GENERAL INFORMATION

Name: Galatasaray Spor Kulübü.
Colours: Red/Yellow.
Arena: Ali Sami Yen Stadi/ISTANBUL/TURKIYE (capacity: 18.308).
Address: Hasnun Galip sokak N° : 7-9-11, Beyoglu 80070 Istanbul - Turkiye.
Internet: www.galatasaray.org.tr.
E-mail: galatasaray@galatasaray.org.tr.
Telephone: +90.212.251 57 07, Fax: +90.212. 251 12 12.


Initial version of the emblem.
The football section was founded 1905 at Galatasaray Lycee by Ali Sami Yen, Asim Tevfik, Emin Bulent Serdaroglu, Celal Nihat, Cevdet Kaplakcioglu and Abidin Daver. The emblem was designed by Galatasaray student Ayetullah Emin (1923). Other sections are Basketball, Waterpolo, Volleyball, Swimming, Yachting, Horse riding. Club assets are wast, including an island on Bosphorus, training ground in Florya, Kalamis resorts center...

According to many sources, the red and yellow colors originates from a florist called 'Gul Baba', who used to give red and yellow roses to the Sultan. His building was located on exact spot where the current Galatasaray Beyoglu building is today...

Did you know...

With the lifting of the law prohibiting all organizational activities in 1908, Istanbul and the rest of the country witnessed the establishment of the first Turkish Sports Club, Galatasaray.

Did you also know that...


Galatasaray was the first club in Turkiye to implement their team color scheme on their pennant.
Galatasaray started the tradition of greeting their fans with "Sa, Sa, Sa."
Galatasaray was the first club to open the track and field division (1908).
The first Waterball League Championship belongs to Galatasaray (1931).
The first indoor Handball League Championship title belongs to Galatasaray (1956).
The first private car owner in Turkiye was Celal Esad Arseven of Galatasaray.
Galatasaray was the first school (lycee) to build a gymnasium on the campus grounds (1869).
The first Turk to swim across the English channel was Murad Guler, a member of the Galatasaray Club.
The first tennis court built in Turkiye was at Galatasaray (1909).
Galatasaray Club started gliding as a sport in Turkiye (1931).
Ibrahim Orhan, who was an airforce volunteer and a member of Galatasaray, was among the first to open fire from an airplane and shoot down an enemy plane in World War I (1915).
Ali Sami Yen, the founder of Galatasaray Sports Club, was also the first League President of "Turkiye Futbol Birligi (1911).
Galatasaray was the first team to form a rugby team and demonstrated the game's fundamentals to the general public in Turkiye (1919).
The first Turk to sail around the world was Sadun Boro, a member of Galatasaray Club.

We are the Champs
Music & Lyrics: R. Thomas

When it comes to football which team is simply the best.
It's Galatasaray and then there is the rest.
Every year they're better than the year they went before.
And now the boys from Istanbul are really gonna score.

When you play in Istanbul the only sport you'll get.
Is picking up the football from deep inside your net.
Watch out everybody, we're gonna win the cup.
'Cause here at Galatasaray the only way is up.

Stadyum:Monaco II. Louis
UEFA Süper Kupa Finali
Galatasaray Real Madrid
Skor: 2-1
Tarih:25.08.2000


1999 - 2000 sezonunda finalde Arsenal'i yenerek UEFA Kupası'nı müzesine götürmeyi başaran ilk Türk takımı olan Galatasaray, aynı sezon Şampiyonlar Ligi Şampiyonu Real Madrid'i 2-1'lik skorla devirerek Süper Kupa'yı da kazandı ve Türk futbolunda yeni bir sayfa açtı. Galatasaray'ı Avrupa'nın bir numarasına taşıyan golleri 41 ve uzatmanın 103. dakikasında Mario Jardel keydederken, İspanyol devinin tek golü 79. dakikada Raul'den geldi

Initial version of the emblem.

Establisment of Galatasaray Sports Club

On October 1, 1905, in a classroom of a noble Istanbul high school, events were taking place which eventually changed Turkish sports forever.

The seed for the foundation of the Galatasaray Sports Club was planted inside the Galatasaray-I Sultanisi High School by its own pupils. In addition to Ali Sami, who was the driving force behind the clubs foundation, Asim Tevfik, Emin Bulent, Bekir Sitki, Resat Sirvani, Celal Ibrahim, Tahsin Nihat, Abidin Daver and Refik Cevdet were involved in the decision to organize such a club.

The Club was first known as the Galatasaray Terbiye-i Bedeniye Club.

According to Ali Sami, their aim was "To play as a team like the English, to have a name associated with distinct colors and to beat all other non-Turkish teams".

At first there were numerous suggestions for the clubs name including Gloria (Glory) and Audace (Courage). However, the founders decided to name the club Galatasaray.

Cem Atabeyoglu, who has done extensive research on this topic, claims that the name Galatasaray originated from the teams first game against the Romanians when the team won by the score of 2 to 0. It is widely believed that the fans who watched the game referred to the team and its members as the Gentleman of Galata Saray (The Gentleman of the Palace of Galata). Mr. Atabeyoglu states that the founders liked the name and adopted it as their own.

It is important to note that Galatasaray High School, where the red and yellow team emerged, continues to serve an important role in Turkish education to this day. The institution has long been associated with excellence in education and one of highest standards of civic pride in Turkiye.

In the Clubs 50th Anniversary Yearbook, Ali Sami Yen the founder of Galatasaray, is quoted as saying:

"On November 1, 1905, I was in the fifth grade. While attending Mr. Mehmet Atabey's literature class, a couple of my friends and I decided that we should form a school soccer team. The small number of rookies who signed up for the team soon showed that their hearts were full of passion for the game. Backed with their competitive spirit, Tevfik Sonumut, Resat Sirvani, Cevdet Kalpakcioglu, Abidin Daver, and Kamil made fierce competitors.

Many Bulgarian and Serbian students who were skillful and physically strong also joined the team.

As the President of the club, I appointed Asim as Treasurer and Cevdet as Vice President. The reason why I named Asim Treasurer was because he used to collect one kurus from each friend every week for the upcoming game. It made sense to have him continue to collect funds. The reason I became President was because I was the one responsible for maintaining the soccer ball. On the way to school, I used to pass by the street where pig products were sold and I used to buy lard to lubricate and shine the soccer ball so the leather would not crack. If I had to repair the ball, I used to cut a piece of leather from my newly purchased shoes to patch it. My friends who saw how dedicated I was decided to honor me with the highest degree of rank. The recognition was also due to my handling other tasks. Cevdet became Vice President because he used to launder the team uniforms.

Our goal was crystal clear now:
To play as a team like the English, to have a name associated with distinct colors and to beat all other non-Turkish teams."

1999 - 2000 Sezonu Şampiyonlar Ligi'ni 3. sırada bitiren Galatasaray, UEFA Kupası'na 3. Tur'dan devam etme hakkını kazandı.

Tur UEFA Kupası Skor Tarih
3. Tur 1. Maç Bologna Galatasaray 1-1 23.11.1999
3. Tur 2. Maç Galatasaray Bologna 2-1 09.12.1999
4. Tur 1. Maç B.Dortmund Galatasaray 0-2 02.02.2000
4. Tur 2. Maç Galatasaray B.Dortmund 0-0 09.02.2000
Çeyrek Final 1. Maç R. Mallorca Galatasaray 1-4 16.02.2000
Çeyrek Final 2. Maç Galatasaray R. Mallorca 2-1 23.02.2000
Yarı Final 1. Maç Galatasaray Leeds United 2-0 06.04.2000
Yarı Final 2. Maç Leeds United Galatasaray 2-2 20.04.2000
FİNAL Galatasaray Arsenal 4-1 17.05.2000


Normal süresi ve uzatma dakikaları 0-0 eşitlikle sona eren Galatasaray - Arsenal UEFA Kupası Final Maçı'nda, penaltı atışları sonucu İngiliz temsilcisine 4-1'lik üstünlük sağlayan Galatasaray, 1999 - 2000 Sezonu UEFA Kupası Şampiyonu oldu.