3 for 3 with Galatasaray: Okan Buruk becomes one of the most successful figures in Super Lig history

Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk, who declared his team champions with 2 weeks left in the Trendyol Süper Lig, has become the 3rd coach with the most championship titles in league history.

Entering the 36th week of the league 8 points ahead of their closest rival Fenerbahçe, the yellow-red team would have secured the title with just 1 point. By defeating their guest Bellona Kayserispor 3-0, Galatasaray declared themselves champions with 2 weeks remaining.

With this result, "Cimbom" reached the happy ending in the league, clinching the title for the 3rd consecutive time and the 25th time in total. Okan Buruk increased his championship tally in his coaching career to 4.

Having previously won the championship at the helm of İstanbul Başakşehir in the 2019-2020 season, Buruk lifted the trophy with Galatasaray in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons.

FATİH TERİM AT THE TOP

Coach Fatih Terim, who has won the championship 8 times in the Süper Lig, holds the record in this field.

The experienced coach enjoyed championship success during his four stints at Galatasaray in 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019.

The second person with the most championship titles in the league after Terim is Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı with 4. Özyazıcı clinched the championship title with Trabzonspor in the 1975-1976, 1976-1977, 1979-1980, and 1983-1984 seasons.

Finishing the league at the top for the fourth time, Okan Buruk surpassed Mustafa Denizli, Gordon Milne, Brian Birch, and Christoph Daum, who each have three championships, and caught up with Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı. By matching Özyazıcı's championship count, Buruk became the 3rd coach to win the Süper Lig 4 times.

3RD CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP

Okan Buruk earned the title of the 4th coach to achieve this 3 times in a row in the Süper Lig.

Leading the yellow-red team to the championship in the last 3 seasons, Buruk became the fourth coach to win 3 consecutive championships after Brian Birch, Gordon Milne, and Fatih Terim.

English coach Birch won consecutive championships at the helm of Galatasaray in the 1970-71, 1971-72, and 1972-73 seasons, while another Englishman, Milne, won consecutive titles with Beşiktaş in the 1989-90, 1990-91, and 1991-92 seasons. Fatih Terim achieved a significant success in Turkish football by winning the championship in 4 consecutive seasons between 1996-2000 at the helm of Galatasaray.

CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD BELONGS TO OKAN BURUK

Okan Buruk is the person with the most total championship titles in the Süper Lig as both a player and a coach.

Having been the person with the most championship titles in his career as a player (7) and coach (3) until this season, Okan Buruk remained at the top this season, increasing his championship count to 11.

Okan Buruk continued the tradition of Turkish coaches winning the championship.

Galatasaray, which recorded 28 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss in the Süper Lig, collected 89 points. The yellow-red team finished the 36th week 8 points ahead of their closest rival Fenerbahçe, guaranteeing the championship with 2 matches left.

With this result, the tradition of Turkish coaches winning the league continued. In the process that began with Galatasaray winning the championship under the management of Cevat Güler in the 2007-2008 season, Turkish coaches have won the championship for 18 consecutive seasons.