Guide to Champions League 2007/08! Fenebahce

FENERBAHCE
Turkish champions
Champions League pedigree - Group stage: 1996/97, 2004/05, 2005/06

THE LOWDOWN:
President Aziz Yildrim has not poured money into the club simply to win domestic titles in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007. He craves continental respectability and that means finally achieving his dream of a spot in the knock-out rounds of the Champions League.

Nor is Yildrim the only one with grandiose plans for the team known as 'The Canaries'. With an estimated 25 million supporters both in Istanbul, the Turkish provinces and scattered around Europe, Fener have a massive following who will demand success in this, their centenary season.

THE TECHNICAL AREA:
One of Brazil's greatest-ever players and nicknamed the 'White Pele' during his glory days in the late 1970s and 80s, Zico was handed the Fener hot-seat in July 2006 following the departure of Christoph Daum.

Aziz Yildrim was taking something of a risk as the Brazilian had never coached in Europe before, only having worked in Japan at Kashima Antlers and with the national team, whom he led at the 2006 World Cup finals. The critics went to town early, yet a 2007 championship win silenced their scepticism.

True to his Brazilian roots, Zico favours a fluid short-passing game and gives his players full licence to express themselves. There is however a decidedly unromantic side to his coaching persona: the tactical discipline he expects from his 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formations and his repeated calls for his men to keep going until the final whistle. Critics don't like his rotation policy, but it works.

THE WOW FACTOR:
The wonderful left-foot of Alex, the Brazilian who can play in a conventional playmaking role or up front, is a joy to behold. He may be small of stature, but his technical class and finishing nous are gargantuan. Fener got themselves a bargain when they paid Cruzeiro just £3million for him in 2004.

Their great strength in depth is also an asset. Already this season, so-called reserves such as attacker Colin Kazim-Richards - bought from Sheffield United this summer - central defender Yasin Cakmak, midfielders Ali Bilgin and Kemal Aslan and striker Semih Senturk have come in and done a sterling job.

Then you can throw in the magnificent all-round contribution in central midfield of Aurelio, who offers leadership, sound distribution and intensity. Born in Brazil, he became the first naturalised Turk to play for their national team in 2006.

THE BIG BUY:
After eleven years starring at Real Madrid, Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos opted to decamp to Fener, citing his desire to work with Zico as one of the reasons for his choice.

Now 34, the great left-back might be regarded as being past his prime, but if the early part of this season is anything to go by, he has lost none of formidable attacking qualities or immense will to win.

THE TENDER SPOT:
They will miss the speed of Tuncay Sanli on the left-flank after his move to English side Middlesbrough. Replacement Tumer Metin is skilful and a good team man, but does not have the same gung-ho flair. Despite being a striker by vocation, the Brazilian Deivid is employed by Zico in a right-sided attacking midfield role, a position he seems ill-suited to.

Keeper Volkan Demirel is never far away from a gaffe and has the Fener faithful living on their nerves. A few years ago, his form was good enough to supplant Turkish international Rustu Recber between the Fenerbahce posts, but Volkan has failed to confirm this early promise.

Serb striker Mateja Kezman did not make the grade at Chelsea and is in danger of going the same way at Fener. Quick and always willing but too clumsy in front of goal.

HOT GOSSIP:
On the first weekend of this term, Fener sensationally lost to newly promoted Belediyespor and word began to spread that Zico's job was on the line. Ex-Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello and Ersun Yanal were said to be in the frame to take over.

Ghanian midfielder Stephen Appiah, who is currently honing his fitness after a summer knee operation, is rumoured to be unsettled and keen to move to Schalke in the German Bundesliga.

IDEAL LINE UP:
Volkan, Roberto Carlos, Edu, Lugano, Onder, Aurelio, Appiah, Tumer, Deivid, Alex, Kezman

THE VERDICT:
Insufficient firepower should extinguish their aspirations at the earliest stage.