ALWAYS HONOURED,
NEVER FORGOTTEN

Gündüz Kılıç

Strong, big, well-educated, sophisticated, charismatic, charming and hungry for success. Never flashy, yet never boring.
The Gündüz Kılıç Revolution started early one morning at Galatasaray in 1952, when the captain of the team hung his
uniform in his locker and put on his coaching uniform and whistle, without looking back. Once the captain of the Galatasaray team, Gündüz Kılıç coached his former teammates and the bright young talents he added to the team, to several championships after eighteen long years ofpain and sorrow without a championship between 1934-1952. Every Galatasaray player, student or supporter had found an exemplary man in Gündüz Kılıç: a man that performs so well, a man that motivates so well, a man that educates so well, a man that brings out the very best in every single person he ever works with. A true gentleman on and off the field, Gündüz Kılıç has helped Galatasaray gain the momentum that carried
the team and the Galatasaray society as a whole, to bright new targets. Under his leadership, Galatasaray won numerous
championships, Turkish Cup titles and international matches.
His visionary coaching style and strong communication skills were to be the backbone of Turkish coaching for many
years to come.

 

Metin Oktay

Metin Oktay joined Galatasaray in 1956 at the age of twenty. His charismatic personality, combined with his enormous
talent to score from every angle, made him a fan favourite in his first few games. Aside from a short spell in Italy with Palermo, he has always been with Galatasaray. During his career at Galatasaray, Metin Oktay helped the team to raise its fan potential and stadium revenues. The football legend broke every record in Turkish Football history: Most goals by a player (632), most goals in consecutive seasons by a player (11), most goals by a player in a season (38), most goals in international competition by a Turkish player (19).
Better known as “the King” by fans, he was best known for his goal against archrivals Fenerbahçe that broke the net for the gamewinner. His talent to score, matched with his physical presence on the field, made him one of the premier forwards of his time. A giant version of his Number 10 jersey is present in every Galatasaray home game.

 

Turgay Şeren

After the 2-1 triumph of the Turkish National Team in Berlin on June 13th, 1951, against a German side that was considered by many authorities the best team of its time, the German Kicker Magazine had Turgay Şeren, the goalkeeper of the Turkish National Team, on the cover with a headline reading, “How on Earth could someone jump so high?” His heroics in that game gave him the nickname “the Panther of Berlin.” He was only eighteen at the time.
The legendary goalkeeper of Galatasaray and the National Team for almost 30 years, Turgay Şeren joined the team as a young student at the Galatasaray Lycee in 1950.
His superb reflexes and unusual moves in goal made him one of the best goalkeepers of his time. Even Fritz Walter, the legendary captain of the German National Team, had mentioned Turgay Şeren in his memoirs as one of the ten best players he had ever played against. Still a favourite among Galatasaray fans, his leadership qualities and God-given talents, made him an essential part of Turkish and Galatasaray Football history.

 
Coşkun Özarı

Born in 1931, Coskun Özarı joined Galatasaray as a young student at the age of 9. After graduating from Galatasaray Lycee, he found himself on the starting line-up of Galatasarayat the age of 17. The backbone of the Galatasaray, as well as the National Team defense for the next 13 years, Özarı was known for his hard tackling, but soft manners.
His leadership on defence led the team with Gündüz Kılıç as coach, Turgay Şeren at the goal and Metin Oktay upfront, to several championships and Turkish Cup victories.
Özarı’s career as player ended early due to his passion to become a coach. In 1961, he attended a Coaching Seminar in England, led by legendary coach Winterbottom. When he returned home, he was Galatasaray’s assistant coach. And just three years later, he took over from his coach, Gündüz Kılıç. Coşkun Özarı led the team to four championships. When he was appointed National Team coach, in 1965, his reign at the National level lasted 10 years. He ended his coaching career in 1986 and became a sportswriter. Today, he is still active covering the National team and Galatasaray.

 
Fatih Terim

Picture a young, charismatic, passionate man, playing his heart out for a team he so dearly loves and appreciates. This young man is like no other: He’s got the skills, the charm, the looks, and a temper that reflects his strong Southern
character. Fatih Terim, born and raised in the Southern city of Adana, is the one man that every Galatasaray
player, every Galatasaray supporter, every rival and every football enthusiast across the world associates with the red and yellow of the club that made him famous and that he carried to the top of Turkish and European football.
Fatih Terim joined Galatasaray in 1972 from his native Adana team, after a hard fought battle that his team won against a strong Galatasaray side. His captaincy throughout his playing career at Galatasaray had already made him the favourite Galatasaray player of all time. Fatih Terim, never winning the championship as a player, redeemed himself with four consecutive championships between 1996-2000, a Turkish football record, and added to his already unmistakably legendary status. “The Emperor,” as fans like to call him, coached Galatasaray to its first ever European championship in 2000, with an undefeated record in European Cup competition. After two seasons in Italy with Fiorentina
and A.C. Milan, Terim joined Galatasaray once again, much to the joy and support of the fans. Known for his aggresive coaching style and charismatic personality, Fatih Terim is the quintessential footballing legend of Turkey.
Fatih Terim is currently the Technical Director of Turkish National Team.

 

Gheorghe Hagi

When Gheorghe Hagi joined Galatasaray in 1996, there were many questions in the minds of football authorities, as well as fans. After a glamorous start to his career in his native Romania with Steaua Bucharest, Hagi joined Spanish giants Real Madrid for a record transfer fee. While with Barcelona, or Brescia in Italy, he was never able to find the well-known form he had displayed while playing for the Bucharest team.
Despite the critics, Hagi made a quick impact at Galatasaray, scoring the game-winning goals in his first three matches. Desperately seeking an idol player after the likes of Metin Oktay, Turgay Şeren or Fatih Terim, the fans embraced Hagi with open arms.
Soon the Ali Sami Yen, as well as stadiums all around were echoing with “I love you Hagi” songs and slogans. Many have
described him as “the best foreign player ever to play in Turkey.” His breathtaking freekicks, the delicate body moves, the
deadly left foot, his strong temperament and personality, are still in the hearts and minds of Galatasaray supporters worldwide.
Today, his Number 10 jersey is one of the two jerseys -the other one belonging to Metin Oktay- hanging on the walls of Galatasaray’s Museum. In the 2004-2005 league season Hagi coached Galatasaray team as the Technical Director.