Gündüz Kılıç facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
"Baba" Gündüz Kılıç

Personal information
Date of birth	(1918-10-29)29 October 1918
Place of birth	Istanbul, Ottoman Empire
Date of death	17 May 1980(1980-05-17) (aged 61)
Place of death	New York City, United States
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1934–1945	Galatasaray SK	115	(99)
1945–1946	Ankara Demirspor	9	(8)
1946–1953	Galatasaray SK	67	(32)
Total		191	(139)
International career
1936–1951	Turkey	11	(5)
Managerial career
1952–1953	Galatasaray SK
1953–1954	Vefa S.K.
1954	Turkey
1954–1957	Galatasaray SK
1959–1960	Feriköy SK
1960–1967	Galatasaray SK
1968–1969	Altay SK
1971–1972	Beşiktaş J.K.
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

"Baba" Gündüz Kılıç (born October 29, 1918 – died May 17, 1980) was a famous Turkish football player and coach. People called him "Baba," which means "Father," because he was a great leader and mentor. He was the son of Ali Kılıç and brother of Altemur Kılıç.

Gündüz Kılıç: A Football Star

Gündüz Kılıç was born in 1918 in Istanbul. He went to Galatasaray Lycee, a famous school. After school, he started his football journey as a forward for Galatasaray SK.

He was a strong and smart player. He was also very charming and always wanted to succeed. Gündüz Kılıç helped many Turkish football players learn and become great coaches themselves. He was even part of Turkey's team for the 1936 Summer Olympics, though he didn't play in any games.

His Playing Career

In 1938, Gündüz Kılıç took a break from football. He moved to Germany to study at university. When he came back to Turkey, he played for Galatasaray again. He helped his team win two league championships during this time.

Kılıç played 11 matches for the Turkey national football team. He stayed with Galatasaray until 1953. The only time he played for another team was for Ankara Demirspor during his military service.

He holds a special record in Istanbul football. He scored 5 goals in one match against Beşiktaş JK. This is still a record for the big Istanbul derby games! He scored these goals in the 43rd, 58th, 73rd, 76th, and 89th minutes.

From Player to Coach

In 1952, Gündüz Kılıç made a big change. He stopped playing and became a coach for Galatasaray. He was the team captain, so he coached his former teammates. He also brought in many talented young players.

Under his leadership, Galatasaray won many championships. Before him, the team hadn't won a championship for 18 years (between 1934 and 1952). He also brought the famous Turkish superstar Metin Oktay to the team.

Coaching Successes

As a coach, Gündüz Kılıç led Galatasaray to the quarter-finals of the European Cup. This was a huge achievement! They were eventually stopped by the strong AC Milan team.

Gündüz Kılıç was a role model for everyone at Galatasaray. He was excellent at motivating and teaching players. He helped every person he worked with become their best. He was a true gentleman, both on and off the field.

Under his guidance, Galatasaray won many league titles and Turkish Cup trophies. His smart coaching style and great communication skills influenced Turkish football for many years.

His Legacy

Gündüz Kılıç, known as "Father," passed away in New York City, USA, on May 17, 1980. His body was brought back to Istanbul. He was buried at the Aşiyan Asri Cemetery.

Honours

As player

• Galatasaray
  • Milli Küme: 1
    • 1938-1939
  • Istanbul Football League: 1
    • 1948-1949
  • Istanbul Futbol Kupası: 2
    • 1941-1942, 1942–1943

As manager

• Galatasaray
  • Istanbul Football League: 2
    • 1954-1955, 1955–1956
  • Süper Lig: 2
    • 1961-1962, 1962–1963
  • Turkish Cup: 3
    • 1962-1963, 1964–1965, 1965–1966
  • TFF Süper Kupa: 1
    • 1966