Two football magicians who were “wished to be on any team” between 1950 and 1960: Goalkeeper Yilmaz Urul and centre-half Yildirim Iper. Urul and Iper, who also wore the national team jerseys, played for Istanbulspor, Fenerbahce and several local teams of the districts where they were born and raised. We had a great interview with Yilmaz Urul and Yildirim Iper, the legendary players of Turkish football, and talked about their memories.
When did you start playing football?
Yilmaz Urul: I first started playing football in my neighborhood. Almost everyone was playing football. I also had goalkeeping skills. I was a member of the school team of Eyup High School. We were the Istanbul champions in the tournament held between schools. A few people who were watching the school games said that they wanted me to play for Adalet Genclik Kulubu. I started my football career in 1957. In those years, there were important players like Burhan Sargin, Selahattin Torkal, Erol Topoyan playing for Adalet Genclik Kulubu, and the club was experiencing its best period. Then I played for one year for Kale Spor, the local team of our district. I had an “undefeated” championship with Kale Spor.
Yildirim Iper: During the periods when football was not an industry yet, local teams had a great importance in the football community. In 1955, I was transferred to Yesildirek Spor in Istanbul League. I was playing in the front libero position in Yesildirek. Yesildirek was truly a local team, and our managers had workplaces in the neighborhood. Although there were many older and more experienced players in the team, I managed to become the captain at a very young age.
Can you tell us about your story of meeting Istanbulspor?
Y.U.: After winning the championship with Kale Spor, Ali Mortas and Turan Erguven met with me to transfer me to Istanbulspor. Ali Mortas said, ‘You will receive a monthly salary of 550 Turkish liras, do you want anything else?’ I was very happy when he said that, as I was only 17 years old and my father was receiving a salary of 650 Turkish liras as a fire sergeant. My Istanbulspor career started in 1959, when the league was founded. I played my first match with Izmir’s Altay Club and we lost the match 2-1. Then we played a night match with Ankara’s Demir Spor. In this match, we lost 1-0 and I had to wait for 27 matches as a substitute. I used to train at Fenerbahce’s famous old stadium so-called “the Priest’s Meadow”. I have improved myself very well and I have never been a substitute. For many years, magnificent goalkeepers like Mete Bozkurt, Yasin Ozdenak and Turgay Seren waited as my substitutes.
Y.I.: I played for Fenerbahce in 1964-1965 season. I was transferred to Istanbulspor the next season. Although we were relegated in the 1967-68 season, I did not leave the team like many of my friends. From the managers to the players, and from the ball-men to the fans, everyone was like a family. We have achieved great successes together with our friends.
During the periods when you played football, Istanbulspor was actually a football factory. What do you think is the main reason for this?
Y.U.: We used to send players to Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray every year. One of the main reasons for this was Ali Mortas. He had the ability to recognize a good player. Ali has contributed to most of the players of that time.
Y.I.: I was playing at Yesildirek during the management of Ali Mortas. I perfectly know that Ali Mortas discovered almost all the players of the A National Team during the period when we were playing football.
Have you had the opportunity to play for the national team?
Y.U.: I played for Junior National Team, “A” National Team, as well as Military National Team during my military service. I kept goal against national teams like Poland, Romania etc. I got a penalty after the Romania game. In the Military National Team, our coach was Dogan Andac, who also coached Besiktas. Dogan wanted to take me to the world championship in Spain, but I had a penalty. Ali Altuner and Mumin Ozkasap from Goztepe were also in our team. Despite such legendary names, Dogan Andac wanted to see me in the squad. We went to the Military Sports Branch with Dogan Andac. They called TFF President Orhan Seref Apak in 1965 to remove my penalty, and he accepted it. I had a concussion in the first match in Spain and could not play football for 3 months. Also, I wasn’t able to return to the country as we had a collective passport. I stayed there for a month like a tourist until the championship ended. Orhan Seref Apak attended the Military National Team camp. Staff Colonel Ismail Hakki Gungor suggested to the president that the Military National Team and the National Team play a match and that the winning team go to the Sento Cup, in which Iran, Iraq, Türkiye and Syria would participate. The president accepted this offer. As the Military National Team, we won 3-2 with the goal scored by Coskun Sahinkaya with a free-kick in the last minutes. We played well in the Sento Cup and brought the trophy to our country.
Y.I.: My performance in Yesildirek had attracted everyone’s attention and I was selected for the Junior National Team. I have always played football since the day I started. When I was playing in the Youth National Team, Orhan Seref Apak and Cihat Arman told me to play as a striker. During my military service, I played for the Military National Team.
You also played for Fenerbahce. Can you tell us about your transfer process?
Y.U.: A month before the end of my military service, my commander Seyfettin Karadayi put me on military court. The only condition for me to be forgiven was that I would play for Fenerbahce. So I accepted this offer. I went to Ankara Palace with him, where the Fenerbahce team was staying. At that time, the President was Ismet Ulug, and his deputy was Faruk Ilgaz. In 1966, I was transferred to Fenerbahce for 60k Turkish lira. I played my first match at Inonu Stadium against Galatasaray in the Turkish Sports Journalists Cup. Metin Oktay missed a penalty and we won the match 1-0. I played my second match against Vefa Spor. The match turned from 2-0 to 2-2. After playing at Fenerbahce for 6 months, I returned to Istanbulspor. I played for Istanbulspor until 1973, and then I played at Mersin Idman Yurdu for a year. The year I played here, I was voted the best player of the south. I quit football in 1974.
Y.I.: After I completed my military service, I signed for Fenerbahce in the 1964-65 season. My career with the yellow-dark blues lasted a year. I scored a goal in Galatasaray match. I won the championship in the season I played.
Yilmaz, do you have a memory that you can’t forget?
Y.U.: Metin Oktay was one of the names I admired. We were camping in Yenikoy before the Portugal match. Metin and I were staying in the same room. While I was reading a book on the window side of the room, Metin Oktay suddenly closed the window. I said, ’Captain, if you had told me, I would have closed it’. And he replied: ‘I didn’t want to bother you when you were reading a book, so I closed it by myself’. Metin was such a sensitive and humble person. Someone else with a career like Metin Oktay, the most famous football player in the country, would never behave like that.
When you compare the period you played with today’s football conditions, what are the differences?
Y.U.: Unlike the current modern balls, we used to play with “water soaking” leather stripped balls. I don’t even remember that I’ve ever trained with round balls. We used to hammer nails to our playing shoes. Sometimes during the match, nails would come out and sting into our feet. The stadium in Izmir was full of coal dust. After the matches, we would remove the coals stuck in our flesh with tweezers.
Y.I.: In modern football, everything is aimed at the health of the athlete, and that is how it should be. When our shoes were torn away during a match, it would be difficult for us to find a second one. Since the balls soaked water, their weight could go up to 3 kilograms. Headers were incredibly difficult. When it rained, the coal-dusty fields would almost turn into concrete.
Can you tell us about the activities of the Istanbulspor Fans Association?
Y.U.: As the former players who played for Istanbulspor, we have a very good friendship. We come together on certain days through our Association and keep informed of each other.
Y.I.: I participate in association activities whenever I have the opportunity. Our Association also offers support to our friends who are in need. This is the biggest proof that we are a family. Only very big clubs can achieve this.
