WHILE manager of Galatasaray in 1996, Graeme Souness celebrated a cup final victory over Fenerbahce by planting his club’s flag in the centre circle of their bitter enemies’ home pitch. Galatasaray versus Fenerbahce is one of the most ferocious rivalries in all of football. And ferocious rivalries are the essence of all sport.
We invest far too much time and money in watching grown men play ball games for them not to rouse extreme passions. Even genuine hatred. Souness never was a shrinking violet.
His incendiary antics almost sparked a riot and are still remembered vividly in Istanbul 28 years later — with fondness by supporters of Galatasaray, with raging resentment by Fenerbahce fans. The Scotsman only managed Galatasaray for one season but for a man who always understood football’s need for needle, the place had a lasting effect on him. Once out with a mate and his Turkish girlfriend, who was a Galatasaray fan, I messaged Souness.
He replied: “Tell her: ‘Cim-bom-bom’.” This is Galatasaray’s nickname and their supporters’ most common chant. The message was gratefully received, two decades after he’d left the club.
Souness will never forget Istanbul, that vast, chaotic city, with its myriad mosques, its incessant traffic, its mania for football and the fear and loathing between the clubs who contest its premier derby. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS Which brings us to Jose Mourinho , who has taken over as manager of Fenerbahce on a two-year.