Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

Metin Oktay, the 'Uncrowned King' of Turkish football, remembered

by Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL Sep 13, 2020 - 1:08 pm GMT+3
People holding Turkish and Galatasaray flags pray at Oktay's grave, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 13, 2020. (AA Photo)
People holding Turkish and Galatasaray flags pray at Oktay's grave, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 13, 2020. (AA Photo)
by Anadolu Agency Sep 13, 2020 1:08 pm
RECOMMENDED
Borussia Dortmund's Sebastien Haller controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Sport-Club Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany, Feb. 4, 2023. (Getty Images Photo)

Dortmund's Haller nets 1st Bundesliga goal on return, Union atop

BUNDESLIGA

Turkish football legend Metin Oktay, also known as the "Uncrowned King," was commemorated Sunday on the anniversary of his tragic death.

Oktay left his mark on the Istanbul-based side Galatasaray's history with his unbound talent on the pitch. Over the course of his career, Oktay became the top scorer six times in the Turkish league.

He was born Feb. 2, 1936, in the Aegean province of Izmir and his professional football career began with Izmirspor, where he played from 1954 to 1955.

In 1955, the 19-year-old moved to play for Turkish giants, Galatasaray, on a five-year contract – in exchange for a car.

He scored 11 goals in the league when it was first organized in 1959, and scored 33 and 36 goals, respectively, in the Lions' 1960 and 1961 campaigns. The legendary forward was again the top scorer in 1963 and 1965, producing 38 goals each.

Meanwhile, Oktay scored 38 goals in 1963, the most goals in a season. Another Galatasaray legend, Tanju Çolak, broke the record in the 1987-1988 season when he scored 39 goals.

Oktay also became the top scorer in 1969 with 17 goals when the Lions clinched the league title. He is one of the best finishers in the Turkish league's history with a total of 217 goals.

In addition to club performance, Oktay made 40 appearances for the Turkish national team, netting seven goals.

Italian side Palermo transferred him in 1961 after a successful tenure with the Lions. When playing for Palermo he scored three goals over 12 appearances. Oktay, who returned to Turkey in 1962, spent seven years with Galatasaray before retiring in 1969. He was also a crucial player for derby games against Istanbul rivals Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş.

During a derby against Fenerbahçe in the Turkish league final in 1959, Oktay hit the ball so hard it ripped the net. The Yellow-Canaries let in 18 of his goals, while he scored 13 against another city-rival, Beşiktaş.

He was named the "Uncrowned King," (or "Taçsız Kral") after helping the Lions claim five league titles, four Turkish Cup trophies, and two Presidency Cups.

The legendary player's career spanned from 1954 and 1969, netting a total of 314 goals in 354 matches.

Following his retirement, Oktay was appointed assistant coach and head coach of Galatasaray and also managed Bursaspor for several years.

He died in a car accident in Istanbul on Sept. 13, 1991, at the age of 55.

RECOMMENDED
Borussia Dortmund's Sebastien Haller controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Sport-Club Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany, Feb. 4, 2023. (Getty Images Photo)

Dortmund's Haller nets 1st Bundesliga goal on return, Union atop

BUNDESLIGA
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Sep 13, 2020 3:10 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    metİn oktay galatasaray palermo turkey
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    A Turkish Airlines aircraft is seen as a snow plow cleans runway at Istanbul Airport, Istanbul, Türkiye, Jan. 24, 2022. (DHA Photo)

    Over 200 flights cancelled in Istanbul due to expected snowstorm

    snowstorm
    A shepherd's dog scratches itself in a rural area, Istanbul, Türkiye, Feb. 5, 2023. (Shutterstock Photo)

    Existence of wolves close to Istanbul seen as great blessing

    wild-animals

    Erdoğan slams opposition for making 'already done' promises

    turkish-elections

    76 dead 440 injuries after magnitude 7.4 quake rocks southeastern Türkiye

    EARTHQUAKE
    No Image
    High demand for baklava amid holy fasting month of Ramadan
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021