Now 55 years old, De Boer was brought to Istanbul from Barcelona in the summer of 2003, "with high expectations and many fine stories." "At that time, they had been playing in the Champions League for about ten years, but wanted to take the next step in Europe. There were ambitions to reach the semi-finals one day, and apparently they needed me for that,” the North Hollander recalls.
However, within a few months, De Boer found himself out of the picture. "There were quite a few veterans in the team, and at one point it was decided that all the ‘old guys’ had to train separately. I then decided to cut my losses and move to Rangers during the winter break, where I could play. The 2004 European Championship in Portugal was going to be my last tournament with the Dutch national team, so I needed minutes on the pitch."
Galatasaray’s manager at the time was national hero Fatih Terim. "He did fantastically well and remains the only Turkish coach to win a European trophy with a Turkish club," De Boer says, referring to Galatasaray’s UEFA Cup and Super Cup victories in 2000. "I get along with him very well now, but back then it was different. Of course, being sidelined was partly my own doing, but I still have my doubts about how things were handled in those days."
According to De Boer, suddenly being pushed aside fits the often hectic nature of Turkish football. "There’s a lot of politics involved at many clubs in Turkey. Owners make one decision one week and then completely change course the next. There’s sometimes a lack of structure, such as organised youth academies. Emotion and chaos can take over."
Love for football
At the same time, the passion and involvement of Turkish fans is immense. "The people are incredibly enthusiastic. When you walk through a shopping centre, everyone wants to talk to you, young and old alike. Turks often tell you which club they support before they even tell you their name. It’s a big country, and football is number one by far. The love for the sport is enormous."
De Boer experienced the fierce rivalries between Turkish clubs firsthand. "I remember once sitting on the team bus on the way to an away match. Just before we reached the stadium, I asked our team guide whether a window had ever been smashed. In good Spanish, because that’s how we communicated, he told me it had never happened. He had barely finished his sentence when something flew through the window right behind me. The timing was bizarre."
At that time, fellow Dutch international Pierre van Hooijdonk was playing for Fenerbahçe. The two faced each other once in a competitive match on Turkish soil. But De Boer’s most vivid memory comes from a clash with the other big Istanbul club, Beşiktaş.
"Wherever we played, the atmosphere was great, sometimes even intimidating. Away to Beşiktaş, for example, a flare was fired straight into the stands. That was actually my best match for Galatasaray; it ended 0–0."
As of 2025, De Boer keeps an eye on his former Turkish club from afar. "Take Barcelona, for example, they’re on Ziggo every week, but the Turkish league is much less visible. I know Galatasaray have been dominant in Turkey for several years now and have a good team."
The undisputed star of Cimbom, Galatasaray’s nickname, is Victor Osimhen, who De Boer sees as proof of Turkey’s potential.
"Turkey, as a football nation, is a sleeping giant. It’s a large country with plenty of financial resources. There are many good players there, that’s for sure. But money sometimes gets thrown around, especially when a club president wants to be elected or re-elected. It’s remarkable that Osimhen is playing in Turkey and that no English club managed to lure him away. You have to respect that choice, he’s a fantastic striker."
Individual quality
According to De Boer, Ajax can expect a strong opponent on paper. "Galatasaray have many good players with individual quality. I’m sure that on a good day, they can trouble any team."
At the same time, De Boer knows from experience that Ajax will have opportunities, as Dutch clubs often perform well against Turkish opposition. "If you have a good plan and play with solid organisation, you can go far. That’s what Turkish clubs sometimes lack."
From an Amsterdam perspective, the task is clear. "If Ajax want to keep their hopes of progressing alive, they have to win," De Boer concludes.
