Same Souness, same opponent, same flag, same pitch, 27 years apart (©Isa Terli/ANADOLU AGENCY/Anadolu Agency via AFP)
Same Souness, same opponent, same flag, same pitch, 27 years apart (©Isa Terli/ANADOLU AGENCY/Anadolu Agency via AFP)

Graeme The Emperor returns to Instabul to recreate his epic flag celebration

Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 05.06.23. | 13:29

Souness attended Galatasaray's title ceremony after the Fenerbahce tie and put on a show referring to his notorious move against the same rival back in 1996

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness rolled back the years as he returned to former club Galatasaray to revive his famous flag celebration that once caused furious fans to send him death threats. The Scottish ex-footballer and manager travelled to his former club in Turkey for the Istanbul derby and relive his iconic moment.

Back in the 1995-96 season, Souness nearly sparked a riot when he planted a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the Fenerbahce pitch during his time as a boss in Turkey.

In a display of revenge to a Fenerbahce executive who had mocked him shortly after he had undergone surgery, the Scot decided to get his revenge by waving the flag on their pitch.

And some 27 years later, days after Galatasaray had clinched the Turkish Super Lig title ahead of their derby clash with Fenerbahce, the 70-year-old was brought out onto the pitch again to wave the flag at the Nef Stadyumu.

Souness told the tale of how he needed to be escorted down the tunnel by police after nearly inciting a riot, explaining his reasons for his anger towards Fenerbahce.

"One of their vice-presidents had said 'what are Galatasaray doing signing a cripple?', he was referring to the open-heart surgery I had," Souness recalled to Sky Sports, via The Mirror.

"So we play them nine months later in the cup final, a two-legged cup final - we won the first game in our stadium 1-0, lose the second game 1-0 after ninety minutes. It goes to extra time, Dean Saunders scores.

"We win the trophy and after the game, all of our players ran down to one end where our supporters were and that great big flag was handed over. All the players took turns to wave it and then it's my turn."

And we all saw how that ended up... So, now was the time for the replica.



tags

Graeme SounessGalatasarayFenerbahceTurkish Super Lig

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