20.08.2026 11:30
Fatih Terim, one of Galatasaray's legendary head coaches, made striking statements on YouTube about the separation processes he experienced at the yellow-red club. Describing his loyalty to Galatasaray and referring to the periods he left his post, Terim said, 'When you stand behind a man you believe in somewhere, something happens. I can never accept impatient changes. I also wonder about something a lot. We became champions at the top for 4 years. I leave, and the community says nothing.'
Fatih Terim, who served Galatasaray for many years, spoke about why he could not work continuously at the yellow-red club, using Arsene Wenger as an example.
"IF I HAD STAYED 20 YEARS, A LOT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED"
Terim said, "If I had stayed 20 years like Arsene Wenger, frankly, a lot would have happened. Why didn't it? It's not just about me, it's about the people... It's not about the community either. My loyalty is to my club... When the people making the decisions are there, there's nothing left for you to do, but that doesn't mean I will abandon my community even if I don't work."
"LOYALTY IS STAYING ON THE SAME PATH"
The experienced coach, evaluating the concept of loyalty, said, "Loyalty is an important concept that was seen more in the past, but we don't come across it very often today. Loyalty is not a condition-dependent situation. Being there when the wind is at your back is not very important. But loyalty is staying on the same path when the wind blows against you or when you are caught in a storm."
Terim, drawing attention to the fact that changing clubs is more common today, said, "Today, we don't encounter it much because community and club changes happen very quickly. But thank God, we met the feeling of loyalty at a very young age. You might call it romantic, but I call it commitment. Love is sharing the burden. The people we consider the most loyal spent their last years elsewhere. I'm not saying why are you like this, but this is a matter of character and understanding. Because in the end, a person is remembered not by what they gained, but by what they didn't give up."
"MY LOYALTY IS TO MY CLUB"
Fatih Terim, emphasizing that his commitment is to Galatasaray, not to individuals, said, "My loyalty is to my club, my loyalty is not to every person, but to some people. Now, when the people making the decisions are there, there is nothing else you can do. But this does not mean that I will leave my community even if I don't work. I go to Europe, I go to Africa, I go to Arabia. Whatever, but my community doesn't change."
Terim, also describing the path he followed in his career after leaving Galatasaray, said, "As I said, I don't consider the word loyalty very worthy for individuals in this regard. I mean, if we leave Galatasaray, where will we go? On the other hand, we are still here. What will we do? After signing with Galatasaray, I never played for another team as a player. After coming to Galatasaray as a coach, I never worked for another team. I have respect for every community, but this is my choice. Maybe you can say this. This is an Adana-style loyalty."
"WHERE ARE THOSE WHO LIED AND DECEIVED?"
Referring to his past at Galatasaray, Fatih Terim also used harsh words regarding the periods when he thought he had been wronged.
Terim said, "I or others; I'm speaking for institutions. When they come to any position, they should not put their own interests above the interests of the institutions. They should not use the community for their own envy or jealousy. I have been at Galatasaray for 52 years. Where are those who did these things to me, who thought these things, who lied and deceived? Or those who tried to wrong me?"
"I CAN NEVER ACCEPT IMPATIENT CHANGES"
While talking about the separations he experienced at Galatasaray, Fatih Terim questioned the decisions made especially after successful periods, saying, "When you stand behind the man you believe in in a place, something happens. I can never accept impatient changes. I am also very curious about something. We became champions for 4 consecutive years. I leave, the community doesn't say anything. I wonder if it is being controlled well in the meantime? I don't know. And a sentence like 'he left on his own.'"
"I HAVEN'T EXPLAINED ANYTHING"
Stating that he did not tell the public what happened during the periods he left Galatasaray, Terim said he still hasn't explained some issues.
Terim said, "I haven't explained anything either. I wasn't understood because I didn't explain. I still don't explain. I'm already explaining what happened after that. I mean, while I was the leader, having been champions for two consecutive years, suddenly he signed, he signed, he signed. Anyway, there's no need to talk about the last one. Some things don't deserve an answer."
In the continuation of his statements, Terim once again emphasized his 52-year history at Galatasaray, stating that personal interests and disagreements should not be put ahead of the club's interests.