Galatasaray

The Galatasaray administration and technical staff were in hot water on Feb. 13 after the Istanbul club suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Kayserispor, its second loss in three league games.

Larrys Mabiala and Levent Gülen scored one goal each in the first half for the visiting side, with the home side's consolidation goal coming from Eren Derdiyok one minute from the final whistle.  

Turkish Super League leader Be?ikta? will take on Kayserispor on April 30 at its new home with the hopes of avoiding any more slip-ups in the title run-in.

The Istanbul side is feeling the heat from rival Fenerbahçe after last week's draw with Aknisar Belediyespor, which it only achieved thanks to a last-minute goal by Cenk Tosun on April 23.

After a 1065-day break, Be?ikta? is returning to Istanbul's Dolmabahçe neighborhood overlooking the Bosphorus on April 11 for the official kick-off on its new home pitch, Vodafone Arena, against Bursaspor with seven weeks to go in the league.

The top football authority in Europe, UEFA, has banned Turkey's Galatasaray from continental cups for one year after the Istanbul side failed to fulfill the financial fair play requirements. 

The ban will be valid from the first year that Galatasaray, now 16 points behind leader Fenerbahçe in the Spor Toto Super League, gains the right to join a European cup. 

Norwegian international footballer Martin Linnes arrived in Istanbul on Jan. 12 to sign a contract with Galatasaray.

"I know Galatasaray is a big club," right-back Linnes told the Istanbul side's official broadcaster on arrival at the airport. 

Gençlerbirli?i parted ways with coach Y?lmaz Vural on Dec. 29, just five days after he signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with the Ankara club.

A debate between Vural and Gençlerbirli?i's powerful chairman, ?lhan Cavcav, about winter break transfers led to the decision, according to reports.

Defending Spor Toto Super League champion Galatasaray will play its first game under its new coach on Nov. 29 when it makes a short trip to city rival Kas?mpa?aspor.

Mustafa Denizli signed a one-and-a-half year contract with the Istanbul club on Nov. 26 and is ready to lead the troubled team against Kas?mpa?a.

Spor Toto Super League club Galatasaray announced Nov. 23 that it has agreed on a contract with Mustafa Denizli to become the Istanbul side's next coach. The deal will reportedly expire at the end of next season.
 

Hours after Galatasaray signed Lukas Podolski, its chairman has said the Turkish football giant?s next targets could be Lionel Messi and Neymar to compete with rival Fenerbahçe?s recent signing of Nani and reported agreement in principle with Robin Van Persie.

The title race in the Spor Toto Super League may take a new twist this weekend when league leader Be?ikta? visits Trabzonspor on May 3 in Week 29 of the season.