The formation of a strong board of directors, each with proven expertise in their respective fields, the moderate and accurate messaging he delivered during the election, when the results were announced, and his support for Fatih Terim from the very beginning are all the right steps Burak Elmas has taken as Galatasaray president. We can say he’s made a good start and has reassured us all. However, it’s still early days, and there’s still much to do. He’s been with the club for many years and is familiar with many details, but as a devoted Galatasaray supporter, I’d like to share my observations, heartfelt thoughts, and accumulated knowledge with him. Accordingly, I’ve listed the issues below:
1) The conflict between high school students and others
This is Galatasaray’s biggest administrative problem. Not all high school students are like this, but some believe that only high school students should hold senior management positions at Galatasaray Sports Club and that the club should always be under the control of the high school. In turn, those who aren’t high school students but have made significant contributions to Galatasaray, or who want to, are offended and react negatively. It’s up to Burak Elmas to reconcile both sides and maintain harmony. Burak Elmas, an Austrian High School graduate with a gentle demeanor and engaging personality who has friends on both sides of the aisle, needs to make an effort to bring this issue to the forefront and perhaps even organize monthly events to foster camaraderie. Ultimately, everyone has the same goal: to advance Galatasaray’s success and advance sports, and to develop the Republic founded by Atatürk by serving Turkish sports.
2) Awareness that Galatasaray is a global sports club
Galatasaray is one of the most successful clubs in Europe. While we occasionally reach the highest level, we are still not yet in a position to compete with the most successful clubs. Our planning needs to be tailored to ensure continued success at the highest level. For example, look at the clubs that have confirmed their participation in the European Super League, and add Bayern Munich, Dortmund, PSG, Porto, and Benfica to their list. These sports clubs consistently maintain their elite status, capable of competing at the highest level. Galatasaray must be included in this category every year and be perceived as a club with the potential to win the Champions League. We still have a long way to go to achieve this sustainability. First, we need to overcome our financial difficulties.
3) Resolving financial problems
Galatasaray Sports Club’s biggest challenge and dilemma is financial. Everyone knows this. While some may take solace in our better performance compared to other sports clubs, I believe we should focus on our own situation and not worry about other clubs. Ultimately, we all know our financial situation is not encouraging (the accounts are shared before the general assembly). Perhaps President Burak’s most important and priority agenda should be financial restructuring. We need to eliminate debt, maintain a balance sheet that generates positive cash every year, and create a model that generates sales and revenue not only in Turkey but globally. I have many recommendations for this. For now, I’ll share five:
a) Galatasaray Voluntary Membership: We need to create a membership program beyond official sports club membership, creating a support fund for the club and sharing the pride and privileges of being a Galatasaray supporter with millions. If Galatasaray, Turkey’s largest fan base, has approximately 30 million fans, even if 10% of them became volunteer members and paid an annual membership fee of 50 TL, an annual fund of 150 million TL would be generated. This is quite possible.
b) Expanding the Galatasaray Store to the international arena: We need to be able to sell internationally beyond our Turkish counterparts. To increase sales, we could transfer the best and most popular athletes from those countries. For example, transferring soccer players from Japan, Korea, or China, basketball players from the US, or volleyball players from Europe…
c) Controlling expenses: This is like the problem of a swimming pool. Water fills from the top tap and drains from the bottom tap. To keep the pool constantly full, the water flowing from the top tap must exceed the water flowing from the bottom tap. Therefore, even if we can’t turn it off, we need to reduce the bottom tap, that is, expenses, as much as possible, reducing them to a level lower than revenue. This includes preventing corruption. This requires meticulous crafting and meticulously implementing financial planning. Financial discipline is crucial for ensuring sustainable success.
d) Transforming Galatasaray Stadium and its surroundings into multipurpose spaces: The first step will be to build an adjacent arena. Afterward, both the stadium and the arena must be made capable of hosting events such as concerts and festivals throughout the year, and a professional team must be established for event organization.
e) Evaluating all of Galatasaray’s assets and generating full revenue: I’m referring to Galatasaray’s efforts to generate revenue through the reconstruction of its island and other sources, in addition to the stadium area. Let me list some of these:
- Galatasaray Island: Su Ada was a negative experience, but the model put forward for maximizing revenue was the right one. It should be rebuilt, reopened as Galatasaray Island, and become a popular destination. It should be included in the club’s official celebrations. This is befitting of Galatasaray.
- Kemerburgaz and Florya Property: The plans are sound. Florya’s land value has increased, so it could be utilized in real estate projects. Similarly, Kemerburgaz should also be equipped with sports facilities.
- Riva: In its 2020 activity report, Galatasaray announced the revenue from the Riva land as 869,621,000 TL. This is a very good figure. At this stage, the project can be accelerated to pay off debts.
- Galatasaray GYO: The club, which generates significant income from real estate projects, can establish a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) and continue land development. Ultimately, the Riva investment was a very good fit, providing some sorely needed relief to the club. Establishing a REIT ensures the continuity of the model that generates significant income from real estate projects.
4) Changing the Perception of Soccer Championships as the Only Success
If you’re the chairman of one of Turkey’s Big 3, you unfortunately need to contend with the perception that the only criterion for success is a soccer championship. This means that if you take historical statistics and calculate them, and include the championships of Trabzonspor and Bursaspor, your chance of success is less than one-third chance. Imagine, you start the league with a 30% chance of winning the championship, and all the fans are in a mood to win the championship no matter what! The importance of achieving success in sports other than soccer, the value of developing international-caliber athletes from the youth academy, and the benefits of a mobilization that will save the lives of many young people in the country through sports must be explained to all Galatasaray fans, and this mentality must be instilled in all Galatasaray fans.
5) The Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe Hostility
This is a major problem. It’s not just Galatasaray’s problem, it’s Turkey’s. The hostility and hatred between the management, fans, and supporters of these two clubs, both fundamentally Kemalist, is incredibly intense. I won’t delve into who fueled this and how, but from Burak Elmas’ perspective, concrete steps must be taken to minimize this hatred. Because this hatred and conflict, which goes far beyond rivalry, is damaging Turkish sports. It is deepening the rift that has formed in a nation already polarized on every issue. Burak Elmas has a great opportunity to minimize this problem, which has been ingrained for generations. Even Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç has stated that he has known, liked, and respected Burak Elmas for a long time. The fact that the two presidents get along well and demonstrate this everywhere is a significant step.
6) Investing in Infrastructure
The most important move he can make in sports is to maximize investment in infrastructure. In fact, professional teams spending a significant percentage of their budgets on infrastructure instead of expensive transfers would be very beneficial for both Galatasaray and national sports. Galatasaray and all teams operating in Turkey need to put aside populism and patiently invest in infrastructure. Setting annual goals for themselves would also be beneficial. For example, setting goals like, “We will promote at least three athletes from the youth academy to the senior team every year” will help them stay focused and be very beneficial for the country and the nation.
7) Sports are an indicator of a country’s development
A country’s development is directly proportional to its success in sports. Just look at the Olympics. The most successful countries are always the most economically and culturally developed. In this sense, major sports competitions and events like the Olympics are essentially a testament to its own potential. Unfortunately, Turkey’s record in such important sporting events has consistently been poor. Occasionally, some have excelled in competitions like weightlifting and wrestling, and occasionally, international success has been achieved through the proliferation of foreign players, coaches, and trainers. These successes are not national success. Don’t tell me about fancy-sounding but empty terms like “industrial soccer.” A country’s success with its own domestic players is true success. For example, in my opinion, at least half of a soccer team’s 11 players, excluding the goalkeeper, should be domestic players. In other words, at least five of the ten players on the field, excluding the goalkeeper, must be Turkish. Training athletes for the Olympics is also the responsibility of sports clubs. In this sense, we expect Burak Elmas to prioritize this national issue and take the necessary steps, and as sports fans who desire the development of our country, we expect him to do so.
8) Ultra Aslan
Ultra Aslan is one of Galatasaray’s most troubling issues. I’m not talking about the young people who are part of Ultra Aslan. Most of them have their hearts in the right place and are sensible. However, judging by the recent portrayals of Ultra Aslan’s managers (none of whom we know), we can say there are problems within Galatasaray’s largest fan base. It would be beneficial for Burak Elmas, as Galatasaray president, to address this issue as well.
9) Friendship and brotherhood at home
In my opinion, sweet banter and banter are the spice of sports competitions. Events should be interpreted with humor, without insults, hurtful words, or attacks. However, this isn’t always the case. Verbal or written attacks that offend the opposing team or on sensitive issues destroy friendship and brotherhood at home. As Galatasaray, we must do what is right and avoid behavior that would offend opposing teams and their fans, and we must never lose sight of our opponents. This is already part of Galatasaray’s culture. President Burak will need to demonstrate this in a way that sets an example for everyone.
10) The relationship between politics and soccer
Sports, and especially soccer, are so popular that it’s impossible for politicians not to show interest. Even many heads of state and leaders of countries who don’t understand soccer occasionally attend competitions and develop policies on these issues to capitalize on this popularity. The opposite can also happen. Sometimes, if the presidents of sports clubs are successful, their names are associated with politics. I believe sports should stay away from politics and be managed impartially. Therefore, my humble advice to Burak Elmas is to stay away from politics and maintain an impartial stance everywhere. Of course, there’s also the opposite. We need to prevent politicians from trying to manipulate Galatasaray. He has such a personality, and I believe he will be very meticulous in these matters. I would even like to point out that our family friend Remzi Sanver, chosen as the spokesperson for the board of directors, is very successful in communication, conveying his messages in the most accurate way and in line with Galatasaray’s culture.
11) Basketball and other sports
Galatasaray used to compete with ambitious teams in every sport. Now, the only thing left is soccer. This is quite frustrating. It befits Galatasaray to build ambitious teams in every sport and ensure that the club contributes not only to national soccer but to all sports. We can start with the basketball team, which once formed a legendary team. Then we can add volleyball, water polo, and all other sports. The NEF sponsorship in basketball is a good start. We will also need to find sponsors in other sports that will ease the burden on Galatasaray Sports Club.
I hope Burak Elmas attains great success and makes us proud of this success we long for in Turkey and Europe. We wholeheartedly support him. May the future of Galatasaray be bright.
Tag: memoir
