May 24, 2009 marked the end of an era at Blackburn … an end of an era in both English and Turkish football history … Emotions ran high at his last appearance in the blue/white shirt – squad number 5 – against West Bromwich Albion … Some 30,000 Ewood Park faithful bid an emotional farewell with high respect and gratitude to their 'Maestro' wearing Tugay masks and shouting "Tugay you are my Turkish Delight" …!
Tugay had joined Blackburn Rovers leaving Glasgow Rangers in the year of 2001 for £1.2 million – quite a bargain !!! - … within his eight years as a Rovers player – and surely being one of the great players of the Premiership – he turned down three big money moves staying at Ewood Park, outlasting Managers like Graeme Souness (3.5 years) and his successor Mark Hughes (3.5 years) …
A man playing for the club with such pride, The 'Maestro', represented an unusual character of a modern-day footballer … loyalty … a rare 'quality' in today's players …
Tugay had a very unique technique … he rarely left the midfield and made space for himself on the pitch by the way he moved his body … His magnificent touch to the ball opened up all the room he needed … and with his long and precise passing he suddenly created chances for his teammates in the offense … He lacked in goals, but never in quality …
With his pure passion for football and dedication for the club he richly deserves to be admired by every football – and especially Blackburn Rovers – fan …
Quote: "To be a Premier League player at the age of 38 takes more than ability ... you need the determination, the desire and the knowledge to go with it, and he has all of those things ... that is what makes him such a good player" ... (Sam Allardyce, current Blackburn Rovers Manager)
Quote: "There have few better to have graced the English game" … "because the quality he can produce is as good as I have seen in all my career, he is up there with the top ten players I have been involved with – I can’t give him higher credit than that" … "he is an outstanding player" … "he still has quality and I had the pleasure of playing alongside him and managing him as well. As a guy that gives you everything on a daily basis, both on the field and on the training ground, you couldn’t ask for a better guy" … "he has got a wicked sense of humor which endears him to people and his ability" … “I have said many times if he was ten years younger I would be looking to buy him" …"his loss will be felt in the dressing room as much as on the terraces" … “he used to moan and groan a bit if he wasn’t playing, but that wouldn’t affect his training approach … we would leave him alone for a while and he would quickly come back to the Tugay we actually like" … (Mark Hughes, current Manchester City Manager) …
Quote: … "Sir Alex Ferguson, after a Blackburn Rovers - Manchester United game, asked Mark Hughes(then Blackburn Rovers Manager) if he wished Tugay was 10 years younger … Mark Hughes' response was 'no' … 'because then he would be playing for you and not for me...' Alex Ferguson agreed with this statement, a true testament to the ability of Tugay and never have truer words been spoken …"
Tugay, I wish you the very best in your new career …!
