Six-star Türkiye end 48-year wait

A social studies teacher sheepishly approached his headmaster’s office. The 26-year-old novice had only just been appointed at the Trabzon middle school in 1978, yet he was set to ask for time off – and it wasn’t for a bereavement, operation, wedding or any other worthy cause. Senol asked to go to Florence with his friends. The educator’s wish was his principal’s command. The tourists didn’t see Tuscan hotspots such as Giotto’s Bell Tower, The Uffizi Gallery or The Dome. They instead competed against Claudio Gentile, Gaetano Scirea, Marco Tardelli, Franco Causio and Enzo Bearzot’s Italy. Senol Gunes made multiple magnificent saves as Türkiye, the almighty underdogs, only lost 1-0. Gunes continued combining goalkeeping and teaching for five years until deciding to focus on the former. He then hung up his Trabzonspor and Türkiye gloves in 1987. “Not going to the World Cup,” responded Gunes when asked about his biggest regret.

Gunes had participated in flunked examinations to get Türkiye into Argentina 1978, Spain 1982 and Mexico 1986. He would, however, get a chance to re-sit the FIFA World Cup™ qualifying test. After success as a club coach – he almost led Trabzonspor to Turkish Super Lig glory in 1995/96 – he was handed the Türkiye reins in 2000 and charged with getting them to a first global finals since Switzerland 1954.

Some of the country’s brightest-ever pupils would be there to aid the former teacher. They included Rustu Recber, a goalkeeper as renowned for repelling penalties as he was for using anti-glare paint under his eyes; Alpay Ozalan, a no-nonsense centre-back who’d been lauded by Paolo Maldini; elite midfielders Okan Buruk, Tugay Kerimoglu and Emre Belozoglu; the gloriously gifted Nihat Kahveci; and striker Hakan Sukur, ‘The Bull of the Bosphorus’ with the balletic touch.

Türkiye began Korea/Japan 2002 qualifying positively, but ultimately finished second behind Sweden, sending them into the UEFA play-offs. They were drawn against Austria, who’d reached the World Cup semi-finals twice and been to four of the previous six editions. Turks travelled to Vienna en masse for the first leg. They watched their heroes edge a tempestuous tussle at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Okan Buruk stabbing home the only goal following a tremendous Tugay pass. Then, 25 years ago today, came the return at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul. This time the W was emphatic, wonderful goals from Yildiray Basturk and Sukur setting Türkiye en route to a 5-0 success amid an indescribable atmosphere. It remains the biggest aggregate victory in a UEFA play-off for a World Cup place. “I can’t even describe the emotions,” said Alpay. “Football means everything to our people. Now they will get to see us play in the World Cup. It doesn’t get any bigger.”

Gunes added: “This is one of the greatest days in Turkish sporting history. We’ve dreamed of this for so many years. Türkiye are finally back at the World Cup. You can see what it means to our people. It’s hard to find the words. We’ve made history.” Little could Turks have dreamed that it was only chapter one of their Korea/Japan 2002 fairy tale.

More on FIFA

The Bull of the Bosphorus bolts into history Highlights: Korea Republic 2-3 Türkiye (2002) Highlights: Senegal 0-1 Türkiye (2002) Highlights: Japan 0-1 Türkiye (2002)