Tugay used to "smoke like a chimney" during his eight-year spell at Blackburn and would even light up at half-time, according to his old teammates.
The former Turkey international, who made 233 league appearances for Rovers between 2001 and 2009, will forever be regarded as a fan favourite at Ewood Park after pulling the strings from midfield on a regular basis.
He made the game look incredibly easy considering he used to smoke 'at least' 20 cigarettes a day, says former Blackburn teammate Matt Jansen.
In a chat with The Athletic, where he was asked to construct the perfect player based on those he played with and against during a 19-year playing career, Jansen believes Tugay was the most intelligent.
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"He had no pace whatsoever and not a great deal of stamina. He barely spoke a word of English," Jansen told The Athletic. "He smoked like a chimney, 20 a day at least. But what a player he was for Blackburn.
"I said he could hardly run. Well, he was such a brilliant reader of the game that he barely had to. When it was his kind of game, particularly on a good pitch, he would run the show.
"He had an incredible vision, the best of any player I've played with. A class act.
"He was a throwback to the days when players would just live their lives how they wanted to. There was no use asking Tugay to stop smoking.
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"He would smell of tobacco in the dressing room beforehand. Then he would run the show for 45 minutes. Then he would be smoking again at half-time.
"I remember Graeme Souness looking around a dressing-room at half-time and saying, "Where's Tugay?" We all looked over to the toilets and there were rings of smoke coming out of the top of the cubicle.
"It wouldn't work for every player, but it certainly worked for Tugay."
Aaron Mokoena, who played alongside Tugay at Ewood Park between 2005 and 2009, believes he was just as good - if not better - than those who lived a "healthier" lifestyle.
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"Tugay was just one of the best players," he told Talkin Fitbaw Podcast.
"He could make things happen. Honestly, I've never seen such a tough and intelligent player who smokes.
"Everyone knew that Tugay would smoke 20 cigarettes a day but come game time, he would outrun players that are living a healthier lifestyle.
"I'm not saying smoking is good but what a professional he was. He knew the game, he understood the game.
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"At Blackburn, he would make the team gel, he would make the team play and everyone loved him."
Michael Gray is another former teammate who speaks highly of the talented midfielder. In an interview with talkSPORT last year, he reminisced about the time Tugay went missing at half-time in a clash against Spurs because he was having a cigarette with a security man.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes wasn't exactly thrilled with his antics, let's just say.
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Let's be clear, though. Hughes was a huge admirer of Tugay.
"He is the best I've managed and the best I've played against, probably in my top three," he said. "I rated him that highly. A real character, always liked a fag at half-time. A great guy."
Do you think Tugay is one of Blackburn's greatest ever players? What is your favourite memory of the former Turkey international?
Let us know in the comments.
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