Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü (English: Fenerbahçe Sports Club), commonly known as Fenerbahçe (Turkish pronunciation:[feˈneɾbah.tʃe]), is a professional sports club based in the district of Kadıköy in Istanbul, Turkey. The name of the sports club and its sea side beautiful district derives their names from a famous lighthouse located in Fenerbahçe district of Kadıköy (the Turkish word fener means "beacon or lighthouse", while bahçe means "garden"). Fenerbahçe is a popular sports club in Turkey, its football section is popular for the fans. Fenerbahçe's football team currently plays in Süper Lig. They are nicknamed The Yellow Canaries (Turkish: Sarı Kanaryalar) and play their home games at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Kadıköy.
Fenerbahçe is a multi-sports club therefore it also professionally competes in basketball, volleyball, athletics, swimming, sailing, rowing, boxing and table tennis with many honours won in each branch. The club is also one of the major contributors for Turkish representatives for the Olympic games.
History
Fenerbahçe S.K. was founded on May 3, 1907 in the province of Kadıköy in Istanbul. The founders were Mr. Ziya Songülen, Mr. Ayetullah and Mr. Necip Okaner. This group of individuals founded the club secretly in order to keep a low profile and not get into any trouble with the strict Ottoman rule. So strict in fact that the Sultan, Abdul Hamid II, forbid that the Turkish youth may not set up a club nor engage in the game of football played by the English families that was watched in envy.
Ziya Songülen was elected the first president of the club, Ayetullah Bey became the first General Secretary, and Necip Okaner was given the post of the General Captain.[3] The lighthouse situated on the Fenerbahçe cape was a big influence on the design of the club's first emblem, which sported the yellow and white colors of daffodils around the lighthouse. The kits were also designed with yellow and white stripes.[3] The emblem and colors of the club were changed in 1910 when Topuz Hikmet redesigned the badge and changed the colors to yellow and navy, still seen today. Fenerbahçe's activities were kept in secrecy until a legislation reform in 1908, when, under a new law, all football clubs had to register to exist legally.[3] Fenerbahçe joined the Istanbul League in 1909, finishing fifth in their first year. The first line-up included Ziya Songülen, Ayetullah Bey, Necip Okaner, Galip Kulaksızoğlu, Hassan Sami Kocamemi, Asaf Beşpınar, Enver Yetiker, Şevkati Hulusi Bey, Fuat Hüsnü Kayacan, Hamit Hüsnü Kayacan, and Nasuhi Baydar.[4]
The Turkish Football Federation founded a national league in 1959, which continues today under the name of the TurkcellSüper Lig. Fenerbahçe won the first tournament, beating Galatasaray S.K. 4–1 on aggregate.[6] The next year, Fenerbahçe participated in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. They qualified through a 4–3 win over Csepel SC. They lost their first round game to OGC Nice 1–5 in a playoff game after drawing on aggregate.[7] Fenerbahçe became the most successful Turkish club of the 1960s, winning five out of 10 leagues. They were also runners-up three times.[8][9] In the Balkans Cup 1966–67 (a competition set up for clubs from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia that existed between the 1960–61 and 1993–94 seasons), Fenerbahçe won the cup after three matches against Greek club AEK Athens FC, making them the first Turkish club to win a non-domestic competition. This success would remain unparalleled by a Turkish club until Sarıyer G.K. and Samsunspor won the cup many years later in the 1990s.
The 1970s saw Fenerbahçe win four more league titles. The decade also saw the first non-Istanbul club and a club outside of Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş J.K., and Galatasaray S.K. to win a league title. Trabzonspor went on to win four titles during the decade.[9] Fenerbahçe won three titles in the 1980s, a period where each club in the "Big Four"[10] won at least two titles[9] Galatasaray S.K. and Beşiktaş J.K. dominated the Turkish League during the 1990s, combining to win nine out of 10 times. Fenerbahçe's only Turkish League success during the 1990s came in the 1995–1996 season under Carlos Alberto Parreira.[8][9]
An early replica kit.
Fenerbahçe won the league in 2001, denying Galatasaray a fifth consecutive title. They followed up the next season with a runners-up place behind Galatasaray with new coach Werner Lorant. The next season, however, did not go so well as Fenerbahçe finished in sixth place with Ariel Ortega in the squad.[11] Despite this, that season is memorable to many Fenerbahçe fans due to a 6–0 win against arch-rivals Galatasaray in Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on 6 November 2002.[12] After firing Werner Lorant, they hired another German coach, Christoph Daum. Daum had previously coached in Turkey, winning the league with Beşiktaş J.K. in 1994–95. Fenerbahçe brought in players including Pierre van Hooijdonk, Mehmet Aurélio, and Fabio Luciano as a rebuilding process. These new players lead Fenerbahçe to their fifteenth title and third star (one being awarded for every 5 league titles won by a club).[13] The next year was followed up by a narrow championship over Trabzonspor, winning the then record of sixteen Turkish First Football League championships.[14] Fenerbahçe lost the title in the last week of the 2005–06 season to Galatasaray. Fenerbahçe needed a win, but instead drew 1–1 with Denizlispor while Galatasaray won 3–0 over Kayserispor.
Soon after, Christoph Daum stepped down as manager,[15] and was replaced by Zico on 4 July, 2006.[16] Zico began his reign by signing two new defenders, highly-touted Uruguayan international Diego Lugano, and fellow BrazilianEdu Dracena.[17][18] Zico also signed two strikers, Serbian international Mateja Kežman, and another Brazilian, Deivid.[19] Fenerbahçe's 2006–07 domestic season started off with a 6–0 win over relegation candidates Kayseri Erciyesspor.[20] In the 32nd week of the Süper Lig, Fenerbahçe drew Trabzonspor 2–2, while Beşiktaş J.K. lost to Bursaspor 0–3, putting the former out of contention for the title.[21][22] Fenerbahçe won their seventeenth Turkish Super League title in 2007, the most in Turkey.[23]
On 11 January 2007, Fenerbahce S.K. was officially invited to G-14.[25] G-14 is an association which consists of top clubs worldwide. Fenerbahçe S.K. is the only Turkish club that have been invited to this association. On March 2008, Fenerbahçe's record application was accepted by Guinness World Records Menagement Team, which envisages Fenerbahçe to have the most number of medal and trophy achievements on the planet with its 9 branches entirely, total of 1134 cups and medals.[26]
Since the club's foundation, Fenerbahçe has used the same badge, which has only undergone minor alterations.
It was designed by Topuz Hikmet (Hikmet Topuzer) who played left wing in 1910 and was made by Tevfik Haccar (Taşcı) in London. The emblem consists of five colours. The white section which includes the writing Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü 1907 represents purity and open heartedness, the red section represents love and attachment to the club and symbolises the Turkish flag. The yellow middle section symbolises admiration and envy, while the navy symbolises nobility. The oak acorn leaf which rises from the navy and yellow section shows the power of Fenerbahçe. The green colour of the leaf shows the success of Fenerbahçe is imperative.[28]
After the change of the club’s colours from yellow and white to yellow and navy, it was an issue to create an emblem with our new colours. My friends left the design of this emblem to me. Firstly, I brought together the colours of our national flag, red and white. Then drew a heart shape over the red and gave it a yellow and navy colour, adding an acorn leaf that represents resistance, power and strength. I wrote the club name and foundation date on the white section. When drawing our emblem, I tried to give this meaning: Serving the club with dependence from heart. The design was favored by my friends and our new emblem was made through the guidance of Tevfik Haccar, who was in Germany at time. After the new alphabet was approved, the design was protected, but the club name on the emblem was changed to Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü ★ 1907 ★.[28]
Fenerbahçe have played their home games at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium,[29] in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul, since 1908. Most recently renovated between 1999 and 2006, its capacity is 52,056.[1] Unsually for a Turkish football stadium there is no running track around the outside of the pitch.
The club's museum has been situated in the stadium since 2005, after having been at a variety of locations.[30]
Other facilities
Other club facilities include the social venue, the training complex, the club headquarters, the Dereağzı Metin Aşık camp facilities, the youth academy football centre, the sports hall, the Fikirtepe facilities, the college, and the swimming pool.[31]
The Faruk Ilgaz Social Venue, located next to the club’s headquarters, is the new venue for the club’s gatherings. It was initially opened 15 May 1969 but Aziz Yıldırım rebuilt a modern complex and re-opened it on 21 January 2004.
Vefa Küçük Swimming Pool, opened on 16 July 1999 and serves the swimming branch.
Players
Current squad
As of July 24 2009:[34]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
When it was first founded in 1907, Fenerbahçe had a large squad. One of these players, Galip Kulaksızoğlu, was the longest serving player of the original squad. He spent seventeen years at the club, retiring in 1924 after 216 matches.[35]Zeki Rıza Sporel was the first product of the Fenerbahçe youth system. During his eighteen year career with the club, Zeki scored 470 goals in 352 matches, or 1.3 goals every match.[35] Zeki was also capped for the Turkey national football team sixteen times, bagging 15 goals.[36]Cihat Arman became the first in a long-line of long-serving goalkeepers at Fenerbahçe. Cihat played twelve seasons with the club, playing in 308 matches.[35]
Lefter Küçükandonyadis was one of the first Turkish football players to play in Europe. Lefter spent two seasons in Europe, playing for ACF Fiorentina and OGC Nice before returning to Fenerbahçe. In all, Lefter scored 423 goals in 615 matches for the club, helping them to two Istanbul Football League titles, and three Turkish First Football League titles.[37] Another player, Can Bartu, became the next big Turkish export to Europe. He was also the first Turkish player to play in a European competition final, doing so with ACF Fiorentina against Rangers on January 1, 1961.[38] Can also spent some seasons playing for Venezia A.C. and S.S. Lazio before returning to Fenerbahçe in 1967. He was a four-time league champion with Fenerbahçe and scored 162 goals in 330 matches.[39]
In recent decades, Fenerbahçe have gained an influx of foreigners who have helped the club to a joint-record of seventeen league titles. Among these include Uche Okechukwu, who after 13 seasons with Fenerbahçe and İstanbulspor became the longest serving foreigner in Turkey. During Uche's career with Fenerbahçe, he won two league titles and became a fan favourite.[40] In more recent times, Fenerbahçe has been the home to Brazilian-born Mehmet Aurélio (Marco Aurélio), who in 2006, became the first naturalized Turkish citizen to play for the Turkey national football team.[41]Wederson (Gökçek Vederson), another Brazilian-born naturalized Turkish citizen, was added to the squad in the beginning of the 2007–2008 unsuccessful season and now plays for Fenerbahçe.[42]
Honours and achievements
Only official football achievements are shown below.
Last updated: 4 August 2009 Div. = Division; D1 = First Division; Pos. = Position; Pl = Match played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; GS = Goal Scored; GA = Goal Against; P = Points UCL = UEFA Champions League; UC = UEFA Cup; TSC = Turkish Super Cup; Cup = Turkish Cup
Colors: Gold = winner; Silver = runner-up; Brown = third/semi-finalist
Sponsorship
Companies that Fenerbahçe S.K. currently has sponsorship deals with include.
Fenerbahçe TV (FB TV) is first sports club channel of Turkey[43] The channel launched in 2004 over satellite (Free-To-Air on Turksat 2A located 42° East, 11804 V 24444 5/6), satellite network services and cable service.[44]
Supporters
Since rebuilding the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Fenerbahçe's average attendances have been in the top in Turkey.[citation needed] Fenerbahçe have a number of supporters organisations, including Genç Fenerbahçeliler, Kill For You, Antu/Fenerlist, 1907 UniFeb, Group CK (Cefakâr Kanaryalar), Vamos Bien, Anglofeb/FENatics and SUADFEB. The supporters motto is Hep Destek Tam Destek (English: Continuous Unwavering Support).
Other branches
Basketball
Fenerbahçe's second biggest branch is men and women basketball teams. In 2006 Fenerbahçe's men basketball department was merged with Ülkerspor's department and women basketball department was sponsored by Aras Cargo. Although they were a weak team before this marriage, they won the championship twice after this event. The women basketball team is the most successful team of Fenerbahçe Sports Club. In last five years Fenerbahçe women basketball team won 13 of 15 cups that the team have competed.
Aziz Yıldırım
Christoph Daum[2]
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Alex
Stephen Appiah
Elvir Bolic
Daniel Güiza
Mateja Kezman
Ayetullah Bey
Christoph Daum
Zico
Luis Aragonés
