Fenerbahçe Istanbul

History

Established (1906)

The founder and first president of Fenerbahçe, Nurizade Ziya Songülen, was first introduced to football in England, where he went for higher education after graduating from Istanbul Saint-Joseph College in 1903, and was inspired by the football teams in this country, where the sport of football was born. When he returned to the country in 1906, the first thing he did was to establish a football team in his hometown, Istanbul in June 1906. He first contacted his friends in the Kadıköy district and then Enver Yetiker, the literature teacher at the school he graduated from, and conveyed his intention to establish a football team to them and made them an offer. Nurizade Ziya Bey, who received a positive response to his offer, initially only went to training with the first Fenerbahçe football team in history, the prototype of which was created in June 1906. Because the team could only be completed as an 11-person team in the spring of 1907, the official foundation date of the club. "We were from Moda. However, since there was already a club named Moda FC, we naturally couldn't name our team the same. While thinking about what the name of the club we were going to establish should be, we suddenly saw the Fenerbahçe Cape and its lighthouse through the window of our house. At that very moment, we jointly decided to name the club 'Fenerbahçe Football Club'. Our emblem became the 'light-emitting lighthouse''

Pre-Süper Lig (1907–1959)

Fenerbahçe were officially founded in 3 May 1907 in Kadıköy, Istanbul, by local men Ziya Songülen, Ayetullah Bey and Necip Okaner. This group 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 three men came together and concluded that Kadıköy was in desperate need of its own football club, where locals would get a chance to practise the game of football. 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 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. Founded by Ottoman Greeks, Strugglers F.C. played against Fenerbahçe in the final match of the tournament it organized in its name on 5 June 1910, and Fenerbahçe won the match 3–1, winning the first cup in its history. The crest of the club was changed in 1914 when Hikmet Topuzer redesigned the badge after Ziya Songülen had changed the colors to yellow and navy in the fall of 1908, 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.

The founding line-up included Ziya Songülen, Ayetullah Bey, Necip Okaner, Galip Kulaksızoğlu, Hassan Sami Kocamemi, Asaf Beşpınar, Enver Yetiker, Şevkati Hulusi Bey, Tevfik Taşçı, Hüseyin Dalaklı, Çerkes Sabri, Mazhar Bey and Nasuhi Baydar. Struggling with financial difficulties, Fenerbahçe joined the Istanbul Football League in 1908, finishing fifth in their first year. The first coach of the Fenerbahçe football team was Enver Yetiker, a Literature teacher at Kadıköy Lycée Saint-Joseph, who also helped in the establishment of the club. Fenerbahçe won the 1911–12 season of the Istanbul Football League without losing. This championship was the club's first success in their long history. In the 1913–14 and 1914–15 seasons, the team under the coaching of Galip Kulaksızoğlu won the Istanbul Football League. Fenerbahçe gained the sympathy of some members of the Ottoman Dynasty, especially the princes, after the successful results it achieved in the early years of its establishment. For example, General Osman Fuad, the grandson of Sultan Murad V, served as the honorary president of the club between 1911 and 1913, and Prince Ömer Faruk, the son of the last Ottoman Caliph, Abdulmecid II, became the president of Fenerbahçe until 1924, when the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate. Fenerbahçe finished the seasons 1920–21 and 1922–23 as champions in the Istanbul Friday League. Fenerbahçe completed the season with a score of 58–0 without losing or conceding goals in the season of 1922–23.

60s to 80s

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 archrivals Galatasaray 4–1 on aggregate. The next year, Fenerbahçe participated in the European Cup for the first time. They qualified through a 4–3 win over Csepel, being the first Turkish club to advance to the next round by eliminating its opponent. They lost their first-round match to Nice 1–5 in a playoff game after drawing on aggregate. Fenerbahçe reached the quarter-final of the 1963–64 European Cup Winners' Cup where it was eliminated by MTK Budapest.

Fenerbahçe won four more league titles in the 1960s and were runners-up three times, making it the most successful club of that era. Fenerbahçe was coached by Ignác Molnár at the time, a famous Hungarian coach who had introduced a new style of football in Turkey. Under his guidance, Fenerbahçe managed to eliminate English champions Manchester City in the first round of the 1968–69 European Cup.

In the 1966–67 Balkans Cup (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 final 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, when the competition lost much of its popularity.

The 1970s saw Fenerbahçe bring in the famous Didi as their new coach. Fenerbahçe won four more league titles, including a double with Cemil Turan being the top goal scorer three times. The 1970s also established a rivalry with Trabzonspor, where for almost a decade Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor were competing with each other for the title. The 1980s saw Fenerbahçe win three more league titles. Under the guidance of Kálmán Mészöly, Fenerbahçe managed to eliminate French champions Bordeaux in the first round of the 1985–86 European Cup. This victory marked a turning point as for almost a decade no Turkish club managed to get past the first round in European competitions.

90s to 2000s

Galatasaray and Beşiktaş dominated the Turkish League during the 1990s, combining to win nine out of ten titles. Fenerbahçe's only Turkish League success during the 1990s came in the 1995–96 season under the guidance of Carlos Alberto Parreira. In the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League season, Fenerbahçe completed the group stage with seven points and, among others, defeated Manchester United 1–0 at Old Trafford, undoing the record of the English giants being unbeaten for 40 years in their home ground.

Fenerbahçe won the league title in 2001, denying Galatasaray a fifth consecutive title. It followed up the next season with a second-place behind Galatasaray with new coach Werner Lorant. However, the next season did not go so well as Fenerbahçe finished in sixth place. Despite this, that season is memorable to many Fenerbahçe fans due to a 6–0 win against arch-rivals Galatasaray at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on 6 November 2002. After firing Werner Lorant, the club 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 Fábio Luciano as part of a rebuilding process. These new players led Fenerbahçe to its 15th title and third star (one being awarded for every five league titles won by a club).

The next year was followed by a narrow championship over Trabzonspor, winning a then record 16 Turkish 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 resigned 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 Zico's fellow Brazilian Edu Dracena. Zico also signed two strikers in Serbian international Mateja Kežman and another Brazilian, Deivid. Fenerbahçe's 2006–07 domestic season started 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 its 17th Süper Lig title in 2006–07.

On 11 January 2007, Fenerbahçe was officially invited to G-14, an association consisting of top European clubs.

2010s to present

In the 2009–10 season, Fenerbahçe lost the title on the last matchday; Fenerbahçe players were told that a draw would be enough towards the end of the match only to find out that the other critical game went against their favour, as Bursaspor beat Beşiktaş 2–1 to win the title. Despite the title loss, Fenerbahçe ended the season with the most 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 were sentenced to two Süper Lig games in an empty stadium. The TFF later allowed those two games to be filled with spectators; men were barred, while women and children under 12 were admitted for free.

On 29 October 2012, Antalyaspor ended Fenerbahçe's 47-match unbeaten run in the Süper Lig at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Fenerbahçe had not lost a match at home since their 2–3 defeat by eventual champions Bursaspor in week 22, on 22 February 2010. Fenerbahçe won 38 and drew 9 in the 47 matches they played within 980 days of that date. On 3 November 2012, Fenerbahçe pecked Akhisar Belediyespor to break a 181-day away jinx.

On 2 May 2013, Fenerbahçe were eliminated by Benfica 3–2 on aggregate in the semi-final of the 2012–13 Europa League, one of the biggest successes in Fenerbahçe's history in UEFA competitions. On 28 June 2013, Ersun Yanal agreed to take charge of Fenerbahçe to replace Aykut Kocaman, who resigned in late May.

Ersun Yanal's appointment coincided with tough times for Fenerbahçe, who had just been banned from European competitions for two seasons over their alleged involvement in a domestic sports corruption scandal. Fenerbahçe, which finished second in the Süper Lig in 2012–13, thus missed out on the 2013–14 Champions League, which it had been due to enter in the third qualifying round. Fenerbahçe finished the 2014–15 season as runners-up, forcing the board of directors to undertake some major changes.

For the 2015–16 season, Fenerbahçe brought in Vítor Pereira as their new coach. Portuguese star Nani, Danish defender Simon Kjær and Robin van Persie were added to the squad to fulfill the club's ambitions to be successful in the Süper Lig and European competitions. On 10 December 2015, Fenerbahçe played their 200th European game against Celtic.

Notable players

When it was first founded in 1907, Fenerbahçe had a large squad. The first team captain of the Fenerbahçe football team was Turkish Naval School student Necip Okaner, the club's 3rd founding member. The first goalkeeper of the team was Asaf Beşpınar, a student of Kadıköy Lycée Saint-Joseph. Galip Kulaksızoğlu, was the longest serving player of the original squad, spending 17 years at the club, retiring in 1924 after 216 matches. Zeki Rıza Sporel and Bekir Refet, the first Turkish footballer ever to play abroad, were among the first products of the Fenerbahçe youth system. During his 18-year career with the club, Zeki Rıza scored 470 goals in 352 matches, or 1.3 goals every match, making him the all-time top scorer of Fenerbahçe. Zeki Rıza was also capped for the Turkish national team 16 times, scoring 15 goals.

Cihat Arman became the first in a long-line of long-serving goalkeepers, playing 12 seasons and in 308 matches with the club. Lefter Küçükandonyadis was one of the first Turkish football players to play in Europe. Lefter spent two seasons in Europe, playing for Fiorentina and Nice before returning to Fenerbahçe. All in all, Lefter scored 423 goals in 615 matches for the club, helping them to two Istanbul Football League titles and three Turkish League titles.

Another notable player, Can Bartu, became the next big Turkish export to Europe. He was also the first Turkish football player to play in a European competition final, doing so with Fiorentina against Atlético Madrid in 1962. Can also spent some seasons playing for Venezia and Lazio before returning to Fenerbahçe in 1967. He was a four-time league champion with Fenerbahçe and scored 162 goals in 330 matches. Some of the other most notable Turkish players who played for Fenerbahçe include Fikret Arıcan, Fikret Kırcan, Halit Deringör, Melih Kotanca, Burhan Sargun, Nedim Doğan, Cemil Turan, Selçuk Yula, Müjdat Yetkiner, Oğuz Çetin, Rıdvan Dilmen, Aykut Kocaman, Rüştü Reçber and Tuncay Şanlı.

In recent decades, Fenerbahçe have gained an influx of foreigners who have helped the club to 19 Süper Lig titles. Among these is 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. More recently, Fenerbahçe have been the home to Brazilian-born Mehmet Aurélio who, in 2006, became the first naturalized Turkish citizen to play for the Turkish national team.

Milestone goals

As of 21 January 2026.

Support

Fenerbahçe has built a massive fanbase since its establishment in 1907, ranking among the most widely supported clubs in Turkey. Approximately 35% of Turkish football fans back Fenerbahçe, making it the most popular club in Istanbul and Ankara. Their influence extends beyond Turkey, with passionate supporters in Northern Cyprus, Azerbaijan, and various Turkish diaspora communities. Thanks to the redevelopment of the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, the club consistently boasts some of the highest attendance figures in Turkish football.

The club's supporters are organized into various groups, including Genç Fenerbahçeliler (GFB), Kill For You (KFY), Antu/Fenerlist, EuroFeb (a group for fans in Europe), Group CK (Cefakâr Kanaryalar), 1907 ÜNİFEB, Vamos Bien, and SUADFEB. Beyond official fan organizations, numerous fanzines, blogs, podcasts, and forums are dedicated to covering Fenerbahçe.

Bonds with Other Clubs

Fenerbahçe's fanbase has formed friendships with other clubs' supporters over the years. In November 2011, Genç Fenerbahçeliler developed a close relationship with Torcida Sandžak, the organized supporters of Serbian club Novi Pazar. During a Süper Lig match against İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor, Fenerbahçe fans unveiled a banner that read Kalbimiz Seninle Novi Pazar ("Novi Pazar, Our Hearts Are With You"). Later, in a SuperLiga match against Radnički Kragujevac, Torcida Sandžak reciprocated the gesture with a banner stating Sancak'ta atıyor, Fenerbahçe'nin kalbi ("The heart of Fenerbahçe beats in Sandžak"). This friendship continued on 2 March 2012, when Genç Fenerbahçeliler and 1907 Gençlik members were invited to Novi Pazar for a match against Partizan. The 17 traveling Fenerbahçe supporters received a warm welcome from thousands of Torcida Sandžak members, solidifying the bond between the two groups.

Rivalries

The Intercontinental Derby

The Intercontinental Derby is the fierce football rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, the two most successful and popular clubs in Turkey. The name comes from the fact that Galatasaray is based on the European side of Istanbul, while Fenerbahçe is based on the Asian side, making it an intercontinental rivalry. This derby is one of the most intense in world football, with both clubs having passionate fan bases.

The rivalry dates back to 1909, and over the years, it has been marked by on-field clashes, controversial moments, and incredible atmospheres. Matches between the two are always high-stakes, often deciding league titles or cup victories. Fenerbahçe has traditionally been dominant in head-to-head records, especially in matches played at their home stadium, the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, while Galatasaray has enjoyed international success, winning the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2000. The rivalry is deeply rooted in Turkish football culture, with fans eagerly anticipating each encounter.

One of the most unforgettable matches in derby history was played on 6 November 2002, when Fenerbahçe defeated Galatasaray 6–0 in a historic Süper Lig encounter. The match, played at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, remains Fenerbahçe's biggest victory over their arch-rivals. This result became one of the most talked-about moments in Turkish football history, particularly among Fenerbahçe fans.

However, nearly two decades later, Galatasaray had their own historic victory. On 23 February 2020, during the 2019–20 Süper Lig season, Galatasaray defeated Fenerbahçe 3–1 at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, marking their first away victory in the derby in 20 years. This match was a monumental moment for Galatasaray fans, as they had not won at Fenerbahçe's home since 1999.

Beşiktaş–Fenerbahçe Rivalry

The Beşiktaş–Fenerbahçe rivalry is another major Istanbul derby, contested between Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe. While not as internationally famous as the Intercontinental Derby, this rivalry is just as intense within Turkey. Both clubs have large and loyal followings, with Beşiktaş fans known for their organized chants and intense stadium atmosphere. The matches between these two teams have historically been highly competitive, often featuring dramatic goals, red cards, and heated moments.

One of the key aspects of this rivalry is the contrast in club identity—Beşiktaş is often associated with a more working-class, rebellious spirit, while Fenerbahçe is seen as a wealthier and more powerful institution. Both clubs have multiple league titles and have had periods of dominance in Turkish football. The matches between these two teams are always filled with passion, pride, and sometimes even controversy, making them one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures in the Süper Lig.

Stadium

Fenerbahçe play their home matches at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, their own traditional home ground in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul, since 1908. Most recently renovated between 1999 and 2006, its capacity is 47,911. The club's museum has been situated in the stadium since 2005, after having been housed at a variety of locations. Before Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium was built, the field was known as Papazın Çayırı ("The field of the priest"). The field, however, became the first football pitch of Turkey, where the first league games of the Istanbul Football League were all held successively. In 1908, local teams of the league needed a regular football field, so this land was leased from the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II for 30 Ottoman gold pounds a year. The total construction cost was 3,000 Ottoman gold pounds. The name was changed to the Union Club Field after the club which made the highest donation for the construction.

The Union Club Field was used by many teams in İstanbul, including the owner, Union Club (which changed its name to İttihatspor after World War I), Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş. However, it had lost its importance when a bigger venue, the Taksim Stadium, was built in 1922, inside the courtyard of the historic Taksim Topçu Kışlası (Taksim Artillery Barracks), which was located at the present-day Taksim Gezi Parkı (Taksim Park). İttihatspor (which had close relations with the political Committee of Union and Progress), was forced to sell it to the state, in which Şükrü Saracoğlu was a member of the CHP government. Thus, the ownership of the stadium passed to the state, but the field was immediately leased to Fenerbahçe.

Later, on 27 May 1933, Fenerbahçe purchased the stadium from the government when Şükrü Saracoğlu was the president of Fenerbahçe, for either the symbolic amount of 1 TL or the worth of the stadium which was 9,000 TL. The name of the field was changed to Fenerbahçe Stadium, and this made Fenerbahçe the first football club in Turkey to own their stadium, with the help of the government. In the following years, Fenerbahçe renovated the stadium and increased its seating capacity. By 1949, Fenerbahçe Stadium was the largest football venue in Turkey, with a seating capacity of 25,000. The name of the stadium was changed once more in 1998, becoming Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, named after Fenerbahçe's president and Turkey's fifth Prime Minister, Şükrü Saracoğlu. In 1999, the latest round of renovations and capacity increasing projects started. The tribunes on the four sides of the stadium were torn down one at a time, as the Turkish Super League seasons progressed, and the entire renewal and construction project was finalised in 2006, with the efforts of Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yıldırım and the team's board of directors.

Identity

Crest, kits and colours

Fenerbahçe's first coat of arms was the famous Fenerbahçe Lighthouse, which gave its name to the Fenerbahçe area in Istanbul's Kadıköy district and was built by Emperor Suleiman the Magnificent in 1562, but the club, which was restructured in 1911, revised its identity and updated its crest of club in 1914 year. It was designed by Hikmet Topuzer, nicknamed Topuz Hikmet, who played as a right winger, in 1914 and had made as lapel pins by Tevfik Haccar Taşçı 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 that the success of Fenerbahçe is imperative.

Since Fenerbahçe was founded in the spring, the club's colors were chosen as yellow and white, inspired by the yellow and white daisies blooming in the meadows of the Fenerbahçe district. The founding-president of the club, Nurizade Ziya Bey, designed Fenerbahçe's first jerseys; he purchased sports products from the store of the famous merchant of the time, Frank Sugg, located on Lord Street in Liverpool, England, where he spent his education between 1903 and 1906 and was introduced to the sport of football during these periods. Fenerbahçe's first jerseys that came from England were made of flannel fabric, long-sleeved and winter. The jerseys were causing problems for the players as the weather got hotter in the following days. For this reason, the club's president, Nurizade Ziya Bey, went to the shop of the British merchant Baker in the Tünel district of Beyoğlu in 1908 to order summer jerseys for the team. Baker said that the jerseys to be ordered will not be available in time for the summer. Thereupon, he offered to give the yellow-navy blue striped summer shirts he had on hand. Nurizade Ziya Bey, who accepted the offer due to the lack of places where other sports products were sold in Istanbul and the summer heat, bought all the jerseys and decided that the team's colors would be yellow-navy blue And with this decision taken in 1908, Fenerbahçe's future colors were determined.

The club badge for the 2023–24 season contains five stars to represent 28 championships as an act of protest against the TFF's lack of recognition of the club's pre-1959 titles. However, the Federation has not allowed Fenerbahçe to display the badge in league matches.

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

1 European Shirt sponsor

Dispute

Pre–1959 (league) championships dispute

Before the Süper Lig was founded in 1959, there were other national championship competitions in Turkey, such as the Turkish Football Championship (1924–1951) and the Turkish National Division (1937–1950). These were the highest-ranking national championships of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) at the time, and Fenerbahçe believes that its domestic championship titles from these official TFF championship competitions should be officially recognised and counted towards the awarding of championship stars (28 championship titles) and also for the championships history bonus from the Süper Lig broadcasting rights.

In the spring of 2002, Beşiktaş's two cup victories (1956–57, 1957–58) in the 'Turkish Federation Cup' prior to 1959, following a request by Beşiktaş, the TFF Arbitration Committee (TFF Tahkim Kurulu) – without a championship commission – ruled that these two past cup victories should be retrospectively recognised as Turkish top-flight league championship titles and equated with the Süper Lig championship titles (double standards), meaning they are also counted towards the awarding of championship stars and the championships history bonus from the Süper Lig broadcasting rights.

According to historians' analyses between 2021 and 2023 of the 2002 TFF Arbitration Board decision, which stated that the Turkish League Championships began before 1959 and the championships before 1959 cannot be left uncounted.

Fenerbahçe's domestic championship successes are listed as follows in the Turkish Football Federation's online magazine: three times Türkiye Futbol Birinciliği (1924–1951), six times Millî Küme (1937–1950) and 19 times Türkiye Ligi (1959–...). In effect, Fenerbahçe has won 28 national championship titles in its club history since the TFF was founded, of which only 19 league championship titles are counted by the TFF for the awarding of the championship star and for the championships history bonus from the Süper Lig broadcasting rights.

In March 2021, Fenerbahçe officially applied to the TFF for recognition of its nine national championship titles prior to 1959 as 'National League Championships', that these possess the same legitimacy as Süper Lig titles, and to have the 28 national championship titles officially registered for the awarding of the championship star and to receive a higher championships history bonus from the Süper Lig broadcasting rights; similar to Beşiktaş.

Five-Star Dispute

As part of this effort, Fenerbahçe has announced its decision to add five stars above its club emblem, symbolizing what it considers 28 national championships. According to the TFF’s official star system, clubs receive one star for every five Süper Lig titles, meaning Fenerbahçe currently has three stars for its 19 officially recognized league wins. However, if its pre–1959 championships were recognized, Fenerbahçe would qualify for five stars.

Despite TFF not approving this claim, Fenerbahçe has unilaterally decided to use the five-star emblem on its jerseys, branding, and club identity. The club made this announcement after a meeting of its High Council Board, stating that it will not wait for TFF’s approval and will proceed with its own recognition of historical achievements. This move has sparked intense debate within Turkish football, as it challenges the federation's star system and could set a precedent for other clubs seeking recognition for their pre-1959 titles. This dispute continues to be a major topic in Turkish football, with potential legal and historical implications that could reshape the country's championship records.

Fenerbahçe to Play Without Stars on Jersey

Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç announced during the Ordinary High Council Board Meeting that the club will temporarily remove the stars from its jerseys for upcoming matches. This decision was taken after the Turkish Football Federation attempted to set up a championship committee to review the recognition of championships from before 1959.

Koç stated that Fenerbahçe respects the process and will wait for the commission's findings. Until a final ruling is made, the club will play without any stars on its jerseys.

Honours

Domestic competitions

Turkish football championships: 28 titles (all-time record)

Süper Lig (since 1959)

Winners (19): 1959, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1995–96, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2013–14

Runners-up (27): 1959–60, 1961–62, 1966–67, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26

Turkish National Division (1937–1950)

Winners (6) (record): 1937, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1950

Runners-up (2): 1944, 1947

Turkish Football Championship (1924–1951)

Winners (3) (shared-record): 1933, 1935, 1944

Runners-up (2): 1940, 1947

National cups (27)

Turkish Cup

Winners (7): 1967–68, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1982–83, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2022–23

Runners-up (11): 1962–63, 1964–65, 1988–89, 1995–96, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2015–16, 2017–18

Turkish Super Cup

Winners (10): 1968, 1973, 1975, 1984, 1985, 1990, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2025

Runners-up (10): 1970, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1989, 1996, 2012, 2013, 2023

Regional competitions

Istanbul Football League

Winners (16) (record): 1911–12, 1913–14, 1914–15, 1920–21, 1922–23, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1958–59

Runners-up (18): 1915–16, 1917–18, 1921–22, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1945–46, 1949–50, 1955–56, 1957–58

Istanbul Football Cup

Winners (1): 1944–45

Runners-up (2): 1941–42, 1943–44

Istanbul Shield

Winners (4) (record): 1929–30, 1933–34, 1937–38, 1938–39

Runners-up (1): 1932–33

International competitions

Balkans Cup

Winners (1): 1966–67

Records and statistics

Fenerbahçe set a world record in the 1922–23 season by winning the championship without conceding a single goal. In 1959, they became the first champion of the Turkish First Football League, which was organized for the first time that year. Fenerbahçe also holds an international milestone, winning the Balkans Cup in 1968. In the 1969–70 season, Fenerbahçe conceded only 6 goals, a record for the fewest goals conceded in a single season, which still stands today. In the 1988–89 season, Fenerbahçe scored 103 goals in 36 matches, achieving an average of 2.86 goals per game, the highest goal average in a single season.

Müjdat Yetkiner, who played for Fenerbahçe between 1975 and 1980, holds the record for the most appearances for the club, with 570 matches. Zeki Rıza Sporel, who played between 1915 and 1934, scored 470 goals in 353 matches, making him the all-time top scorer for Fenerbahçe. In the history of the Turkish First Football League, Aykut Kocaman holds the record for the most goals scored in the league while wearing a Fenerbahçe jersey, netting 140 goals in 212 matches. In the 1992–93 season, during Fenerbahçe's 7–1 victory over Karşıyaka, Tanju Çolak set the record for the most goals scored in a single match in the Turkish First Football League by scoring six goals.

Fenerbahçe has a storied history in European football, achieving several significant milestones. In the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, they reached the quarter-finals for the first time, becoming the second Turkish club after Galatasaray to do so. In the quarter-final stage, Fenerbahçe faced Chelsea. In the first leg at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul, Fenerbahçe secured a 2–1 victory. However, in the return leg at Stamford Bridge in London, Chelsea won 2–0, resulting in a 3–2 aggregate loss for Fenerbahçe, ending their historic run in the competition. In the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League, Fenerbahçe advanced to the semi-finals, marking their deepest run in European competitions to date. They faced Benfica in the semi-final. In the first leg in Istanbul, Fenerbahçe won 1–0. However, in the second leg at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Benfica triumphed 3–1, leading to a 3–2 aggregate defeat for Fenerbahçe, thus halting their progress to the final. In the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League, Fenerbahçe reached the quarter-finals. They faced Olympiacos in the quarter-final stage. In the first leg in Piraeus, Olympiacos secured a 3–2 victory. In the return leg in Istanbul, Fenerbahçe won 1–0, leveling the aggregate score at 3–3. The match proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Fenerbahçe was eliminated after a 4–2 loss in penalties. These European campaigns have solidified Fenerbahçe's reputation as a competitive force in international football, showcasing their ability to contend with some of Europe's elite clubs.

Players

Current squad

As of 4 September 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Academy players in senior squad

The following players have previously made appearances or have appeared on the substitutes bench for the first team.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Unregistered players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Retired number(s)

Number 12 is reserved for the fans (often referred to as the 12th man)

Club officials

Board members

Source:

Technical staff

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Notable Managers

Fenerbahçe managers to have won major honours. Trophies in italics are regional competitions that were held before the establishment of national leagues and cups.