Former England striker Peter Crouch has revealed the “insane” European stadium with the best atmosphere he has ever experienced. The 6ft 7in forward spent almost his entire career in English football, with just an eight-game loan spell at IFK Hassleholm providing his only taste of playing abroad.
During his time with Liverpool and Tottenham, Crouch regularly featured in both the Champions League and Europa League, giving him glimpses of just how passionate - and at times raucous - supporters can be in certain corners of Europe. While English fandom is often limited to chants and the occasional drum, some European grounds feel more like cauldrons.
Speaking on the latest episode of 'That Peter Crouch Podcast' alongside Steve Sidwell, he reflected on the best and worst away days of his career. Although he dedicated a segment to praising the unique atmosphere of QPR’s cramped Loftus Road, it was a Turkish stadium that he named as having the most unforgettable atmosphere.
Crouch Names Besiktas as Most Atmospheric Stadium He’s Ever Played In
Peter Crouch
Kicking off the discussion about Turkish football atmosphere, Sidwell recalled the “off-the-scale noise” he had experienced, praising the passion of fans in the Eurasian country. That prompted Crouchy to reflect on his own encounters with Turkish clubs, leading him to reminisce (watch from 44:15 in the video below):
"It's the best I've ever played in. I absolutely loved it, I played Galatasaray, I played Besiktas, and I played Fenerbahce, but I didn't play them away, though. But yeah, Besiktas for me, it was insane. I remember walking out with my programme, and the whistles were deafening, and I walked straight back in again."
Besiktas Stadium key info
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Besiktas Among Most Passionate Fans in Europe
besiktas stadium
In a ranking of the 10 best ultra groups in football, both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray appear near the top. While Besiktas doesn’t feature on that particular list, their fans certainly make a compelling case as one of the most passionate supporter bases in Europe. Watch just how loud it gets at Besiktas Stadium below:
Turkish football supporters are famously ferocious, and having recorded volume levels of over 132 decibels during their Champions League clash against Liverpool in 2007, Besiktas fans can lay claim to being louder than an ambulance siren at close range, a jet engine at take-off, and a jack hammer.
Besiktas fans watching their team with a Turkey flag
That probably just about gives enough reason to validate their status as some of the loudest fans in football, but if you need further reasons, then look no further than the inferno matchdays can sometimes conjure up, as evidenced in the video above. Meanwhile, the likes of Boca Juniors, Legia Warsaw, and the Milan clubs - AC and Inter - could also rival them for the top spot.