Team Focus: Avcı's Anti-Football Gives Başakşehir Best Süper Lig Defence

“Attack wins games, defence wins titles,” is a popular saying in the world of football. Başakşehir are not quite of championship-winning calibre yet but they do boast a defensive record only surpassed by Bayern Munich in Europe, with just 5 goals conceded all season.

Başakşehir may have a watertight defence but it is fair to say the team’s manager Abdullah Avcı would not win any popularity contests in Turkey. Avcı was one of the most hated men in Turkey following a poor stint in charge of the Turkish national team. The 51-year-old coach was forced to resign last August after a disastrous World Cup 2014 qualification campaign but it would be unfair to judge him solely on his time in charge of the Crescent-Stars.

Avcı first made a name for himself as Galatasaray youth team manager but really put himself on the map during his time in charge of the Turkish U17 national team. Avcı led his side to become champions of Europe and finished the U-17 World Cup in 4th place.

The 51-year-old then took over at Istanbul Büyükşehir Beledyespor (IBB), taking them from being an unheard of, newly formed club into a Süper Lig mainstay despite very limited resources.

Avcı is now back where he left off. IBB were essentially the Municipality of Istanbul’s team, funded by the taxpayers. The club is no longer subsidised by the local residents and was rebranded Başakşehir this summer. The team struggled without his presence and ended up being relegated soon after his departure before returning to the Süper lig for the 2014/15 season.

The Istanbul based side have only conceded 5 goals all season, six fewer than league leaders Beşiktaş. They have only let in one goal away from home, a record only matched by Bayern across Europe. It will come as little surprise that both first-team centre-backs Alexandru Epureanu (rating 7.31) and Yalçın Ayhan (7.21) are both among the 10 highest rated defenders in the league.

Başakşehir have an impressive defensive record but it has less to do with them being a tough tackling, physical side and more about their discipline and organisation. In fact the Istanbul based side only average 14.9 tackles per game, the second fewest in the league. Avcı’s side close down space efficiently in their defensive third and have blocked the most crosses (3.6) and second highest number of shots (3.6) on average per game in the league. The experienced manager often claims his tactics are not appreciated in Turkey: “the concept of playing a compact game is not very well understood in Turkey, systems and tactics tend to take a backseat to the motivational aspect of the game.”


There are however, a number of concerns. Başakşehir have kept the least possession (42.7%), have make the fewest short passes (235 per game) and have lowest pass completion rate (71.6%) in the league. Passing is definitely not this side’s forte but as for having low possession stats Avcı is not all that concerned. “I like to see myself as a realist, look at football today, possession football does not necessarily equate success in the same way it did a few years ago.”

Avcı is not your stereotypical Turkish manager, a far cry from your egotistical, flamboyant, outspoken coach. He rarely gets animated on the touchline or involved in post-game rants about referees, global conspiracies and plots to overthrow him.

The former Turkish national team manager’s tactics are not widely appreciated, and accusations of being a proponent of anti-football are often made, but Başakşehir are currently in 6th place just eight points off the top of the table. The Istanbul minnows have scored 14 times this season which is not a bad return considering only £1.32 million was invested in forwards this summer. Avcı is often labelled a defensive coach but believes his sides attacking prowess is often underestimated; “It is unfair to label us as a defensive side, we make precise, well organised attacks with 4-5 players and create roughly 4-5 goal scoring opportunities per game.” Beşiktaş have been praised for their attacking football this season but have only scored five more goals than their cross-city cousins.

Başakşehir have had a remarkable start to the league campaign. The team has been constructed on a shoestring budget but Avcı’s system has enabled his side to compete – at this early stage in the season - with the league’s economic juggernauts. The 51-year-old coach divides opinion with his approach to football but a quick glance at the bottom of the table will vindicate his supporters. Balıkesirspor, who were also promoted this season, are sitting in last place, with the worst defensive record in the league having conceded 27 goals already this season. Avcı’s work is going -highly underappreciated.

Do you think Avcı deserves more credit for his team’s incredible defensive record? Let us know in the comments below