Newsletters
Galatasaray has recently ended its long search for a new goalkeeper by signing Ugurcan Cakir from Trabzonspor on a five-year deal. The question now is whether the 29-year-old Turkish international can carve out a legacy comparable to the legendary figures who once guarded the posts for the Istanbul club.
According to T24, throughout its history, Galatasaray has been home to iconic goalkeepers whose saves, leadership, and resilience have left a deep mark on Türkiye’s football story.
Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera arrived at Galatasaray in 2011 after spells at Montevideo Wanderers, Nacional, and Lazio. Since then, he has become the foreign player with the most appearances and the highest number of trophies in both Galatasaray’s and Türkiye’s football history.
Muslera has lifted eight Super Lig titles, five Turkish Cups, and six Turkish Super Cups, while playing more than 550 matches for the club. He managed to keep a clean sheet—meaning not conceding a goal—in 194 games. In the 2011-12 season, he equaled legendary names by shutting out opponents in 16 of his 32 league games, and in 2023-24 he raised his own record to 17 clean sheets. His consistency and leadership have made him the face of Galatasaray for over a decade.
Faryd Aly Mondragon began his career in Colombia before moving across South America and Europe, playing in Paraguay, Spain, Germany, and Argentina. Galatasaray brought him in from French side Metz in 2001 on a loan deal worth €500,000 ($584,638). His performances quickly convinced the club to pay €4.5 million for his permanent transfer.
Between 2001 and 2007, Mondragon played 238 matches for Galatasaray, conceding 233 goals and keeping 85 clean sheets. His composure and reliability helped the team secure key victories, and he soon became one of the most respected foreign goalkeepers in the club’s history.
Brazilian goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel arrived in Istanbul in 1998 after stints in Italy with Parma and Reggina, and in his homeland with Internacional and Atletico Mineiro. He was a crucial figure in Galatasaray’s greatest European achievement—the 2000 UEFA Cup victory.
During his time with the team, Taffarel won two league championships, two Turkish Cups, and the 2000 UEFA Super Cup. He made 141 appearances, conceding 133 goals while keeping 57 clean sheets. Taffarel’s legacy is cemented not only by his trophies but also by the trust and calm he brought to Galatasaray’s defense.
Hayrettin Demirbas, often called “Hayro” by fans, joined Galatasaray in 1987 from Altay. Over 201 matches, he conceded 195 goals and kept 76 clean sheets.
He was part of a golden era in which the club lifted five Super Lig titles, three Turkish Cups, and four Turkish Super Cups. Demirbas remains remembered as a homegrown player who played a vital role in domestic success throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Yugoslav goalkeeper Zoran Simovic signed from Hajduk Split in 1984 and stayed with Galatasaray until 1990. He contributed to two league championships, a Turkish Cup, and two Turkish Super Cups.
Simovic played 198 official matches, conceding 174 goals and keeping 77 clean sheets. He even scored a penalty against Kahramanmarasspor in 1989, a rare feat for a goalkeeper. His courage and reliability earned him legendary status among Galatasaray supporters.
With the arrival of Cakir, Galatasaray has placed its faith in a Turkish international who has already proven himself in the Super Lig. Time will tell whether he can follow in the footsteps of Muslera, Mondragon, Taffarel, Demirbas, and Simovic, and write his name among the legends who have guarded the club’s goal throughout history.
1 min read
