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The best English players to play in the Turkish Super Lig

For many Brits, Turkey is best known as a great holiday destination to soak up rays on a Mediterranean beach. However, for many English footballers, it has also provided a chance to give their career a rejuvenation overseas. The Turkish top flight has hosted plenty of English footballers over the years with many using it has a way to reinvent themselves after plateauing on the domestic scene. Over the years, 21 English stars have spent at least one season in the Turkish top flight to varying degrees of success. But who are some the best English players to feature in the Turkish Super Lig?

Les Ferdinand (Besiktas)

For Les Ferdinand, his stint in Turkey helped refine him into the star striker he would later become. Whilst still developing as a young prodigy, Ferdinand opted to take a year abroad in 1988 moving on loan to Turkish giants Besiktas. Knowing that the pressure was on being at one of Turkey’s Big Three clubs, Ferdinand showed what he was all about. During the 1988/89 Super Lig season, Ferdinand slammed home 14 goals in 24 games. His finest hour would come in the Turkish Cup however scoring in the cup final against arch-rivals Fenerbahce to help Besiktas win the 1989 Turkish Cup final. After this, he returned to QPR ahead of the 1989/1990 season primed for a shot at greatness. Not a bad marker set by the first Englishman to play in the Turkish top flight.

Alan Walsh (Besiktas)

With several players in the 1980s seeing Turkish football as a new opportunity, it was only a matter of time before an Englishman won silverware in the Super Lig. The first player to do just that was Alan Walsh. Walsh’s career had thrived in lower leagues having impressive spells with both Darlington and Bristol city. However, the winger’s best success came in Turkey with Besiktas. Playing in Istanbul for three seasons, he was a regular as The Black Eagles won back to back Super Lig titles in 1990 and 1991. Walsh also appeared in all finals of Besiktas’ domestic treble in 1989 where they also won the Turkish Cup and Turkish Super Cup. He scored 13 goals in 45 games before leaving in 1991 to join Walsall. However, his career would never reach the same heights upon returning to English football.

Dalian Atkinson (Fenerbahce)

Throughout his professional career, Dalian Atkinson was never afraid to travel the world. After a successful spell with Aston Villa during the early 1990s, the talismanic striker left Villa Park to play for Turkish giants Fenerbahce. Only a bit part player in Istanbul, Atkinson played just 21 times for the club but scored 10 goals. This form helped Fenerbahce win the 1995/96 Super Lig title although Atkinson felt unsettled living in Turkey. After short loan spells with Manchester City and French side Metz, he left Turkey for good in 1997 moving to join Saudi side Al-Ittihad.

Scott Carson (Bursaspor)

When Scott Carson joined Bursaspor in 2011, he found himself very much at a crossroads. Having proven himself at Premier League level, Carson’s switch to Turkey surprised many. However, his time in Turkey was a successful one at that. Being a regular for the recently crowned champions, Carson was undisputed number one throughout all three season he played in Turkey. This included an excellent record of conceding an average of just one goal a game during the 2011/12 season. This also came in a season where Carson helped Bursaspor reach the Turkish Cup final before they lost to Fenerbahce. After his third season in Turkey, Carson retuned to English football joining Championship side Wigan in 2013.

Colin Kazim-Richards (Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Bursaspor, Fatih Karagumruk)

When it comes to English players in Turkey, few can match what Colin Kazim-Richards has achieved. Despite being born and raised in London, Kazim-Richards had close ties to Turkey with his mother originating from Northern Cyprus. Having shown some form with Sheffield United in the 2006/07 Premier League season, the quick striker moved to Turkey joining Fenerbahce. This opened up a new world to Kazim-Richards who bunkered down in Istanbul and become a regular fixture for the Turkish giants. This would bring two Turkish Cup wins in 2007 and 2009 during a four-season stint with the club. It would also bring a call up to the Turkish national side who he would earn 37 caps with during his career. Kazim-Richards would make a shock move to Galatasaray in 2011 however he found opportunities fleeting with the club. He would depart just two seasons later moving to Bursaspor in 2013 where a similar situation occurred. He left in 2015 to join Feyenoord and begin a career travelling the world. However, Kazim-Richards returned to Turkey in 2022 joining Fatih Karagumruk from Derby County helping them establish themselves in the Super Lig. A well-carved career for a former Arsenal and QPR prospect.