Süleyman Seba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Süleyman Seba
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statue of Süleyman Seba in Beşiktaş, Şairler Sofası Park, Istanbul, 2020
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
Süleyman Seba
5 April 1926 Soğuksulu, Sakarya, Turkey
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 13 August 2014 (aged 88) Istanbul, Turkey
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resting place | Feriköy Cemetery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Footballer, sports executive | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Süleyman Seba (born April 5, 1926 – died August 13, 2014) was a famous Turkish football player. He was also the longest-serving Chairman of the Istanbul-based sports club Beşiktaş J.K.. He was known for his fair play and honest leadership.
Contents
Süleyman Seba's Early Life
Growing Up in Istanbul
Süleyman Seba was born on April 5, 1926, in a village called Soğuksulu in Sakarya Province, Turkey. When he was about five or six years old, his family moved to the Akaretler area in Beşiktaş, Istanbul.
He went to elementary school in Beşiktaş. After that, in 1938, he attended Kabataş High School. This was a well-known school located near the training fields of the local football club, Beşiktaş J.K.. This closeness helped him pursue his love for football.
University and Football
Seba later started studying French at Mimar Sinan University. However, his football career became very busy, and he couldn't finish his studies there. He also tried to study geography but missed exams because he was playing friendly matches with Beşiktaş J.K. in the United States.
Süleyman Seba: The Football Player
Starting His Football Journey
Seba began playing football for his high school team at Kabataş. He was a very promising player. Soon, Beşiktaş J.K. noticed him and invited him to join their junior team. With his help, the junior team won the championship that season. He quickly became the team captain. In 1946, he joined the main A-team.
Playing for Beşiktaş J.K.
Seba played 70 matches in the Istanbul Football League between 1946 and 1953, scoring 19 goals. He also played in 17 Milli Küme Şampiyonası matches, scoring 3 goals. In 1947, he won his first Turkish title with Beşiktaş. He also helped the team win three Istanbul titles.
In 1950, Süleyman Seba traveled with the Beşiktaş J.K. team to the USA for friendly matches. They played against American teams and even against Manchester United. There were rumors that Manchester United wanted to sign him after their match!
A Historic Goal
Seba made history in Turkish football by scoring the very first goal at the BJK İnönü Stadium. This happened during the stadium's opening match in 1947. Beşiktaş was playing against a Swedish team called Allmänna Idrottsklubben. Seba scored the goal in the 40th minute. He later described it: "Faruk [Sağnak] kicked the ball to me. I stopped it, faked out two players, and scored." Even though AIK won that match 3-2, Seba's goal was a special moment.
Early Retirement
Sadly, in 1954, Süleyman Seba had to stop playing football. He suffered a meniscus injury, which is a knee injury. He played his entire professional career only for Beşiktaş J.K..
Süleyman Seba's International Experience
Seba never played for the main Turkey national team. However, he did get to play for the Turkey national under-21 football team. In 1952, Beşiktaş J.K. was chosen to represent Turkey in a match against the Greece national football team. This was part of the East Mediterranean Cup. Beşiktaş was allowed to use the Turkish flag in their emblem, which the club still uses today.
Süleyman Seba played his only international game on May 16, 1952. Turkey lost that match 0-1.
Süleyman Seba's Life After Football
After retiring from playing, Seba worked for a period in a national organization.
Süleyman Seba: The Club President
Becoming a Leader at Beşiktaş
In 1957, Seba became an active member of Beşiktaş J.K.. Six years later, in 1963, he joined the club's Presidential Council.
In 1984, Süleyman Seba became the president of Beşiktaş. He won the election against Mehmet Üstünkaya. A very important Beşiktaş legend, Hakkı Yeten, supported Seba, which helped him win.
Fixing the Club and Winning Trophies
When Seba became president, he immediately started working to improve the club. He hired a new manager, Branko Stanković, and focused on solving the club's financial problems. He also invested in better facilities for the club.
In January 1986, Beşiktaş won the Fleet Cup, which was the first official trophy under Seba's leadership. Later that year, Beşiktaş won the Turkish Super League championship. This was their first league title in four years! They also won the Presidential Cup.
Beşiktaş's Golden Era
During Seba's time as president, Beşiktaş became the strongest team in Turkey. In the 1986–1987 season, they reached the quarter-finals of the European Champion Clubs' Cup (now known as the UEFA Champions League).
Seba brought in a British coach named Gordon Milne. With Milne and a strong team of young players like Rıza Çalımbay, Feyyaz Uçar, Metin Tekin, Ali Gültiken, Gökhan Keskin, Mehmet Özdilek, and Sergen Yalçın, Beşiktaş won three League titles in a row from 1989 to 1992. They also won the League in 1994–1995.
Seba was president of Beşiktaş J.K. for 16 years! He worked with many famous coaches from around the world. In 1998, he was elected chairman one last time. He then became the honorary chairman in 2000. When he retired, Beşiktaş was in a much stronger financial position, thanks to his hard work.
Süleyman Seba's Death
Seba passed away on August 13, 2014. He was buried at the Feriköy Cemetery in Istanbul.
Süleyman Seba's Legacy and Honours
To honor him, a famous historic street in Beşiktaş, where the club's headquarters are located, was renamed Süleyman Seba Avenue.
The 2014–15 Süper Lig football season, which started shortly after his death, was officially dedicated to him by the Turkish Football Federation.
Trophies Won by Beşiktaş During Süleyman Seba's Presidency
- Süper Lig (5):
- 1985–86, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1994–95
- Turkish Cup (4):
- 1989, 1990, 1994, 1998
- Turkish Presidents Cup (5)
- 1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998
- Chancellor Cup (2):
- 1988, 1997
- Fleet Cup (1):
- 1986
- TSYD Cup (6):
- 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997
See also
- List of one-club men
