Fatih Terim: 'Galatasaray, I hope, will break its own record'

The Galatasaray community came together on the 26th anniversary of the UEFA Cup championship won in 2000.

Dursun Özbek, the president of the yellow-red club, Faruk Süren, one of the former presidents, Fatih Terim, the former coach of the football team, Bülent Korkmaz, the former captain and footballer of the team, and members of the board of directors of the club attended the event held at Galatasaray High School.

Galatasaray Club President Dursun Özbek noted that the UEFA Cup championship was very important for the community and said, "As you know, today is the 26th anniversary of our winning the UEFA Cup. For the UEFA Cup, which is one of the important victories of Galatasaray, we come together with our legends who contributed to this success every year on May 17th. Today, I would like to thank especially my president, my coach and my captain for coming here. We will be together to commemorate this day and share our memories. I would like to thank them. These kinds of gatherings provide us with support for Galatasaray's future European victories. I thank everyone who contributed."

Faruk Süren, one of the former presidents of the club, stated that they won this cup 26 years ago and said, "26 years ago, a Turkish team won the UEFA Cup for the first time. In 26 years, we were hoping that Galatasaray would do it once or twice more, but it didn't happen. From now on, I am sure that if a trophy is to be won, Galatasaray will win it again. We thank the president for gathering us, for remembering us. Thanks to him, both my captain Bülent Korkmaz and our technical director emperor Fatih Terim are here."

- Fatih Terim: "Galatasaray, I hope, will break its own record"

Fatih Terim, one of the legendary coaches of Galatasaray, stated that the yellow-red football team is strong enough to break its own record.

Thanking Dursun Özbek for his invitation, Fatih Terim said, "I congratulate my president on his championship and success in a four-year period. I also congratulate the management. I send my heartfelt congratulations to Okan Buruk, who was once my student and now my colleague. I hope that Galatasaray will break its own record. Galatasaray has that power."

Noting that everyone contributed to the UEFA Cup championship, Fatih Terim said:

"It may seem like our captain and our team lifted the trophy that day. In fact, it was Galatasaray's own values that lifted that trophy. The fans, the community, the high school, the football team and the management lifted this trophy. And where we are is a historical place. This is not a school, but a place of ideas. European success is already in Galatasaray's genes. This success is the march of those who worked together and believed together. I congratulate everyone who contributed that day and the fans. No serious success is a coincidence. The UEFA Cup victory is the success of 4 years of working and believing together. I remember what I said after the UEFA Cup: "I feel like I have a child." I couldn't describe my joy. 26 years on, it has become clear how important this success is. I would like to thank the footballers who contributed to this success for bringing this beautiful trophy to the country."

Bülent Korkmaz, former captain of the yellow-red football team, stated that they have been experiencing the happiness of this achievement for 26 years and said, "As our president Faruk Süren said, Galatasaray Club was the first to bring the European Cup to the country. We are experiencing the happiness of this even though 26 years have passed. We still see that love and respect. I hope that Galatasaray's next goal will be the UEFA Champions League trophy. I hope we will lift this trophy as soon as possible. Thus, we will show what a great club and community we are."