Member of the board of directors of Istanbulspor, and an orthopedic specialist Prof. Dr. Aziz Kaya Alturfan shared with us his journey from Giresun’s Tirebolu county to Istanbul Men’s High School. Kaya shared many unforgettable memories from Istanbulspor with us, from the meaning of colors in the club’s history to some player surgeries. In this interview, you will find valuable observations on the past, present and future of Istanbulspor, as well as important tips about the club and sports world…

First of all, can we get to know you?

My name is Aziz Kaya Alturfan, and I was born in the Tirebolu county of Giresun. I am a doctor of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Sports and Knee Injuries. I attended primary and secondary school in Tirebolu, and after finishing secondary school I came to Istanbul Men’s High School.

How did your life intersect with Istanbulspor, and what tasks did you complete?

The headquarters of Istanbulspor was at Misirli Inn in Taksim, and the president of the club was Ali Sohtorik. Ali heard about me from the school. I was already very interested in sports, and I was playing volleyball and football. One day, Ali took me to the Board of Directors as General Secretary and I suddenly became the youngest member at the Board, the age difference was like 25.

Can you tell us about the story of Istanbulspor’s colors?

When it was first founded, the color of Istanbulspor was yellow and white. As for the story of turning these colors to yellow and black… The students in two highest grades of Istanbul High School went to the Dardanelles War as volunteers, and as they were very young and had no military experience, they died in a British attack. Before they left, they turned two classrooms into infirmary and painted them yellow and white. Then, when the news of their death reached to the school, the edges of the windows are painted from white to black by the school administration, and the colors of Istanbulspor remained “yellow and black” since then. As far as I have researched and found, there is no club in the world with such a meaningful color story.

Can you share with us a memory about Istanbulspor that you can’t forget?

On the last day of the transfer period, we gathered the board of directors to transfer two players, but the Club had no budget or income, and the only remedy was to pay from our own pockets. We needed 40k Turkish liras. Just when we were about to close the meeting, Abdullah Kigili said, “If the President stands surety, I will give the money.” The guys said to me, “Aziz, you do this, and we will find the money and give it back to you”, and I said okay. Abdullah gave 40k Turkish liras, which was a huge money for a player then. Years have passed now but Abdullah still makes jokes about me and others, as I still owe him that 40k Turkish liras.

What would you like to say about the current situation of Istanbulspor?

As I used to say in the past, “Istanbulspor was a club whose homeland was not certain, just like the Palestinians. Because, Istanbulspor’s HQ and facilities were constantly being changed. But now, after one of our compatriots has bought the club, it has a certain location, dormitory, facility and land. So, the club got rid of that “migrant” situation. This Board is doing many things that we have failed to do in the past. Apart from that, the club was sold for the first time during my presidency. I was the one who had approved the sale. Initially everyone was wondering if the Club would be sold, but no one seemed to have the required funds to buy it. We first sold the Club to a “furniture company” in Cyprus. Today, on the other hand, many clubs are passing in to other hands regularly. The main example of this is Paris Saint – Germain and other big European clubs.

Is there a foreign team that you support?

My favorite foreign team is Borussia Dortmund, as its color is also yellow and black. Another reason I support Borussia Dortmund is that it regularly trains young footballers and then sells them. It has already earned 12B euros from the players it has sold so far, which is a huge success. I wish Istanbulspor to be a team like that.

A Life In The Heart Of İstanbulspor: Prof. Dr. Aziz Kaya Alturfan yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

Volkan Buharalı, the President of İstanbulspor. We had a pleasant conversation about Buharalı, who was born in İstanbul and comes from a sportsman family, his affection to İstanbulspor, and his plans for the future of the club.

Hi Volkan, can you please talk about yourself a bit?

My name is Volkan Buharalı, I was born in İstanbul in 1966. I graduated İstanbul Erkek Lisesi in 1986. I have a 17 year old daughter. I am an industrialist and an exporter. I come from a sportsman family. My father Mesut Buharalı played for Adaletspor, which competed in the football league in the 1950s, my uncle Kenan Buharalı, one of the legends of İstanbulspor, played for the club for almost 13 years between 1950s and 60s, 11 years as the captain. My family has never stayed away from sports, and especially football has been a very important part of my life from the early ages. Even when my father and uncle were in trade business, my father was the manager, my uncle was the coach, and my brother was the goalkeeper of Şehzadebaşıspor. Therefore, I have a passion for İstanbulspor, the yellow-blacks, due to both İstanbul Erkek Lisesi and my family. My business partner also graduated from İstanbul Erkek Lisesi and we have played handball for İstanbulspor for many years. Today we are doing business together but still haven’t broken away from sports. We still play in veteran matches. Starting at our school with other İstanbul Erkek Lisesi graduate handball players who are currently playing at international matches under the license of Turkish Handball Federation and continuing at our club, we represented our club at handball organizations from amateur league to professional 1st league, both as players and as managers. Currently I act as the president of İstanbulspor due to my loyalty

Can you tell us about the activities of İstanbul Sports Club?

Currently, our professional football team İstanbulspor A.S. competes in Turkish Super League successfully, and further improves every day. This is a great source of pride and motivation for our community. At İstanbulspor, we, unlike other teams, continue our activities not only in football but also in many other amateur branches. Our branches include men’s football, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, rowing, chess, bridge, and cycling. If we believe that we can ensure the sustainability, with the passion of young individuals as well as support from the sponsors, we would like to compete in more branches. With our coaches who are qualified in these branches, we continue working for our current athletes and our infrastructure. In all these activities, we are trying to involve the graduates of our school in higher classes as sponsors and ensure sustainability by transferring their duties and responsibilities to their brothers and sisters in the lower classes. Our biggest issue is that our school does not have a gym. We use the sports centers and facilities in our district, especially with the support from İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Fatih Mayor’s Office and Fatih Sports Clubs Association.

Can you talk about the current situation of İstanbulspor?

İstanbulspor, which operated in amateur branches, had to discontinue its activities for several reasons and financial issues. Currently we have been carrying out infrastructure activities for the future, with the mission of directing young “yellow and black” individuals at İstanbul Erkek Lisesi İELEV schools to sports. These young people will continue their lives as successful individuals both in Türkiye and abroad, with their academic achievements If we can promote sports and team building, these young people will become more confident and socially intelligent individuals both in their personal and family lives.

Ensuring that an athlete moves towards wherever they want to be in the future,
preparing them psychologically, and making sure that
they lead by example is a long-lasting teamwork.

Infrastructure investments and the development of young players?

As you know we cannot talk about a future without infrastructure, regardless of the sports branch. You have to work with correct coaches and motivate the young individuals correctly to make your infrastructure efforts work. Our U14 and U18 teams, for example, are getting very successful results. We also train our athletes in various age groups in basketball and volleyball, starting from the elementary school to high school grades. Chess and cycling also play an important role in these infrastructure efforts. We will act with this same logic in the rowing branch that we have recently established. Ensuring that an athlete moves towards wherever they want to be in the future, preparing them psychologically, and making sure that they lead by example is a long-lasting teamwork. This team includes the athletes, trainers, families and the environment. Being patient and acting correctly is cornerstone of success. With this in mind, we are trying to provide our athletes with the right goals, ensure that they can work hard and become a team, and train them correctly in all aspects. We, as the Board of İstanbulspor, are working in harmony in a democratic structure, and constantly informing each other. Since we all come from sports and are experienced in their fields, we support each other about the tasks we undertake in managing the club.

How do you assess the current situation of Turkish football?

Infrastructure investments and general developments are perfect in Turkish football in recent years. However, the technical and conditional development of the athletes is not sufficient. Maybe we should start working at younger ages In our society, families want their children to play sports and spend time and money for this. The issue is that there are not enough sports facilities. And young players are living difficulties to play in Super League teams since the clubs generally prefer experienced and famous players instead of being patient and giving the young players a chance. We believe that this will improve over time.

Currently, our professional football team İstanbulspor A.S. competes in Turkish Super
League successfully, and further improves each passing day.

Volkan Buharalı: We Need The Right Investments For The Future yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

Being one of the legendary names of Turkish football, İstanbulspor and Fenerbahçe, Alpaslan Eratlı achieved many championships and several cups in his 15-year career. Being the 3-year-captain of Fenerbahçe, for which he played for 10 years, Alpaslan Eratlı ended his football career bowing out following the Season 1982-83. He played for national team for 29 times and u-21 national team for 4 times.

Can you introduce yourself to us?

In 1948, I was born in İstanbul and grew up in Cerrahpaşa. My school life was highly problematic since my primary school was at least five kilometers away from our house. At that time, going to one place from another was so difficult and I had a hard time of it. Then, I changed my school and enrolled in Deneme Primary School in Aksaray. Afterwards, I continued my education in Pertevniyal High School. Upon finishing high-school, I studied in Chemistry Faculty of Galatasaray University until 3rd grade. Yet, my love for football took precedence over my academic education and since the transportation to the places of away games was rare, I did not go on studying, unfortunately.

Can you talk about how you met with football?

As you may know, we used to play football in empty fields years ago since there were no pitches just like today. I and my younger
brother had an empty field in our garden and we used to play football matches there. This is my story of how I met with football.
I used to play wearing my grandmother’s heels. These shoes were low-heeled and I thought as if they had been crampons. There were many fields where we could play football. There was a place called sandy and I improved my playing there. It was a pitch with 30-meter-width and 10-meter-length between two buildings. We were playing football three by three. Other kids from other neighborhoods used to come and we used to hold tournaments there. It was impossible to play in big fields because there were big brothers who did not let us.

How did you come to İstanbulspor?

It was a sheer coincidence. You may remember İbrahim Toker, former İstanbulspor player. I was going to be transferred to somewhere else out of İstanbul. I wanted them to pay my five-yearschool expenditures as the price of the transfer but İbrahim Toker wanted me to be in front of their eyes and stay in İstanbul, which was very good news for me. I did not go out of İstanbul. In 1968, İbrahim Toker brought me to İstanbulspor trials. We were late and I could not play. After 15-20 minutes, they included me in the game. But the ball came for two or three times. They called me back, but I did not leave. I was mad at the situation. Yet, it turned out that they regarded me as adequate and called me to play in the team. I learnt it after some time. I began footballing in İstanbulspor and played for 5 years. And then I was transferred to Fenerbahçe.

You were transferred from İstanbulspor to Fenerbahçe. The game you played at that time fascinated everyone. Can you talk about your football career in Fenerbahçe?

In 1970, when I was chosen for national team, I was 21. I was playing in İstanbulspor. It was not a piece of cake for young players to be in national team at that time. And I was playing in İstanbulspor in addition to being a young one. Players were generally taken from Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. And I can also mention Cemil Turan apart from me. We were in İstanbulspor-Trabzonspor match in İnönü Stadium. There was no centre forward in the team. I played as the centre forward and kicked 2 goals. This was the first match where Şenol Güneş played for Trabzonspor. My performance during this match was appreciated so much. I was transferred to Fenerbahçe in 1973, which would last for 10 years. We became champion four times and won several cups during this period. By the way, I got injured, my cross-links were ruptured. This lasted for 4 years from 1977 to 1981. I had an operation in Germany. Doctor of German National Team operated on me and told something like that: ‘I’m performing this operation but I don’t promise you can play football again.’ Then, I began riding again, which had made him really happy. In 1982-1983, I bowed out and quit football after league and cup championship of Fenerbahçe.

Do you have any memory that you cannot forget?

I’ve never forgotten about my first National Team match. We had drawn with West Germany (1-1). We were playing against such a rival that had top ten players across the world. It was fantastic to play with Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Jürgen Grabowksi, Sepp Maier, Jupp Heynckes and Herbert Wimmer. We had played in Cologne. There were many Turks in the tribunes. I was the left back and did not let anyone. They were constantly changing players in that zone. I mean I had achieved a successful match. The deceased Ali Artuner, goalkeeper of Göztepe, said that ‘you made it easier for me’.

Legendary Libero Turkish Football: Alpaslan Eratlı yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

Istanbulspor, founded in 1926, is a milestone for Turkish football. Many players who have written their names in golden letters to the country’s football have gained fame with Istanbulspor. Once one of the most important teams in the Super League, the yellow-blacks want to get back to where they belong, in the top league of Turkish football. We met with Sebahattin Sarialiogullari, Board Member of Istanbulspor, one of the exemplary clubs with its modern facilities and infrastructure work, and had a pleasant conversation about Istanbulspor.

Could you introduce yourself a bit? Who is Sebahattin Sarialiogullari?

I was born in Of, Trabzon in 1938. I am a member of Saral family from Of, Trabzon. After completing primary and secondary school in Of, I went to high school in Trabzon as a boarding student. I started my football career when I was in elementary school in Of. Since I was tall, they told me to go in goal. So I went in goal and was successful. I was already playing volleyball too.

So which team did you start playing football at?

I started at Yol Spor. Trabzonspor was not founded then. I was playing at the school team in Of. I was a goalkeeper on the high school team. Then one day, they invited me to Yol Spor. I continued to play as a goalkeeper at Yol Spor. Yol Spor was the team of General Directorate for Highways. I both studied in high school and started to work for General Directorate for Highways just to be able to play at Yol Spor. Getting a job at that young age helped me retire at an early age.

How has your later football life been?

I played regularly at Yol Spor for two years. After that, I left high school at second grade and joined to the military. I completed my military service in Denizli. There was Denizli Kara Gucu then. There were very famous football players at that time. Avni Kalkavan from Fenerbahce, Kel Ihsan, or Ihsan Baytar from Istanbulspor, and Bahattin Baytar from Besiktas. I also played football with them in the military for 2 years. I was the goalkeeper. After playing there for 2 years, I returned to my hometown from the military. There was no money in football then. I was playing for my daily bread. This was between 1960 and 1964. Then I started my commercial life since there was no money in football. I left football before I had enough of it. There was no way out in football. When I was young, I played football for our pleasure. But at that time, we did not have the current conditions in football to win our future. Now, on the other hand, football has become industrialized and materialized. At that time, everything started with passion. The biggest advantage of being a football player is that I have become popular in Trabzon. Everyone knew us not only as a high school student but also as a good goalkeeper playing football in Trabzon. I had many friends back then.

Was Yol Spor one of the biggest clubs in Trabzon at that time?

At that time, all the teams were regional ones. There were 12 teams in Trabzon. Yol Spor was often the champion among these 12. So, it was a good team. It was in the custody of the General Directorate for Highways. But as I said, after that I returned to commercial life. Years later, I met Istanbulspor. I used to hear the name of Istanbulspor on the radios and got to know their football players. My pleasure was listening to the matches on the radio then. There were no TVs. I would never have thought that I would be serving, and even managing Istanbulspor.

Could you tell us a little about your story of meeting Istanbulspor?

We, as a family, are prone to sports and we are community people. We don’t like living individually. Living together with society comes from our family structure. In the end, due to my aptitude for this sport, I met İstanbulspor with Omer Sarialioglu. Istanbulspor was owned by Cem Uzan. He spent a lot of money for Istanbulspor and the team was pretty successful. After the state confiscated Cem Uzan’s assets, Istanbulspor was also taken over by the SDIF. After staying under the custody of the state for a few years, Istanbulspor was put up for sale. When it was put up for sale, Omer Sarialioglu entered the tender too. One of the bidders was Saffet Sancakli, and he bought the club. But Saffet Sancakli called Omer a month or two later and offered him to become a shareholder of the club. So, we became a 30% shareholder. Istanbulspor is a very big club and brand. So, we enjoy serving it. After a short time, Saffet Sancakli offered Omer to buy 50% of the club. Omer and I got together and had a little discussion. Saffet Sancaklı had just acquired the club, and we have made an investigation into why he was trying to sell 50% of his shares. We found out that some taxes and debts have not been paid. Later, Sancakli and Omer came together and he said, “Either take the club, or give it away.” Eventually, we bought the club. We have also taken over the debts. My late brother cleared all debts. Since then, we have been serving this club. At that time, I focused on youth setup. I have focused on serving more in youth setup. Because we believe in something. A team without a good youth setup cannot walk towards its goals. You should find new star players from youth setup. Many teams in Europe spend two-thirds of their budget on youth setup and only one-third on the A-team. Their players always come from the youth setup. But unfortunately, this is not the case in Turkiye. People don’t value youth setup that much. Everyone is thinking about the current season to achieve temporary success or become the champion.

You mentioned the importance that Istanbulspor attaches to youth setup. What are you doing about it?

When we bought Istanbulspor, the youth academy was in Atakoy. But they took the Atakoy facilities from us. We suffered a lot in those days and were left without a field. Then we went to Bakirkoy’s field. But we failed in Bakirkoy field too. After that, we went to Florya. We couldn’t continue there either. The lang of this facility where we are now belonged to Omer then. Omer once said, ”We will move Istanbulspor here, we have no other option.” Thank God, these are now Istanbulspor’s own registered grounds. Istanbulspor currently has properties and title deeds. There was Seymen Genctürk, the President of the Kucukcekmece Amateurs Union. He’s been very helpful to us. He gave us the opportunity to work in Kucukcekmece. We brought all the teams to Kucukcekmece. We worked hard there too. We focused on youth setup. We have raised a lot of young players. It’s not easy to raise a star. You have to deal with a child for at least 10-12 years. With patience and hard work… We currently have three players who came through the youth academy and are playing directly in our A-team. This is not an easy thing. The pandemic has damaged us greatly and disrupted our work. So we’re a little behind now. So, in summary, for football to progress in Türkiye, it needs to develop its own school.

The Rise of Istanbulspor and the Importance of Youth Setup yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

The passing of Hayrettin Deniz, whose ties to Istanbulspor were never severed and who was much loved and respected in the yellow-black community, has caused deep sorrow in the Turkish football community. Discovered by Gungor Tetik and Tugrul Alkaya in a neighborhood match he was playing in Zeytinburnu at the age of 16, Hayrettin Deniz played for Istanbulspor, Edirne Spor, Sivas Spor and Tokat Spor. After quitting football, Hayrettin Deniz, who worked as a referee for 9 years, took on different duties at TFF as well. Hayrettin Deniz’s funeral prayer was held at the Atakoy Mosque following the noon prayer and he was buried in the Buyukcekmece Cakmak Cemetery. May God have mercy on the deceased. We offer our condolences to his grieving family and our Istanbulspor community.

We Lost Hayrettin Deniz yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

Legendary footballers of Turkish football came together at the Istanbulspor General Assembly held at IL Cortile Istanbul hosted by Mustafa Yurttas, the President of the Istanbulspor Fan Association. The “Yellow and Black” community gave a message of unity at the event, which was attended by Istanbulspor’s managers and legendary players who have written their names in golden letters in Turkish football. The attendants experienced emotional moments at the event where the special documentary prepared for the two legends of Turkish football Cemil Turan and Alpaslan Eratli was played. The Yellow and Black community, which has not been able to get together for a while due to the pandemic, enjoyed pleasant moments at the event.

Cemil Turan, one of the legends of Turkish football with the football he played for Fenerbahce and Istanbulspor: “I try to participate in such events as much as possible. As Istanbulspor people, we see each other as brother and sister in the full sense. When we come together, we become very happy. We must always protect the unity of the Istanbulspor community. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to such a documentary”.

Legendary footballers of Turkish football came together at the Istanbulspor General Assembly held at IL Cortile Istanbul hosted by Mustafa Yurttas, the President of the Istanbulspor Fan Association.

Alpaslan Eratli, who could not control his tears while watching documentaries: “We made a journey to the past with this movie. I once again experienced my successes at both Fenerbahce and Istanbulspor. I am very happy to be a part of the Istanbulspor community, which is always talked about with unity and togetherness”.

Istanbulspor Fans Association President Mustafa Yurttas: “The sense of belonging in the Yellow and Black community is stronger than in any club. Legendary football players and managers who have worked for Istanbulspor came together today. We have prepared a special documentary for Cemil Turan and Alpaslan Eratli, the living legends of Turkish football, who played for Istanbulspor. We want the next generation to grow up recognizing these two legends as well. Soon everyone will be able to watch these documentaries on TV screens and on the Youtube channel of our association. In the coming period, we will also be preparing a documentary about another legend of ours, Yilmaz Urul”.

Legends of Turkish Football Met at the Istanbulspor General Assembly yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

The European top scorer with 39 goals, who scored the most goals in a season in Türkiye, the owner of gold, silver and bronze shoes, and the only Turkish player to be among the 48 legends of the world as determined recently by a Swiss statistics institute… Yes, as you may have guessed, we are talking about Tanju Colak. Tanju Colak’s football career, started with a local neighborhood team, ended with Istanbulspor. We had a sincere conversation about football with Tanju Colak, who has written his name in golden letters in the history of Turkish football.

How did you first get acquainted with football?

I was a well-known football candidate in my neighborhood in Samsun. I was playing for our local neighborhood team. Of course, our opportunities were also very limited. When our ball burst, we would continue playing by putting newspapers inside it. There was a Ciftlikspor club that I loved very much at that time. One day, the president of Ciftlikspor came to me and said, “We’re going to play a match with Samsunspor, will you play too?” – I was going to play for the first time in the stadium with the U12 team. I immediately accepted the offer. They had blue and white jerseys. That jersey was very valuable to me as we didn’t have the financial means to buy a jersey. We went to the stadium 3-4 days later and lost the match 6-1. I scored the only goal. Cumhur Dilek, the coach of the rival team, came to our dressing room and said that he wanted to see me in his team. I started playing in Samsunspor’s youth setup when I was 12 years old. When our coach Cumhur signed for Yolspor, I started playing in Yolspor at the age of 15. I started getting transfer offers from both Besiktas and Trabzonspor before I turned 17, but I signed for Samsunspor. I played my first professional match against Giresunspor and scored a goal in this match as well.

How did Tanju Colak prepare for the matches?

I was a player between the 80s and 95s. Technological advances in football like today were not even close then. The 450 gr ball weighed 2 kilograms during rainy days. The pitches, on the other hand, were far away from those today, and the training conditions were very bad. I played football in such a period. We used to consider football professionally and make our preparations accordingly.

What would you like to say about today’s players?

I think today’s footballers need to change their point of view. Professional footballers such as Ronaldo and Messi are already showing the difference. Ronaldo has designed a section of his house as a private training ground. However, the perspective of Turkish football players is like, “If I sign a 3-year deal for 3 million Euros each, my life is guaranteed.” After they start making huge money, they all start thinking about other things than football. “What business should I invest in? Where should I buy a plot of land?” etc. They also need to improve themselves in a cultural sense. For instance, the number of players who graduated from university is very low. “Why is Turkish football not developing?” I think the answer to this question is very obvious!

You have gold, silver and bronze shoes, and at the same time you have become the European goalscorer. What would you like to say about this?

I became top scorer 4 times in a row at Samsunspor, twice in the 1st League and twice in the Super League. After these successes, I signed for Galatasaray in 1987-88 season. I received offers from many clubs, but I signed for this club as I was a Galatasaray fan. I scored 39 goals in my first season for Galatasaray. I had the privilege to break the record of scoring the most goals in a season that was held by the late Metin Oktay. I have been the top scorer for 5 consecutive years. I also won the title of the player who scored the most goals in European leagues that year with 39 goals. As a Turkish football player, it is a great pride to be the owner of gold, silver and bronze shoes. Recently, I was the only Turkish player among the 48 legends of the world, as determined by a Swiss statistics institute.

When we say Tanju Colak, Galatasaray comes to mind first. What does Galatasaray mean to you?

Galatasaray means “love” for me, but some people have interrupted our love. I still have resentment for them. After playing football for 5 years, I couldn’t sign with Galatasaray in 1991 and signed for Fenerbahce. After Fenerbahce, I played for Istanbulspor for 4 months. I wanted to celebrate my jubilee by playing a match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, however Galatasaray did not accept.

What would you like to say about that legendary Neuchâtel Xamax match?

It was an unprecedented challenge in Turkish football history. We were beaten 3-0 in the first leg. We won the second leg 5-0. I scored 3 goals. One of the points I was sorry about that match was that the “main shareholder” of the victory against Neuchâtel Xamax was shown to be Mustafa Denizli. In football, the 50% of the result is determined by the player’s quality, 25% by the coach and 25% by the management. The combination of these brings a championship or success. However, even today when the Neuchâtel Xamax victory is broadcast Mustafa Denizli is displayed, talking on the victory. Why don’t they host the real owners of this success as guests? I believe that they should also take the person who scored 3 goals in that match as a guest.

“In football, the 50% of the result is determined by the player’s quality, 25% by the coach and 25% by the management.”

Which match were you the happiest and the saddest for?

I was very upset when we were leading 3-0 while playing at Galatasaray against Fenerbahce, but lost 4-3. I scored all the 3 goals. The match that I was the happiest with was of course the one we played against Neuchâtel Xamax. Matches like this come around once every 100 years.

Which goal have you never forgotten in your career?

The 4th goal I scored against Neuchâtel Xamax. In fact, I had just signed for Galatasaray. I also can’t forget the goal I scored with a reverse shot against Sakaryaspor.

After leaving football, you worked as the Coach of Siirtspor, Goztepe and the A2 National Team. Why didn’t you continue?

I still get angry with myself about it. I made a mistake in my planning. Actually I should never have left football. If I had the opportunity to go back to those years, I would definitely continue my career as a coach.

Who would you consider to be the ”Star” player of Turkish football right now?

Names such as Cengiz Under, Yusuf Yazici, Caglar Soyuncu etc. are special players for Turkish football. However, the number of such names should increase. After Burak Yilmaz and Cenk Tosun quit football, our national team will have no strikers left.

What are your thoughts about the Istanbulspor community?

Istanbulspor is one of the biggest clubs in Turkish football. It is a club with a deep-rooted history and very strong ties. Their recent rise makes me happy as well. I hope this continues and their success will last a long time.

The Story of Tanju Colak, Filled with Career Achievements yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

We met with Ahmet Urkmezgil, who wore the Istanbulspor jersey during his youth and is one of the most important figures of both the business world and the sports community. Urkmezgil, who took a break from sports management after seven years as Besiktas General Secretary, talked us about many topics ranging from Besiktas’ championship to his role as a member of Istanbulspor. We had a pleasant interview with Urkmezgil, who stated that he sees being a supporter of Istanbulspor as privilege as being a supporter of Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Ahmet, can you please talk about yourself a bit?

I was born in 1954. I got into business life at a very young age. I worked at Tercuman Newspaper accounting department for 14 years. I had a good relationship with leading political, economic and sports writers, such as Orhan Ayhan, İslam Cupi, Guven Taner and Atilla Gokce. I served as Besiktas General Secretary for 7 years. I am also the founder of Promat Matbaacilik, which operates in the field of printing.

What would you like to say about the years you played at Istanbulspor?

My football life was very short. Our opportunities were very limited. I joined the Istanbulspor Junior Team when I was 16-17 years old. I played for 2 years, between 1969 – 1970. I took part in the youth team with Dimitri Pantazi, one of the iconic names of Istanbulspor. We met with Ahmet Urkmezgil, who wore the Istanbulspor jersey during his youth and is one of the most important figures of both the business world and the sports community. Urkmezgil, who took a break from sports management after seven years as Besiktas General Secretary, talked us about many topics ranging from Besiktas’ championship to his role as a member of Istanbulspor. We had a pleasant interview with Urkmezgil, who stated that he sees being a supporter of Istanbulspor as privilege as being a supporter of Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. I also played with Captain Serkan, and Faruk, who later went to Galatasaray. We had a good squad and became the Turkish champions. It was a pride to wear the yellow and black jersey. There was also the alluring perception that Istanbul High School brought. After my Istanbulspor career of 2 years, I was transferred to Karagumruk. My first professional football career started in Karagumruk, and after playing for 2 years there I had to quit football due to my education, marriage and limited opportunities.

What would you like to say about the yellow-black community?

I consider being an Istanbulspor fan as privileged as being a Besiktas, Galatasaray or Fenerbahce fan. Of course, every club has its own unique privileges and values. The values that Istanbul High School has added to Istanbulspor created a very different sense of belonging. I have been a manager at Istanbulspor Association for about 3 years and I have seen how strong that sense of belonging was. We worked together with Mustafa Yurttas with a great dedication and determination. During that period, Istanbulspor was promoted from the Amateur League to the Regional Amateur League. Afterwards, I had to quit as a manager. I can say that I tried to enjoy the feeling of being a part of Istanbulspor, which I rarely experienced as a football player, throughout my management career. Mustafa took part in the club with great effort and without any expectations. All these efforts were due to a great love for the Club. Istanbulspor is love and commitment.

Do you participate in the events organized by Istanbulspor when you have time? What does the Istanbulspor community mean to you?

As with other big teams, Istanbulspor had important names in its past. Whenever we find time, we meet with important names such as Cemil Turan, Yılmaz Urul, Alpaslan Eratli and Zorbay Kalkan. Important figures of the community also meet in the organizations of the Istanbulspor Fans Association to fulfill our longing. It is a source of great pride that the legendary names of Turkish football come together for this community.

“I can’t forget the games when we beat Chelsea 2-0 and Barcelona 3-0.”

Let’s come to the championship of Besiktas. We have left behind a challenging year. At the end of a year without spectators due to pandemic, the championship was achieved. What would you like to say?

We have had a very difficult season with a limited squad. Every championship is very valuable, but this year’s championship was more valuable. For the Big 4, the fans are a major force. The fans can even turn the tide of a match. This year, the matches were played without spectators. Sergen Yalcin was very successful. He managed to keep some players who were falling out of shape active and alive. Although he had a squad that lacked the depth of his rivals, he made the most of his players. In addition to winning the League Championship and Turkish Cup, he managed to win young talents such as Ridvan Yılmaz and Ersin Destanoglu.

Besiktas will compete in the Champions League. What would you like to say?

During my term as Secretary General, Besiktas emerged from the Champions League group as the undefeated leader, breaking a record for the country. It is not easy to fight against the teams that have huge budgets. Under the leadership of Sergen, we can achieve the same success this year as well.

Which Besiktas match made you the happiest and most emotional?

Besiktas is so ingrained in my blood that every win is very special to me. However, I can’t forget the games when we beat Chelsea 2-0 and Barcelona 3-0. The match that moved me the most was… In the early 1980s, Besiktas was going through a very difficult period in the league. I was working for Tercuman Newspaper then. I was sitting in the press stand at Inonu Stadium. Besiktas fans suddenly began to support the team fiercely. I was so impressed at that moment that I started crying. Even now, when I tell about this, I still get goosebumps.
This is Besiktas! Every club has such stories, but Besiktas’ stories are completely different. We are a very big club. We had good times with Suleyman Seba. Especially, listening to Besiktas from his mouth was priceless. Besiktas is love and the people’s team.

“Besiktas is the Team of the People.” yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

Founded in 1959, Istanbulspor Fan Association offers financial and spiritual solidarity by bringing together former athletes, veterans and managers. The association, which has around 300 members, has been attracting attention in recent years with the activities it has put forward on behalf of Istanbulspor. Istanbulspor Fan Association, led by Mustafa Yurttas, a Businessman and the General Manager of Ozdisan Elektronik, always shows its support to all former football players and managers who are in need or have health problems. We had a pleasant conversation with Istanbulspor Fan Association Coordinator Aliye Toker, who stated that they were preparing a documentary on the legendary players of Turkish football, Cemil Turan and Alpaslan Eratli, who played for Istanbulspor, about the association’s activities.

Can you give information about the Istanbulspor Fan Association?

The history of the Istanbulspor Fan Association actually dates back to 1913. The most important mission of our association, founded in 1959, is to offer material and spiritual solidarity by bringing together former athletes, veterans and managers. We are conducting researches in order to maintain the bonds of love and respect between the members of the association and to increase communication. Our association has about 300 members. We come together as a community at the events we hold regularly. We are announcing important events from our social media accounts. We are sharing news about Istanbulspor and important names of Turkish football.

We know that the Istanbulspor community is closely connected to each other. What do you think are the foundations of this commitment?

Istanbulspor is a touchstone for Turkish football. Founded in 1926, the club has overcome serious challenges. Despite this, it always managed to survive. The underlying reason for this is the community’s interconnectedness. The sense of belonging in Istanbulspor Club and Istanbul High School compares to nothing. I believe that foreign and domestic guests attending our events are the biggest indicator of this commitment. I feel very lucky to be one of the comrades of such a loyal community.

As the association, do you assist important names of Turkish football who are in need or have health issues? Can you tell us a little about these?

As the Istanbulspor Fan Association under the leadership of our dear President Mustafa Yurttas, we always stand by all our former players and managers who are in need or have health issues. Most of the time, we transfer our former managers or players who have health issues to the hospital with private vehicles. We offer all kinds of support to the spouses and children of our deceased members as well.

The pandemic has affected our entire life. How did you work as an association during this period?

Since March, the coronavirus pandemic has been the main topic both in our country and all over the world. Due to the pandemic, we had to change almost all our habits. Before the pandemic, we were periodically organizing events and conducting face-to-face meetings with our members.
Unfortunately, we could not get together with our association members very often during the pandemic. However, we contacted our members over the age of 65 who could not leave the house, by phone. We have frequently informed them about the pandemic and asked them to be careful and take the necessary precautions. I hope the new year will be filled with beauty and success for all our managers, players and fans.

You have brought the Istanbulspor community together at many events in the past. Can you tell us about the importance of these events?

Istanbulspor is a very elite community consisting of high-quality and educated people. It has raised legendary football players and managers who have written their names in golden letters in Turkish football history and has always been a club that is popular with its unity and solidarity. I think we are one of the exemplary communities in our country. We often come together with our legendary players and managers who have contributed to Istanbulspor. Istanbulspor, a college rooted team, is looking at its future with confidence by also taking care of its past. Istanbulspor has managed to become one of the exemplary clubs in terms of kindness and sportsmanship in Turkish sports with all its associations and Istanbul Men’s High School. We want to see this unity that we have shown in our young brothers to whom we have handed over the flag as well.

Are there any events that you plan to hold in the near future?

We have prepared a documentary on behalf of Cemil Turan and Alpaslan Eratli, two legendary Turkish players who have played for Istanbulspor. However, we had to suspend our launch for a while due to the pandemic process. Fenerbahçe President Ali Koc and UEFA 1st Vice President Senes Erzik also showed us their valuable support during the documentary shooting. We will spend the income we will earn from the documentary for our old players and managers in need. We are trying to do whatever is appropriate for Istanbulspor and the yellow-black community, as much as we can.

“Istanbulspor Is a Touchstone For Turkish Football” yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

Paşalı Birol, who brings color to the tribunes with her unique banners and loyal stance, is one of the most valuable tribune workers of Turkish football. One of the leading names of Fenerbahce tribunes, Paşalı Birol, has designed a museum consisting of photos of important athletes who have served Turkish football. We had a pleasant interview with Pashali Birol, the loyal name of the tribunes, at his house in Bayrampasa, which he designed as a museum.

Can we get to know you a little?

I was born in the Fatih district of Istanbul. My father was a Tekel worker and our financial situation was not good. At that time, most people’s shoes were either from rubber, or even completely torn. I wasn’t interested in any club until I was 9 years old. In those years, they called me “Bulky” because I was a little overweight. We were playing football in our neighborhood by making balls out of newspapers. One day, my classmate Bulent was going to Fenerbahce – Galatasaray match with his father. He told his father that he wanted to take me to the match too, and he accepted. I got in the car and we drove to the Inonu Stadium. Bulent’s father met Suleyman Seba at the stadium. I didn’t know Suleyman Seba in those years. Galatasaray won the match with a goal by the late Metin Oktay. Bulent’s father, who was in the Honor Stand, was hurting himself as a fanatical Fenerbahce fan. That image scared me and I said “I won’t go to a match again”. There was also a second match. 3 days later, they picked me up from my house for the second match, but first we stopped by Bulent’s house, his father gave me a navy blue suit, a light blue shirt, and a yellow tie. When we went to the stadium, we watched the match at the same place and Fenerbahce won the match 4-0 and became the champions. When we got home, Bulent’s father did not leave us. He told Bulent to call all his school friends. Large tables were set up in the garden. There was rice, ice cream, grapes, almost everything you may like. Bulent’s father said, “These dishes have a price”. They cleared the table, and a large Fenerbahce flag was laid on it. All the children put their hands on the table. “Fenerbahce, we will not leave you until we die, we will always love you.” Bulent’s father repeated these words 3-4 times. He took out of his pocket 1 Turkish lira coins with the date 1959 written on them and distributed them to 19 children, one by one. And they didn’t take the dress back from me either. This is how my love for Fenerbahce began.

How did the idea of making banners first start?

I was more active in preparing banners until 1981. When I went to matches, I saw a lot of banners without any special meaning or a rhyme, and I didn’t like it at all. I used to be inspired by Turkish Classical Music or the interesting phrases and headlines on newspapers. I found rhyming slogans and started adapting them to Fenerbahce. I had about 1000 slogans.

What did you write on your first banner? Do you remember?

Of course I remember. On my first banner, I wrote “My love to you is legit, Fenerbahce” and underneath it “People of Kocamustafapasa”. This had upset my friends in Bayrampasa. During those years, I had a furniture manufacturing company in Bayrampasa. That’s why they told me, “You earn money in Bayrampasa, but you write Kocamustafapasa under the banner”. I thought they were right. In the next match, I wrote “We have loved you since 1907 and we will always love you”, and added Bayrampasalilar under it.

Does your nickname Pasha come from the names of these districts? Contrary to popular belief, your name is Vecdi, not Birol. Almost everyone thinks your name is Birol. Where does the nickname Birol come from?

The names of the districts were once very famous in Fenerbahce tribunes. Almost everyone used to write the names of the district where they were located, on the banners. There were also many districts in Istanbul where the name “Pasha” is mentioned. So I wrote only “Pashali” under the banners so that no one would get hurt. When I was a clerk at the Grand Bazaar, I was taking out the store’s goods at 7:30 in the morning. At that time, a woman started knocking hardly on the door of the inn. I told her that the inn would open at 8:30. The woman did not listen to me and started shouting at me as “Birol”. And I said, “Yes, ma’am”. The woman almost hit me with the shoe in her hand. The woman’s attempt to hit me and her calling me Birol became a talk of the town for the shop assistants, and after the woman left, they teased me and asked, “What’s up Birol?” – After that, my name remained as Birol.

You also eliminated that violent hooligan atmosphere at the tribunes, and gained people’s love. What would you like to say about this?

I tried not to be in places where there was a fight. I have never written hurtful, sarcastic or abusive statements about any opposing team on my banners. I am very against cursing, especially at mothers. I believe that anyone who curses at someone’s mother also curses at their own mother.

You’ve been visiting the graves of people who have broken a sweat for our country. What would you like to say about this?

I have a list, where the dates of death of former football players, managers, as well as important figures of art. I visit all our competitors from Besiktas, Galatasaray, Trabzon without any discrimination.

When did you first start working on your museum? There is not only Fenerbahce. Your arch-rival also carries the traces of your eternal friendship.

I started it as a hobby in 1959. Today, this museum bears the traces of the most important football players and sports people of Türkiye. I have a special folder for every football player and sports people. There are photos and memories in it that are not in the museum of any club. In my museum, there is also a souvenir booklet that Ali Koc prepared specifically for Fenerbahce’s 100th anniversary and that only 100 people have now.

What was the stadium that impressed you the most abroad?

It was definitely Wembley Stadium. It had a great atmosphere. I still get goosebumps when I think about it.

Is there a specific match/season that you can’t forget or has a special story for you?

Denizlispor match in which Fenerbahce lost the championship is one of the matches I cannot forget and that saddened me the most. In the 1988-1989 season, we won the championship with 103 goals. I will never forget that year.

Do you have any suggestions for ending the violence in football?

I believe that efforts should be made to mingle rival fans with each other. We should develop sense of friendship and cooperation. When you bring together the people who have a say in the tribunes in the same environment for 3-4 times, an environment of brotherhood forms. In this way, they do not forget their friends in the rival tribunes when they return to their own tribunes. I think we can reduce fighting and curse in this way.

You are not a stranger to Istanbulspor community either. What would you like to say about this?

Istanbulspor has a special place for me. It used to play matches in Bayrampasa. I used to gather our fans and go to support Istanbulspor. I had scarves, flags and banners made for Istanbulspor. There are also old photos of Istanbulspor in my museum. I try to follow Istanbulspor matches when they do not coincide with Fenerbahce’s match. I would like to thank Mustafa Yurttas and Ecmel Faik Sarialioglu for their efforts for Istanbulspor. Occasionally, I also participate in the organizations of the Istanbulspor Fan Association.

The Loyal Name of the Tribunes; Paşalı Birol yazısı ilk önce Component By Özdisan üzerinde ortaya çıktı.