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Throughout his twenty-year playing career, Graeme Souness was never known for being quiet or reserved.

The term ‘no-nonsense midfielder’ perfectly described the Scottish player, who dominated the midfield for clubs such as Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Sampdoria, and Rangers, often leaving opponents trailing behind him.

Souness carried this same fiery approach into management, beginning his coaching journey as a player-manager at Rangers in 1986, before making his way back to Liverpool in 1991.

His next managerial challenge came in Turkey, where he took charge of Galatasaray in 1995—a move that saw his passionate nature collide with some of Europe’s most intense football supporters.

Having already been involved in both Old Firm and Merseyside derbies, Souness was well-acquainted with fierce rivalries. However, nothing compared to what he did after Galatasaray faced Fenerbahce in the 1996 Turkish Cup Final.

Following a 1-1 draw that secured a 2-1 aggregate victory on Fenerbahce’s home turf, Souness celebrated in dramatic fashion—he dashed to the centre circle and planted a large Galatasaray flag right in the middle of the pitch.

The gesture was one of the most provocative ever seen from a manager and even shocked Galatasaray’s goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who happened to be standing nearby at that moment.

“Considering the rivalry, if you win a derby—especially when it brings home a trophy—you’re instantly a hero to millions,” Friedel shared with FourFourTwo as part of their ‘Games That Changed My Life’ series.

“I played really well across the two-legged final. The second leg was that unforgettable match where Graeme Souness planted the Galatasaray flag in the centre of Fenerbahce’s pitch.

“I was right beside him when he did it and thought, ‘Oh boy, this is not going to go down well.’”

Friedel’s instincts were spot on. The act sparked chaos in what was already a highly charged setting.

“We had to stay in the dressing room for three hours afterward because of the riots,” he recalled.

“Fenerbahce supporters smashed our team bus and even tried to overturn it. That match was huge, and I still remember the victory fondly.”