Breaking The Monopoly – Bursaspor’s 2009-10 Triumph

Irrespective of the pandemic, the title race in Turkey's Super Lig this season has been compelling. However, unlike recent seasons, none of the likely contenders are from the so-called “Istanbul Big Three” clubs of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. If one of Trabzonspor, İstanbul Başakşehir or Sivasspor win the league this season, it will be just the third time in Super Lig’s 61-year history the league champions has come from outside Istanbul's big three. The first club to achieve this was Trabzonspor, with their sixth and final league title coming in 1983-84, but it was Bursaspor’s exploits a decade ago that would stun Turkish football. 

When Ertuğrul Sağlam took over as Bursaspor manager in January 2009, the club was on their third coach of the season, ninth in the table after just one win in nine games. At the age of 39, Sağlam was young compared to other managers in the league, but had relative experience coaching in the Super Lig. Impressive stints at Samsunspor (2003-05) and Kayserispor (2005-07) was rewarded with a big managerial role at Beşiktaş in summer 2007. However, Sağlam would last just 15 months, finishing third in the league during the 2007-08 season and resigning in October 2008.

Coaching one of Turkey’s big three clubs is always a bruising experience, but such was Sağlam’s talents as a coach, he found a managerial role at Bursaspor within three months. The ex-striker quickly displayed his coaching acumen by raising the club’s performances and propelling them to finish sixth in the league.

Just missing out on playing in the Europa League, the club made sure to build on Sağlam’s achievements by strengthening the squad during the summer. In came Tomáš Zápotočný on loan from Beşiktaş to bolster the defence, Argentine playmaker Pablo Batalla from Vélez Sarsfield to add creativity, midfielder Ivan Ergić from Basel to add to the midfield, Hüseyin Cimsir from Trabzonspor to add steel in front of the defence and Turgay Bahadir from Kayserispor to improve the attack.