silva on the flanks for their game with Turkey this Wednesday after the pair trained together with the first team in the last session before they flew out to southern Europe.

Neither the Liverpool man nor the Valencia star were in the starting XI on Saturday evening and without them Spain did labour at times to break down Turkey.

Even though they managed to come away with a victory, Marca reports that Vicente del Bosque could now change things around for the away trip.

The big news is the possible inclusion of Riera and Silva, and also the fact that he could well drop either David Villa or Xavi.

In the practice game today, which was ten against ten, the two wingers had Marcos Senna and Xabi Alonso on their inside, which meant no space for Xavi.

Fernando Torres was the man up front on his own, and there was also a change in defence, where Carlos Marchena played instead of his Valencia team-mate, Raul Albiol.

The former could well replace Albiol at the back for the game with Turkey and if so he would partner Gerard Pique in the centre of defence.

The Barcelona youngster grabbed the only goal of the game at the Bernabeu and played a major role in the victory.

James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com

Now, goals.

THE FIRST GAME

Espagne Vs Turkey Resume 28/03/2009 WC2010
Uploaded by azarer

THE SECOND GAME

Turquie Espagne
Uploaded by BradGX

Group 5 Standing

Group 5 Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Spain 6 6 0 0 13 2 18
Bosnia 6 4 0 2 18 7 12
Turkey 6 2 2 2 6 5 8
Belgium 6 2 1 3 10 11 7
Estonia 6 1 2 3 5 15 5
Armenia 6 0 1 5 3 15 1