Besiktas face tough battle to retain title

A series of high-profile signings have raised hopes at both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray that they can regain the Turkish title in the new sea...

A series of high-profile signings have raised hopes at both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray that they can regain the Turkish title in the new season beginning on Friday.

Each side had won the title in the two previous seasons before Besiktas stormed to their first league championship since 1995 by an eight-point margin this year. The victory, crowning the club’s centennial celebrations, was seen as a personal vindication for Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu a year after he was ousted by Galatasaray.

Fenerbahce must focus on the domestic programme after a poor season which saw them slump to sixth in the league and fail to secure a place in European competition. They are now hoping to bounce back with new signings such as Dutch striker Pierre van Hooijdonk, 33, who has impressed with a series of goals during a warm-up tour in Germany. Brazilian defender Fabio Luciano has also joined the club. German goalkeeper Robert Enke, on loan from Barcelona, faces the difficult task of replacing Turkish international Rustu Recber who has travelled in the opposite direction to join the Spanish club.

Fenerbahce’s new German coach Christoph Daum is starting a third stint in Turkey after two previous spells with Besiktas. Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim will be under pressure to repeat the success he achieved with Galatasaray in the late 90s when they won the UEFA Cup and four successive league titles. Their performance in European competition last year fell well short of expectations but they have a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League this season. (Reuters)

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