Shakhtar, Fenerbahçe set for historic clash between two Turkish managers

For the first time in UEFA Champions League history, two Turkish managers will face each other.

The match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Fenerbahçe, scheduled for November 25 in the fifth round of the Champions League, will see two Turkish coaches go head-to-head, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Arda Turan, who manages Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, will face Emre Belözoğlu, Fenerbahçe's newly appointed head coach, in Europe's most prestigious club competition.

The Shakhtar Donetsk-Fenerbahçe match will take place on Wednesday, November 25, at 23:00 Turkish time at Stamford Bridge in London.

In addition to their club careers, Arda Turan and Emre Belözoğlu spent many years playing together for the Turkish national team.

Arda represented Turkey between 2006 and 2017, while Emre played for the national team from 2000 to 2019.

Both players were also part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2008.

Former teammates at Atletico Madrid

Two of Turkish football's most talented players reunited in 2012 when they both represented Spanish club Atlético Madrid.

Emre joined Atlético Madrid from Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2012, becoming teammates with Arda, who was already playing for the Spanish side.

One of the highlights of their six-month spell together was winning the UEFA Super Cup on August 31, 2012, after defeating Chelsea 4-1.

Following the victory, Arda and Emre celebrated on the pitch, carrying a Turkish flag during the trophy celebrations.

Emre made two appearances in the UEFA Super Cup during his career. He first experienced the competition in 2000 with Galatasaray, when the Turkish side faced Real Madrid and lifted the trophy.

He remains the first and only Turkish footballer to have played in more than one UEFA Super Cup final and been part of the winning team.

The 'Turkish brothers'

Arda and Emre's time together at Atlético Madrid attracted considerable attention in the Spanish media, which nicknamed the pair the "Turkish Brothers".

Arda joined Atlético Madrid in 2011, while Emre arrived at the Spanish club in the summer of 2012.

However, Emre's spell in Spain was relatively short. At the end of January 2013, during the winter transfer window, he returned to his former club Fenerbahçe.

Photo: Instagram/emrebelozogllu/ardaturan