History

Fenerbahçe was founded nearly a century ago in the province of Kadiköy in Istanbul. The founders were Mr. Nurizade 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, Abdulhamit the 2nd, 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. The place of foundation was at Beşbıyık Street in Moda, in the bottom floor of house number 3.

After the first meeting of the founders however, Nurizade Ziya Songülen is elected the first President, whilst Mr. Ayetullah is the General Secretary and Mr Necip Okaner assumes General Captaincy. The first emblem of the club is the Lighthouse which is situated on Fenerbahçe cape whilst the first colours of the club are the colours of the daffodils, white and yellow, scattered around the Fenerbahçe peninsula. The emblem and colours were to be changed in 1910 when the badge was redesigned by Topuz Hikmet and the colours were changed as Yellow and Navy.

Until a change of legislation in 1908, Fenerbahçe’s activities are run under strict secrecy. After this date however, the new law requires that clubs must register in order to exist legally. From that day on, the club was to take its place amongst the top of the Turkish club’s and achieve much success.

Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü first football team included Asaf, Ziya Hasan, Sami, Ayetullah, Mazhar, Necip Fethi, Galip, Huseyin, Hasan and Nevzat. This team joined the Istanbul League in 1909 but achieved nothing in its first three seasons. In the 1912-1913 season a team with Ali Said, Galip, Arif, Izzi, Huseyin, Sabri, Hikmet, Said, Hasan Kamil, Nuri and Mico win the first championship of the club. Apart from being the first championship it had more significance as it was won without a single defeat throughout the season.