Lefter Küçükandonyadis
Encyclopedia
Lefter Küçükandonyadis born 22 December 1925 in Istanbul
, is a Turkish
football player
of (paternal) Greek descent
, who is recognised as one of the greatest footballers to play for Turkey
.
in Italy
and OGC Nice
in France
. Returning to Fenerbahçe, he won two Istanbul League titles and later, after the start of the Turkish national league
, three Turkish League (1959, 1961 and 1964) championship titles. In the season 1953–1954, he was the top scorer in the Turkish league. Küçükandonyadis scored in all a total of 423 goals in 615 games for Fenerbahçe. After ending his career in Turkey in 1964, Küçükandonyadis played a single season in Greece with AEK Athens
. He participated in five games in the 1965 season scoring two goals before an injury in the match against Iraklis forced his retirement.
, 9 of them as the captain
. He also played at the 1954 World Cup
netting in 2 goals, one against West-Germany and one against South-Korea. He scored 20 goals for his national team and was the top scorer for Turkey till overtaken by Hakan Şükür
. He was the first Turkish football player to receive the "Golden Honor medal" from the Turkish Football Federation
.
and Supersport United
in South Africa
. He later returned to Turkey and coached the clubs Sivasspor
, Samsunspor
, Orduspor
, Mersin Idmanyurdu
and Boluspor
.
He's also known as "Ordinarius" in Turkey
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, is a Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
football player
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
of (paternal) Greek descent
Greeks in Turkey
The Greeks in Turkey constitute a population of Greek and Greek-speaking Eastern Orthodox Christians who mostly live in Istanbul, including its district Princes' Islands, as well as on the two islands of the western entrance to the Dardanelles: Imbros and Tenedos .They are the remnants of the...
, who is recognised as one of the greatest footballers to play for Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Early life and club career
Born as the son of a fisherman of Greek descent and a Turkish mother, he grew up with ten other brothers and sisters. He started his footballing career with Taksimspor, a club based in Istanbul. Küçükandonyadis transferred to Fenerbahçe in 1947, achieving instant success. He was the first Turkish footballer to play abroad, playing during 1951–1953 for ACF FiorentinaACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and OGC Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Returning to Fenerbahçe, he won two Istanbul League titles and later, after the start of the Turkish national league
Turkcell Super League
The Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League...
, three Turkish League (1959, 1961 and 1964) championship titles. In the season 1953–1954, he was the top scorer in the Turkish league. Küçükandonyadis scored in all a total of 423 goals in 615 games for Fenerbahçe. After ending his career in Turkey in 1964, Küçükandonyadis played a single season in Greece with AEK Athens
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
. He participated in five games in the 1965 season scoring two goals before an injury in the match against Iraklis forced his retirement.
National football team
He played 50 times for the Turkish national football teamTurkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
, 9 of them as the captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
. He also played at the 1954 World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
netting in 2 goals, one against West-Germany and one against South-Korea. He scored 20 goals for his national team and was the top scorer for Turkey till overtaken by Hakan Şükür
Hakan Sükür
Hakan Şükür is a retired Turkish footballer who played as a striker. He spent the majority of his professional career with Galatasaray, being a three-time Gol Kralı , representing the club in three different spells and winning a total of 14 major titles.Şükür represented Turkey a...
. He was the first Turkish football player to receive the "Golden Honor medal" from the Turkish Football Federation
Turkish Football Federation
The Turkish Football Federation , also called the Turkish Football Association, is the governing body of football in Turkey. It was formed on 23 April 1923. It organizes the Turkish national teams and the Turkish football league. By 2004, there were 4,956 football clubs organized in Turkey, and a...
.
After active football
Lefter coached Egaleo F.C. in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Supersport United
Supersport United
SuperSport United is a South African football club based in Pretoria that plays in the Premier Soccer League.The club was originally known as Pretoria City. City was purchased by M-Net in 1994. M-Net got approval from the National Soccer League and the club was renamed.United is known as...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He later returned to Turkey and coached the clubs Sivasspor
Sivasspor
Sivasspor is a Turkish sports club based in Sivas, Turkey formed in the year 1967. They play in the Turkish Süper Lig. Their manager is currently Riza Calimbay. They finished 15th in the 2010–11 Süper Lig. Their current captain is Hayrettin Yerlikaya....
, Samsunspor
Samsunspor
Samsunspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Samsun. The club was formed through a merger of five clubs: 19 Mayıs, Akınspor, Fener Gençlik, Samsunspor, and Samsunspor Galatasaray. The club colours are red and white, and they play their home matches at Samsun 19 Mayıs...
, Orduspor
Orduspor
Orduspor is a Turkish football club founded in 1967. The club is located in Ordu, Turkey and plays their home games at 19 Eylul Stadium. The team managed to qualify for Turkish Super League again in 2011.-History:...
, Mersin Idmanyurdu
Mersin İdmanyurdu
Mersin İdmanyurdu is a Turkish sports club from Mersin in Eastern Mediterranean Region. The club is especially known for its football team which was playing in Süper Lig, Turkey's first level division by 2011–12 season. The team played in first division for 11 seasons previous to 1984...
and Boluspor
Boluspor
Boluspor is a Turkish professional football club located in the city of Bolu. The clubs plays in red and white kits, and have done so since their formation in 1965....
.
He's also known as "Ordinarius" in Turkey
Honours
Fenerbahçe- Turkish ChampionshipTurkcell Super LeagueThe Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League...
: 1959, 1961, 1964 - Atatürk CupAtatürk CupThe Atatürk Cup is a defunct football competition in Turkey. In 1955, the Turkish Football Federation named a football tournament after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Four clubs took place in the first edition: Beşiktaş J.K., Fenerbahçe S.K., Galatasaray S.K., Adalet and Vefa S.K. Adalet won the first...
: 1964 - Istanbul Football LeagueIstanbul Football LeagueIstanbul Lig or originally Constantinople Football Association League was founded by James La Fontaine and Henry Pears and started with the 1904-05 season with only four teams as "Istanbul Sunday League". The matches between the four teams, Moda FC, HMS Imogene FC, Elpis FC, and Cadi-Keuy FC were...
: 1948, 1957, 1959 - National LeagueNational League (Turkey)Milli Küme Şampiyonası was the Inter-city amateur games between İstanbul, Ankara, and İzmir teams in Turkey, played between 1936 and 1950. Fenerbahçe were the most successful club with six titles.-Performance by club:-References:...
: 1950