Besiktas ranks 2nd in Europa League play-off team values
Besiktas players pose before the match, Samsun, Türkiye, Aug. 11, 2024. (Courtesy of Bein Sport)
Besiktas will play against Swiss club Lugano in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round on Thursday.
The market values of the teams in this round have been disclosed, with Turkish representative Besiktas ranking second among the teams in terms of squad value. Besiktas’ squad is valued at €142.5 million.
Ajax, a Dutch team, tops the list with a squad worth €248.55 million. Braga, a Portuguese team, occupies the third position, while Anderlecht, a Belgian team, occupies the fourth position.
With a squad value of €4.28 million, Shamrock Rovers, an Irish team, is at the bottom of the list.
It is important to note that five of the teams in this round have squad values that are less than €10 million.
Team values, top players
| Rank | Team | Country | Value (Million €) | Most Valuable Player | Most Valuable Player (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajax | Netherlands | 248.55 | Brian Brobbey | 35,000,000 |
| 2 | Besiktas | Turkey | 142.53 | Gedson Fernandes | 15,000,000 |
| 3 | SC Braga | Portugal | 124.75 | Simon Banza | 18,000,000 |
| 4 | Anderlecht | Belgium | 108.5 | Anders Dreyer | 15,000,000 |
| 5 | PAOK | Greece | 100.4 | Giannis Konstantelias | 15,000,000 |
| 6 | Ferencváros TC | Hungary | 54.7 | Mohammed Abu Fani | 6,000,000 |
| 7 | Ludogorets | Bulgaria | 51.65 | Bernard Tekpetey | 6,000,000 |
| 8 | LASK | Austria | 43 | Marin Ljubicic | 8,000,000 |
| 9 | FC Viktoria Plzen | Czech Republic | 39.55 | Pavel Sulc | 6,000,000 |
| 10 | FCSB | Romania | 35.3 | Darius Olaru | 7,000,000 |
| 11 | FC Lugano | Switzerland | 35.3 | Mattia Zanotti | 4,000,000 |
| 12 | SK Rapid Wien | Austria | 28.85 | Dion Beljo | 4,000,000 |
| 13 | FK TSC Backa Topola | Serbia | 28 | Veljko Ilic | 3,000,000 |
| 14 | Molde FK | Norway | 27.7 | Emil Breivik | 3,500,000 |
| 15 | Heart of Midlothian FC | Scotland | 21.13 | Lawrence Shankland | 4,000,000 |
| 16 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | Israel | 20.11 | Dor Turgeman | 2,500,000 |
| 17 | IF Elfsborg | Sweden | 18.05 | Michael Baidoo | 3,000,000 |
| 18 | Jagiellonia Bialystok | Poland | 15.71 | Nené | 1,500,000 |
| 19 | APOEL | Cyprus | 15.53 | Max Meyer | 1,700,000 |
| 20 | FC RFS | Latvia | 9.43 | Emerson Deocleciano | 900,000 |
| 21 | FK Borac Banja Luka | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7.5 | Bart Maijers | 800,000 |
| 22 | Dinamo Minsk | Belarus | 6.23 | Ivan Bakhar | 600,000 |
| 23 | FC Petrocub Hincesti | Moldova | 5.88 | Vladimir Ambros | 550,000 |
| 24 | Shamrock Rovers | Ireland | 4.28 | Jack Byrne | 450,000 |
With a value of €35,000,000, Brian Brobbey of Ajax is the most valuable player in the play-off round. Gedson Fernandes, a Besiktas player, is the third most valuable player in the play-off leg, with a value of €15,000,000.
Besiktas’s opponent in this round, Lugano’s most valuable player is Italian right-back Mattia Zanotti, worth €4 million.
Besiktas starts season with high ambitions
Under the guidance of new manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Besiktas has kicked off the season with a strong performance.
The team achieved a commanding 5-0 win over Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Cup and followed it up with league victories against Samsunspor (2-0) and Antalyaspor (4-2), placing them at the top of the Trendyol Super Lig standings.
Van Bronckhorst is focused on making a notable impression in Europe, aiming to advance to the group stages of the UEFA Europa League.
Besiktas has the edge over Lugano on paper, both in terms of squad value and historical achievements. But last year in the UEFA Conference League group stage, Beşiktaş lost 3-2 to Lugano. Especially from the duo of Immobile and Rafa Silva, Besiktas fans will expect a lot in this match and the rematch.
Lugano is ranked 4th in the Swiss Super League this season. Winning 3 of his 4 matches, Lugano played his last match against SC Brühl in the Swiss Cup and won the match 7-1.
Lugano Besiktas match will take place on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. CET at the Thun Arena.
