Global LFC Family: Turkey

Name: Ulfan Ismihanov
Age: 22
City/country: Bursa, Turkey
Job: History teacher/amateur footballer

Why did you pick Liverpool as your team?

There are so many reasons to choose Liverpool. Mine was due to my father. He always supported Liverpool, even when he was  living in Uzbekistan while the Soviets were in charge. He also used to try to watch Liverpool matches in Turkey and because he watched, I watched. Another reason was down to Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. When Owen and Gerard were young, they became my heroes. Those were my first steps to becoming a Liverpool fan and after that, I started to  study Liverpool's history and I realised that I am so lucky to love a team like Liverpool.

What's your earliest LFC memory?

The first thing that comes to mind is the Alaves match in 2001. After Gerrard scored the goal that put us in front, I was bursting with happiness but it was getting late and I had to go to bed. When the score was 3-3, my father woke me from my sleep and said: "Ulfan, it's 3-3, wake up quick!" I couldn't believe it.

How did people in your country follow Liverpool's fortunes at first?

I think people used to read magazines and listen to the radio. One of the advantages of living in a new century is that it's no longer difficult for me to follow the news and watch matches. I do remember the Teletext days when I first started to follow Liverpool, though. I learnt a lot from Teletext.

Who was your first LFC hero and why?

Steven Gerrard, of course! When I was a little child, he was also young and, despite his age, he pushed his game to the limit. I was triying to move like him, run like him and play football like him. He is still my hero.

What is your favourite LFC memory?

The miraculous final in Istanbul, our neighbour city. After the first half, my father said that it was getting late and I had to go to bed. I said: "No, I want to watch 10 more minutes." I watched the match until Gerrard scored his goal and you know what happened next. When Vladimir Smicer scored his goal, I said: "It is going to happen!" After Shevchenko's penalty was saved, I lost myself! Later that day my mother and sister became Liverpool fans.

Who has been your favourite Liverpool manager and why?

There's no disputing Liverpool's best managers are Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish, but since I've been following Liverpool, I think that the best manager has been Rafa Benitez. After so many years without ruling Europe, he made Liverpool one of Europe's finest teams once again.

What has been your lowest point supporting Liverpool?

It is a hard question to answer but I think the time of Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett was the lowest.

Have you ever been to Anfield?

Unfortunately, no. Like all Liverpool fans around the world, it is one of my biggest dreams to one day visit Anfield. I always dreamed of going there one day as a football player but that is impossible now. I will be there as soon as possible as a fan, though.

Do Liverpool have a passionate fan base where you're from?

Of course. We have a Facebook page called Liverpool FC-Turkey and we have created a chance for fans to gather and watch matches together. Fans are gathering in many other cities to show their love for Liverpool. The love for Liverpool in Turkey started to grow in 2005 after the victory in Istanbul, but the thing that most impressed Turkish people was the fact that the Kop never let their team walk alone.

Which team are considered Liverpool's biggest rivals in your country?

Manchester United and Everton.

Where do you go online to follow news about LFC?

The club's official website and also the official LFC Turkey Twitter account, @TurkeyLFC. I also use Facebook to get news.

Do you also support a local team?

I supported Beşiktaş for a short period of time but if you are a fan of Liverpool, you never let it go. Every day you become a bigger fan.

Who is your favourite current player and why?

It is really difficult to choose just one. I love Luis Suarez, Lucas Leiva and Daniel Agger, who always fight for the team and show their passion. Steven Gerrard is an another level, however.

If you could meet anyone connected to Liverpool FC - past or present - who would it be and why?

Definitely Bill Shankly! If he hadn't taken Liverpool from a team in the wilderness to one with a bright future full of victories, we wouldn't be talking about these things right now. I admire his personality. I would love to have talked football with him.

What makes you most proud to be a Liverpool supporter?

I could think of a thousand things but most of all, I am proud to be a fan of the team that never walks alone. Teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United are loved because of the cups they win and the star players they boast, but Liverpool fans love this club for its football culture and the neverending support of fans. A Liverpool fan is the same anywhere in the world - always passionate and loyal to the club. We are proud not only for the cups that we've won but because of our fans. No team in the world has as many passionate fans as Liverpool.

Finally, what does 'The Liverpool Way' mean to you?

Pass and move football. Never forgetting the history and heritage of the club. Never forgeting the Hillsborough victims and the fight for justice. Remember that this club is not a group of individuals, it's an extended family. Singing your hearts out in good times and in bad times. Showing managers support and respecting them through bad times as well as the good ones and backing them with patience. Be proud to be a Red and respectful to the club. YNWA is more than a song, it's a metaphor for what the club is and what it means to us. Shankly said it best: "We were always confident, but we were never overconfident. Being cocky is a form of ignorance. It means you are talking too much and if you are guilty of that, an opponent will bring you down to earth." That is 'The Liverpool Way' to me.

Click here to follow the official Turkish-language LFC Twitter account.

Previous articles in the Global LFC Family series:

South Africa - Melissa Reddy>>
Thailand - Jeerawan Duangnam Herriot>>
Australia - Wayne Psaila>>
Mexico - Victor Alvarado>>
Indonesia - Andhika Sarwendha Suksmana>>
Nepal - Nischal Adhikari>>
Ghana - Aristo Dotse>>
India - Kaushal Goyal>>
Singapore - Henry Hann>>
Bahrain - Mohamed Ashoor>>
Mongolia - Amarsaikhan Orsoo>>
Vietnam - Pham Quynh Le>>
USA - July 4th Special>>
Iran - Mohammad Reza Rahimi>>
South Korea - Yong-Suk Choi>>
Norway - Arild Skjæveland>>
Russia - Ivan Potapov>>
Myanmar - Khin Maung Cho>>
USA - Roy Yates>>
China - Chen Jing>>
Brazil - Bárbara Rubio>>
Kenya - Mitesh Chavda>>
Spain - Luis Gutierrez>>
Venezuela - Jorge De Castro>>
Greece - Efstratios Sakkias>>
Malaysia - Muzili Aznor Musa>> 
Taiwan - Roxan>>
Finland - Jani Lilja>>