Nowhere in Europe is the title race so tightly choreographed as the Turkish Super Lig.
Three Istanbul clubs occupy the top three places, and it is entirely plausible that Fenerbahce, who are second, could steal top spot from Besiktas today, Slaven Bilic and his men regain the lead tomorrow and Galatasaray, who are third, a point behind the others, take the summit on Monday.
Nor is form too much a guidance on who will prevail.
Mind games
Each of the top three has taken 10 points from their last five fixtures. It is a time for coaches to hold their nerve and steady their players. “It will be a crazy few weeks,” said Besiktas coach Bilic, who identified tomorrow’s trip to Trabzonspor as the toughest of the six matches left on his agenda. There may be some psychological strategy in that observation. Besiktas still have a derby against a city rival to come, away at Galatasaray on the penultimate matchday.
Man in demand
Bilic, 46, must also negotiate the tense run-in amid persistent speculation about his future. Taking Besiktas to a first championship in six years would only put his name higher on the shortlist of clubs in more elite leagues, notably Germany and England. West Ham United is one name that keeps recurring, a club Bilic played for in a varied, admired career as a defender.
Courage and controversy
“He was incredibly brave, a king,” Miroslav Blazevic, who coached Croatia to third place at the 1998 World Cup, once said, describing Bilic the centre-half. In that World Cup, Bilic gained some infamy for feigning the seriousness of a challenge made on him in the semi-finals by France’s Laurent Blanc. Blanc missed the final, suspended, as a result. The two men have shaken hands since.
Rock ‘n roll
The charismatic, articulate Bilic combined his early career with studying law, in which he has a degree. His interests outside football include music. He played the guitar in a band called Rawhau, who composed a song to accompany the Croatia national team to Euro 2008, when Bilic coached them to qualification, eliminating England in the process. He stayed with Croatia until 2012, when he took over Lokomotiv Moscow, although his season in Russia was disappointing. At Besiktas, where he is in his second season, he has shown he can soar as a club manager.
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