10.11.2026 14:10
Two important figures of Turkish football, Arda Turan and Emre Belözoğlu, met in Eyüpsultan days before they face each other in the Champions League. The two former teammates, who performed the morning prayer together, then chatted while drinking salep. The duo will take the field this time as opposing head coaches in the Shakhtar Donetsk-Fenerbahçe match to be played on November 25.
In their football careers, Arda Turan and Emre Belözoğlu, who wore the same jersey for the Turkish National Team and Atletico Madrid, are preparing to face each other years later as head coaches. Arda Turan, who manages Shakhtar Donetsk, and Emre Belözoğlu, at the helm of Fenerbahçe, came together in Istanbul ahead of the critical Champions League match.
THEY PERFORMED THE MORNING PRAYER IN EYÜPSULTAN
The two former teammates visited Eyüpsultan in the morning and prayed together. After the prayer, Arda Turan and Emre Belözoğlu drank warm salep and chatted. The meeting of the two coaches, who are preparing to become rivals in the Champions League, before the match drew attention.
THEY WILL BE RIVALS 15 DAYS LATER
Arda Turan and Emre Belözoğlu, who wore the same jersey during their playing days, will this time face each other on November 25 as the head coaches of different teams. The match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Fenerbahçe will go down in history as the first Champions League match in which two Turkish head coaches face each other.
THE HISTORIC MATCH WILL BE PLAYED IN LONDON
The Shakhtar Donetsk-Fenerbahçe match will be played at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London. In the match, which will start at 23:00 Turkey time, Arda Turan and Emre Belözoğlu will fight for their teams' victory. The meeting of the two former teammates in Eyüpsultan was a striking sight that emerged ahead of the historic rendezvous.