UEFA yesterday compiled a news story on its website, titled "Turkey's biggest European success stories." The European football body picked out the Turkish footballers who played, scored and took to the field in the finals of European tournaments. Galatasaray's footballers dominated the selection. It said, "with Beşiktaş's UEFA Europa League efforts ongoing, and Turkish stars in UEFA Champions League action, UEFA.com picks out the nation's top European performers." Here is the list from UEFA:
Most appearances by a Turkish player in the UEFA Champions League (including qualifying):
74: Bülent Korkmaz (Galatasaray AŞ)
67: Arif Erdem (Galatasaray AŞ)
65: Ergün Penbe (Galatasaray AŞ)
59: Hasan Şaş (Galatasaray AŞ)
55: Hakan Şükür (Galatasaray AŞ, FC Internazionale Milano)
53: Emre Belozoğlu (Galatasaray AŞ, FC Internazionale Milano, Fenerbahçe SK)
51: Suat Kaya (Galatasaray AŞ)
49: Hakan Ünsal (Galatasaray AŞ)
46: Ümit Davala (Galatasaray AŞ, SV Werder Bremen)
45: Okan Buruk (Galatasaray AŞ, FC Internazionale Milano)
Top-scoring Turkish players in the UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)
22: Hakan Şükür (Galatasaray AŞ, FC Internazionale Milano)
12: Metin Oktay (Galatasaray AŞ)
12: Arif Erdem (Galatasaray AŞ)
10: Burak Yılmaz (Beşiktaş JK, Fenerbahçe SK, Trabzonspor AŞ, Galatasaray AŞ)
9: Ümit Karan (Galatasaray AŞ)
8: Semih Şentürk (Fenerbahçe SK)
7: Arda Turan (Galatasaray AŞ, Club Atlético de Madrid)
7: Tuncay Şanlı (Fenerbahçe SK)
6: Tanju Çolak (Galatasaray AŞ)
6: Oktay Derelioğlu (Beşiktaş JK, Fenerbahçe SK)
6: Hasan Şaş (Galatasaray AŞ)
6: Ümit Davala (Galatasaray AŞ, SV Werder Bremen)
