14.10.2025 17:04
A debate arose between Ergin Ataman and Okan Buruk regarding 'European success.' Ataman pointed out the high amounts of money spent in football and the failures in Europe. Buruk responded to these criticisms, emphasizing that the dynamics of football are more complex than those of basketball. This situation has led to claims of a rift between the two figures.
Ergin Ataman and Okan Buruk faced the debate of "European success." Panathinaikos Head Coach Ataman's criticism that "there is no success in Europe despite the money spent in football" received a response from Galatasaray Head Coach Okan Buruk: "There is nothing as easy as criticizing football."
ATAMAN'S CRITICISM OF FOOTBALL: NO EUROPEAN SUCCESS FOR YEARS
Ergin Ataman, the Head Coach of the Turkish National Basketball Team, who coaches the Greek representative Panathinaikos, drew attention to the economic imbalance in Turkish football and the failures in Europe.
The successful coach criticized the high amounts spent in football in an interview, saying, "There is an economy of football in Turkey, millions of dollars are spent, but there is no success in Europe. My team, Galatasaray, Osimhen 80 million euros... Is this to become the champion of Turkey? For me, the criterion is to reach the semifinals in Europe, to be able to compete with big clubs. This has not been achieved for years." Ataman's words resonated widely in the football world.
OKAN BURUK'S STRONG RESPONSE: CRITICIZING FOOTBALL IS VERY EASY
Ataman's criticisms seemed to target his close friend, Galatasaray Head Coach Okan Buruk. In a statement made on the club's official YouTube channel, Buruk responded to Ataman's words indirectly but clearly. Buruk said, "The transfer period in football is very difficult. I wish you could get what you want immediately like in basketball. Football is a completely different world. I give many examples, but you are not criticized in basketball because people don't know that much. Football is so simple that… There is nothing as easy as criticizing football." With these words, Okan Buruk emphasized that the dynamics of football are much more complex than those of basketball.
COLD WINDS BLEW IN FRIENDSHIP
Ergin Ataman, the former basketball coach of Galatasaray, and the current head coach Okan Buruk have been known for their close friendship for many years. However, it has been claimed that cold winds have blown between the two after these recent statements. According to club circles, Buruk perceived Ataman's statements as a "personal criticism."