Beşiktaş
Beşiktaş () is a district and municipality of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its area is 18 km2 and its population is 175,190 (2022). It is located on the European shore of the Bosphorus strait. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and ...
–
Galatasaray
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (, ''Galatasaray Sports Club''), more commonly referred to as simply Galatasaray and familiarly as Cimbom, is a Turkish sports club based on the European side of the city of Istanbul including basketball, wheelchair ...
is a Turkish
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
rivalry
A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant ...
involving two of the most successful clubs in the
Süper Lig
The Süper Lig (, ''Super League''), also known as Trendyol Süper Lig for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Turkey and the highest level of the Turkish football league system. In the 2023–2024 season, twen ...
. It is also a
local derby
A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes, affecting participants, management, and supporters all to varying degrees.
One of the first known sports rivalries occurred in the Roman Empire between the Blues and th ...
, one of many involving
Istanbul
Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...
clubs.
History
The first game played between the two sides was an
Istanbul Football League
The Istanbul Football League () was founded as a regional association football, football league under the name Constantinople Football Association League by James La Fontaine and Henry Pears in Istanbul, the capital of the former Ottoman Empire, ...
game on 22 August 1924. The match, staged at
Taksim Stadium
Taksim Stadium () was the first football stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Originally the 19th century Taksim Artillery Barracks ('' Taksim Topçu Kışlası'') it was transformed into a stadium in 1921 and was located next to today's Taksim Square. ...
, finished 2–0 to Beşiktaş. Galatasaray marked their first victory over Beşiktaş when they defeated them 6–1 in semi-final of the Istanbul Football League on 31 July 1925.
Fan's rivalry
Beşiktaş and Galatasaray are two of the most popular Turkish clubs; both sides have large fanbases that follow them in domestic and international matches.
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, also known as soccer hooliganism, football rioting or soccer rioting, constitutes violence and other destructive behaviors perpetrated by spectators at association football events. Football hooliganism typically involves ...
is a very common phenomenon between their fans in recent years, featuring anything from breaking seats, cursing, fighting, fireworks and street rioting. Beşiktaş' fans are known for their chanting supporting and are widely known as the fiercest fans in Europe. Galatasaray's fans are also well known and are similar to Beşiktaş' fans with their chants.
Football rivalry
Both clubs compete each other for the title of the most successful football club in Turkey. Galatasaray is the more successful of the two teams, winning 59 official titles compared to Beşiktaş's 35, and is also the most successful in head-to-head matches. Galatasaray boast for their achievement to win the
2000 UEFA Cup Final
The 2000 UEFA Cup Final was a football match that took place on 17 May 2000 at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark to decide the winner of the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup. The game event pitted Galatasaray of Turkey and Arsenal of England, and was t ...
and the
2000 UEFA Super Cup
The 2000 UEFA Super Cup was a football match played on 25 August 2000 between Real Madrid of Spain and Galatasaray of Turkey. Real Madrid qualified by beating Valencia in the 2000 UEFA Champions League Final, while Galatasaray had made it to the Su ...
, being the only Turkish side to have made them so far.
Culture
Both clubs are located on the European part of Istanbul. Beşiktaş JK were founded in the municipality of
Beşiktaş
Beşiktaş () is a district and municipality of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its area is 18 km2 and its population is 175,190 (2022). It is located on the European shore of the Bosphorus strait. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and ...
, while Galatasaray SK were founded in the district of
Galatasaray
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (, ''Galatasaray Sports Club''), more commonly referred to as simply Galatasaray and familiarly as Cimbom, is a Turkish sports club based on the European side of the city of Istanbul including basketball, wheelchair ...
. Both clubs naturally draw the majority of their support from the side of the city that they are native to, but maintain a significant majority of support drawn from the rest of Turkey.
Honours
Note: Calculated based on official tournaments.
Supporters
* A poll involving 1.4 million people asked for the team the support in Turkey by bilyoner.com showed that alongside Galatasaray with 35%, Fenerbahçe with 34% and Beşiktaş with 19% make up most fans.
* Galatasaray and Beşiktaş are followed by large masses on social media. Galatasaray's social media accounts are followed by more people.
*
Highest attendance
Head-to-head ranking in Süper Lig
• Total: Beşiktaş with 27 higher finishes, Galatasaray with 39 higher finishes (as of the end of the 2023–24 season).
Statistics
Head-to-head
''As of 29 March 2025''
Biggest wins (5+ goals)
Most consecutive wins
Most consecutive draws
Most consecutive matches without a draw
Longest undefeated runs
Highest scoring matches
Most consecutive matches without conceding a goal
Most consecutive games scoring
Player
Most appearances
Top scorers
Most goals by a player in a match
Played for both teams
Players from Beşiktaş to Galatasaray
*
Refik Osman Top
*
Şükrü Gülesin
Şükrü Mustafa Gülesin (14 September 1922 – 10 July 1977) was a Turkish football player and sports journalist. Almost two meters tall, he was a strong and quick striker, as well as a free kick and penalty specialist,
*
Recep Adanır
Recep Adanır (3 May 1929 – 20 May 2017) was a Turkish professional footballer who played most of his career with Beşiktaş, the club he managed following his retirement. He also played for Ankaragücü, Kasımpaşa, Galatasaray and Karag� ...
*
Ahmet Berman
* Ali Çoban
*
Mersad Kovačević
*
Saffet Sancaklı
Saffet Sancaklı ( sr-Cyrl, Сафет Санџакли, Safet Sandžakli; born 27 February 1966) is a Turkish former international footballer and current politician. He is a deputy of Nationalist Movement Party, representing city of Kocaeli ...
*
Sergen Yalçın
Ali Rıza Sergen Yalçın (; born 5 November 1972), known as Sergen Yalçın, Turkish professional football manager and former player. Yalçın is the first individual in Turkish football to win the Süper Lig both as ...
*
Ayhan Akman
*
Gökhan Zan
Gökhan Zan (born 7 September 1981) is a Turkish former professional association football, footballer who played as a centre-back.
Club career
Zan was born in Antakya. He started his career with Hatayspor and then moved on to Çanakkale Dardane ...
*
Serdar Özkan
Serdar Özkan (born 1 January 1987) is a Turkish professional footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American footb ...
*
Burak Yılmaz
Burak Yılmaz (born 15 July 1985) is a Turkish professional association football, football coach and former player who played as a forward (association football), forward. He is the current head coach of Süper Lig club Kasımpaşa S.K., Kasımp ...
*
Cenk Gönen
*
Ryan Babel
Ryan Guno Babel (; born 19 December 1986) is a Dutch former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward.
Babel began his career at Ajax in 1997, working his way up through the youth tea ...
*
Adem Büyük
Adem Büyük (born 30 August 1987) is a Turkish professional football manager and a former player who played primarily as a striker (association football), striker but also as a Winger (association football), left winger. He is the manager of Ye ...
*
Günay Güvenç
Günay Güvenç (born 25 June 1991) is a German-Turkish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Galatasaray.
Career
Galatasaray
On 1 August 2023, he signed a 3-year contract with Galatasaray.
Career statistics
Honours
Beşi ...
Players from Galatasaray to Beşiktaş
*
İbrahim Tusder
* Ali Soydan
* Ergun Acuner
*
Suat Mamat
Suat İsmail Mamat (8 November 1930 – 3 February 2016) was a Turkish professional footballer who played in Turkey for Ankara Demirspor, Galatasaray S.K., Beşiktaş J.K. and Vefa S.K.
International career
Mamat made 27 appearances for th ...
*
Ahmet Yıldırım
*
Emre Aşık
Emre Aşık (born 13 December 1973) is a Turkish former international footballer. He played centre-back for several clubs in the Turkish Süper Lig, most notably, Galatasaray. Aşık began his career with Sönmez Filamentspor in the TFF Third L ...
*
Adrian Ilie
Bucurel Adrian Ilie (born 20 April 1974) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Nicknamed ''The Cobra'', he is best known for his spell with Valencia in Spain.
He played for the Romania national team in one Worl ...
*
Okan Buruk
Okan Buruk (, born 19 October 1973) is a Turkish professional football manager and former player, currently serving as the manager of Super League club Galatasaray. As both a player and a manager, Buruk is widely recognized as one of the most inf ...
*
Berkant Göktan
*
Mehmet Yozgatlı
*
Dany Nounkeu
*
Caner Erkin
Caner Erkin (, born 4 October 1988) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Süper Lig club Eyüpspor.
Club career
Early years
Erkin began his professional career at the start of the 2004–05 season with Manisaspor w ...
*
Mehmet Topal
*
Gedson Fernandes
*
Milot Rashica
Milot Rashica (; born 28 June 1996) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Süper Lig club Beşiktaş and the Kosovo national team.
Club career Early career
Rashica was born in Vučitrn, FR Yugo ...
Managers for both teams
*
Leandro Remondini
*
Gündüz Kılıç
"Baba" Gündüz Kılıç (29 October 1918 – 17 May 1980) was a Turkish football player and coach. He was Ali Kılıç's son and Altemur Kılıç's brother.
Biography
Born in 1918 in Istanbul, Gündüz Kılıç attended Galatasaray Lycee ...
*
Karl-Heinz Feldkamp
Karl-Heinz Feldkamp (born 2 June 1934) is a German retired football manager and player.
Feldkamp started coaching in 1968. In Germany, he coached Borussia Dortmund, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and Eintracht Frankfurt, among others. He previously coac ...
*
Mircea Lucescu
Mircea Lucescu (; born 29 July 1945) is a Romanian professional Association football, football Manager (association football), manager and former player, currently the head coach of the Romania national football team, Romania national team. He i ...
*
Mustafa Denizli
Mustafa Denizli (born 10 November 1949) is a Turkish football coach and former player. He has managed many notable Turkish football clubs, including ''"Istanbul Big Three"'' ( Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş) and has won the Süper L ...
Süper Lig matches
Turkish Cup matches
Turkish Super Cup matches
See also
*
The Intercontinental Derby
*
Beşiktaş–Fenerbahçe rivalry
*
Major football rivalries
This list of association football rivalries catalogues football rivalries around the world. This includes rivalries at the club and international level, including local derby and intercontinental competitions. It also lists rivalries between indiv ...
*
Beşiktaş J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü (, ), abbreviated as BJK, is a Turkish professional sports club founded in 1903 that is based in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. The club's football team is one of the Big Three in Turkey and one of the most ...
*
Galatasaray S.K.
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (, ''Galatasaray Sports Club''), more commonly referred to as simply Galatasaray and familiarly as Cimbom, is a Turkish sports club based on the European side of the city of Istanbul including basketball, wheelchair ...
*
Big Three (Turkey)
The Big Three () is the colloquial name given to Beşiktaş J.K., Beşiktaş, Galatasaray S.K. (football), Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe S.K. (football), Fenerbahçe, the three most successful sports clubs in Turkey. They are all based in Istanbul ...
References
External links
Beşiktaş JK WebsiteGalatasaray SK Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Besiktas-Galatasaray Rivalry
Süper Lig
Football rivalries in Turkey
Beşiktaş Football
Galatasaray S.K. (football)