Fenerbahçe S.K.

Early years

Founded as a football club in 1907 in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, by Ziya Songülen (then Nurizade Ziya Bey), Ayetullah Bey and Enver Necip Okaner (then Enver Necip Bey). 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 that the Sultan, Abdul Hamid II, forbade the Turkish youth to set up a club or engage in the game of football played by the English families that was watched in envy. The club's name comes from Fenerbahçe, a neighbourhood in Istanbul. Being one of the most supported clubs in Turkey, Fenerbahçe is a multi-sports club and competes in football, basketball, volleyball, athletics, swimming, sailing, rowing, boxing and table tennis with many major honours and titles won in each branch.

The club has 309,026 paid members as of 16 September 2012. Ziya Songülen was elected the first President of the club, Ayetullah Bey became the first General Secretary, and Enver Necip Okaner was given the post of the General Captain. The lighthouse situated on the Fenerbahçe cape was a big influence on the design of the club's first crest, which sported the yellow and white colors of daffodils around the lighthouse. The kits were also designed with yellow and white stripes. The crest and the colors of the club were changed in 1910 when Hikmet Topuzer redesigned the badge and Ziya Songülen changed the colors to yellow and navy, from then on the iconic colors of the club. 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.

Fenerbahçe joined the Istanbul League in 1909, finishing fifth in their first year. The founding line-up included Ziya Songülen, Ayetullah Bey, Necip Okaner, Galip Kulaksizoglu, Hassan Sami Kocamemi, Asaf Bespinar, Enver Yetiker, Sevkati Hulusi Bey, Fuat Hüsnü Kayacan, Hamit Hüsnü Kayacan, and Nasuhi Baydar. Fenerbahçe played against the staff of the Royal Navy that occupied Istanbul during the Turkish War of Independence. Some British soldiers formed football teams that were named after the players' speciality, for example Essex Engineers, Irish Guards, Grenadiers, and Artillery. These teams played against each other and against local football teams in Istanbul. Fenerbahçe won many of these matches.

The Turkish Football Federation founded a professional national league in 1959, which continues today under the name of the Süper Lig. Fenerbahçe won the first tournament, beating Galatasaray 4–1 on aggregate. The next year, Fenerbahçe participated in the UEFA European Cup 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. They were also runners-up three times.

In the Balkans Cup 1966–67 (a competition set up for Eastern European 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, making them the first Turkish club to win a non-domestic competition. This success would remain unparalleled by a Turkish club until Sarıyer and Samsunspor won the cup many years later in the 1990s.

Later years

The 1970s saw Fenerbahçe win four more league titles. Fenerbahçe won three titles in the 1980s, while the rivals Galatasaray and Beşiktaş dominated the Turkish League during the 1990s, combining to win nine out of 10 league titles. Fenerbahçe's only Turkish League success during the 1990s came in the 1995–1996 season under Carlos Alberto Parreira. Fenerbahçe won the league title 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. Despite this, that season is memorable to many Fenerbahçe fans due to a 0-6 win against arch-rivals Galatasaray in Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on 6 November 2002. After firing Werner Lorant, they hired another German coach, Christoph Daum. Daum had previously coached in Turkey, winning the league with Beşiktaş 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 five league titles won by a club).

The next year was followed up by a narrow championship over Trabzonspor, winning the then record of sixteen Turkish First Football League championships. 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, and was replaced by Zico on 4 July 2006. Zico began his reign by signing two new defenders, highly touted Uruguayan international Diego Lugano, and fellow Brazilian Edu Dracena. Zico also signed two strikers, Serbian international Mateja Kežman, and another Brazilian, Deivid.

Fenerbahçe's 2006–07 domestic season started off with a 6–0 win over relegation candidates Kayseri Erciyesspor. In the 32nd week of the Süper Lig, Fenerbahçe drew Trabzonspor 2–2, while Beşiktaş lost to Bursaspor 0–3, putting the former out of contention for the title. Fenerbahçe won their seventeenth Süper Lig title in 2006–07, the most in Turkey.

2007–2016

On 11 January 2007, Fenerbahçe was officially invited to G-14. G-14 is an association which consists of top European clubs. Fenerbahçe is the only Turkish club that have been invited to this association. On March 2008, Fenerbahçe's record application's accepted by Guinness World Records Menagement Team, which envisages Fenerbahçe to have the highest number of medal and trophy achievements on the planet with its 9 branches entirely, total of 1134 cups and medals. In the UEFA Champions League 1996–97 season Fenerbahçe completed the group stage with seven points and, amongst others, beat Manchester United 1–0 in Old Trafford undoing the record of the English giants being unbeaten for 40 years in their homeground. Under Zico’s command, Fenerbahçe qualified from the UEFA Champions League 2007–08 group stage for the first time in the club's history and went on to beat Sevilla to become a quarter-finalist in the 2007–08 season. So far, Zico is also the most successful manager of the team's history in the European arena. After successful scores both in local league of Turkey and international matches, Zico gained a new nickname from Fenerbahçe fans: Kral Arthur (meaning "King Arthur" in Turkish). Since 2000, Fenerbahçe improved the club's finances and facilities, bringing world stars to the club such as Haim Revivo, Ariel Ortega, Serhiy Rebrov, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Alex de Souza, Stephen Appiah, Nicolas Anelka and lately Mateja Kežman, Roberto Carlos, and Dani Güiza. Fenerbahçe's 2009–10 season ended in shock as they lost the title on the last day. The Fenerbahçe players were told a draw would be enough towards the end of the match only to find out that other games went against their favour as Bursaspor beat Beşiktaş 2-1 to get the title. Despite the title loss, Fenerbahçe ended the season with the highest number of clean sheets (10), as well as the joint longest winning streak (8). In July 2011, Fenerbahçe fans invaded the pitch during a friendly against the Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk. As punishment, Fenerbahçe was sentenced to two Turkish league games in empty stadia. The TFF later allowed those two games to be filled with spectators; the men were barred while women and children under twelve were admitted for free. On 29 October 2012, Antalyaspor ends Fenerbahçe’s 47-match unbeaten run in the Süper Lig at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Kadıköy had to come to an end some day with score 1–3. Fenerbahçe had not lost a single match at home in Kadıköy ever since they were beaten 2–3 by eventual champion Bursaspor in week 22, on 22 February 2010. Fenerbahçe won 38 and drew nine in the 47 matches they played within 980 days since 22 February 2010. On 3 November 2012, Fenerbahçe peck Akhisar Belediyespor to break 181-day away jinx. On 2 May 2013, Fenerbahçe was eliminated by Benfica with aggregate score 3–2 in 2012–13 Europa League in semi-final, and this is the biggest success in Fenerbahçe's history to arrive into the Semi-final in European competitions. On 28 June 2013, Ersun Yanal has agreed to take charge of Fenerbahçe, replacing Aykut Kocaman who resigned at the end of May, the club said on Friday. Ersun Yanal's appointment coincides with tough times for Fenerbahçe, who have been banned from European competition for two seasons over their involvement in a domestic match-fixing scandal. Fenerbahçe, who finished second in the Süper Lig last season, will miss out on next season's Champions League which they had been due to enter in the third qualifying round.

In 2016 the club has once again entered Europe wide competition, as it is engaged in the UEFA Europa League competition.

Club crest and colours

Since the club's foundation, Fenerbahçe has used the same badge, which has only undergone minor alterations.

It was designed by Hikmet Topuzer, nicknamed Topuz Hikmet, who played as left winger, in 1910, and had made as lapel pins by Tevfik Haccar Taşçı (then Tevfik Haccar) in London. The crest 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 section symbolises other ones' envy and jealousy about Fenerbahçe, while the navy symbolises nobility. The oak leaf which rises from the navy and yellow section shows the force and the power of being a member of Fenerbahçe. The green colour of the leaf shows the success of Fenerbahçe is imperative. Hikmet Topuzer describes the story of the emblem as below:

Brotherhoods

Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium

Fenerbahçe's senior football team play their home games at the Ülker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi(simply known as Kadıköy or Mabet ("shrine" in Turkish) among supporters), in Kızıltoprak, Kadıköy, Istanbul. The stadium was opened in 1908 and most recently renovated between 1999 and 2006. Its seating capacity is 50,509. The stadium does not have a running track around the pitch, which is unusual for a typical Turkish stadium.

Ülker Sports Arena

The Ülker Sports Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Ataşehir, Istanbul, with a capacity of 13,800 seats. The arena completed and opened in January 2012 after over two years of construction. Fenerbahçe's senior men's basketball team play their home games at the Ülker Sports Arena.

Can Bartu Training Facilities

The Can Bartu Training Facilities is a training complex located in Samandıra, Sancaktepe, Istanbul. The construction for this training complex began in 1997 during former president Ali Şen’s presidency. The construction was completed in 2000. Fenerbahçe's senior football team use the facilities.

Lefter Küçükandonyadis Training Facilities

The Lefter Küçükandonyadis Training Facilities is a large complex located at Dereağzı, Kadıköy, Istanbul. Re-opened in 1989 and renovated in 1998. Fenerbahçe's A2, U18, U17, U16, U15 and U14 teams play their home games at the complex. Facilities also serve the basketball departments, volleyball departments, athletics department, the boxing department, the rowing department and the sailing department.

Topuk Yaylası Facilities

The Topuk Yaylası Facilities is a training complex near forest and a lake, located in the Topuk Plateau in Kaynaşlı, Düzce Province. The construction began in 2010 and completed in 2011. Fenerbahçe's all teams use the complex for their pre-season trainings.

Türk Telekom Ankara Facilities

The Türk Telekom Ankara Facilities is a complex located in İncek in the suburbs of Ankara in Ankara Province. The complex hosts Fenerbahçe's all teams that visit Ankara or a nearby locality for their games as well as other teams.

Faruk Ilgaz Social Facilities

The Faruk Ilgaz Social Facilities is a social complex with an indoor hall, a restaurant, a patisserie, olympic swimming pool, located next to the club’s headquarters. It was initially opened 15 May 1969 but rebuilt during the presidency of the current president Aziz Yıldırım as a modern complex and re-opened on 21 January 2004.

Headquarters

The club's headquarters were initially located on the Fenerbahçe Isle near to the stadium. But, in 2006, the headquarters moved into the stadium to gather all the sections under one roof.

Samim Göreç Basketball Hall

The Samim Göreç Basketball Hall is a basketball hall with a training facility, located in the Lefter Küçükandonyadis Training Facilities in Dereağzı. First opened in 1982 and refurbished on 24 February 2001. Fenerbahçe's men's basketball and women's basketball teams use the hall and the training facility for their trainings.

Muhtar Sencer Volleyball Hall

The Muhtar Sencer Volleyball Hall is a volleyball hall located in the Lefter Küçükandonyadis Training Facilities in Dereağzı. Fenerbahçe's men's volleyball and women's volleyball teams use the hall for their trainings.

Vefa Küçük Swimming Pool

The Vefa Küçük Swimming Pool is a semi-Olympic-sized swimming pool in the Fenerbahçe Isle. The pool was built by the former vice president Vefa Küçük and opened on 16 July 1999, and serves the swimming department.

Olympic-sized Swimming Pool

The Olympic-sized Swimming Pool is located in the Fenerbahçe Isle and opened in 2004. The pool serves the swimming department.

Fikirtepe Facilities

The Fikirtepe Facilities is located in Fikirtepe, Kadıköy. It opened on 1 July 1998 and serves youth football development.

Fenerbahçe Guesthouse

The Fenerbahçe Guesthouse is an inn with a capacity of 60 guests. The inn also hosts new transfers.

Todori Facility

The Todori Facility is a restaurant owned and operated by the club, located in Kalamış, Kadıköy.

Entertainment and Recreation Center

The Entertainment and Recreation Center is in the Faruk Ilgaz Social Facilities.

Swimming pool for the club members and their families

The swimming pool is located in the Lefter Küçükandonyadis Training Facilities and hosts the club members and their families.

Fenerbahçe Museum

Fenerbahçe Museum (Turkish: Fenerbahçe Müzesi) is devoted to the history of the club. Founded in 1908 by Ali Rıza Bey, the museum is housed in the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Many of the trophies won by the club are on a display there.There are 426 trophies on exhibition out of 3000 trophies won.

Club officials

Source: [1]