BÃ¼lent Eken

Bülent Eken ( born October 26, 1923 in Mersin ) is a former Turkish football player, coach and functionary. Through his many years of service for Galatasaray Istanbul, he is strongly associated with this club. On fan and club sides, he is regarded as one of the greatest players in the club's history. The last seasons of his career, he also wore the captain's armband at Galatasaray. With the Turkish national team, he participated in the 1954 World Cup and the Summer Olympics in 1948. After his football career as a player, he served as head coach including the Turkish national team and Galatasaray. His two brothers Danyal Vuran and rehabilitation Eken were also active as a player at Galatasaray, the latter as Bülent Eken itself is one of the legends of the club player.

4.1 As a player
4.2 As a coach
4.3 As an assistant coach
4.4 As a sports Manager

Playing career

Association

Eken began his professional football career in 1942 at Istanbul's traditional club Galatasaray. Even his older brother Danyal Vuran played in the 1930s for Galatasaray, so also Eken began his career with this club. A little later his younger brother rehabilitation began his professional career with this club. At this time there was no nation -wide Professional professional league in Turkey. Instead existed in the metropolitan areas such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir regional leagues, of which the İstanbul Futbol Ligi (German: Istanbul Football League ) was considered the most prestigious. In addition, an attempt has been undertaken since 1936, with the Türkiye Maarif Mükafatı to establish a kind of national championship, one designed as a tournament and irregularly organized national football league Turkey. Eken made his debut for Galatasaray during the match in the Istanbul Football League from October 18, 1942 against Süleymaniye SK. In this game Eken succeeded also equal his first goal. By the end of the season, which ended on 10 March 1943 Eken completed two more games for his team. After the end of the season Galatasaray took part in Türkiye Maarif Mükafatı. Eken came during this tournament in nearly all encounters to use and has been with his team with a point but a better goal difference behind arch-rivals Fenerbahce vice-champion. This Eken reached at the striker position ten goals in 13 games and was after Cemil Erler Türk 's second top scorer of his team.

After this came Eken in the Istanbul Football League are becoming increasingly common. In the season 1943/44, he was charged with twelve goals in 13 league games top scorer of his team. He and his team finished the league on the third place in the table and did not participate in the postseason union Türkiye Maarif Mükafatı part time. The following season was also successful for Eken. With his team finished Eken always places in the top table segment and established itself as a service provider. Through the years, he rose in 1948 also for national team and participated with the Turkish national team at the Summer Olympics in 1948.

In the season 1948/49, Eken reached with his team the championship of the Istanbul Football League and thus the first and only title of his playing career. Eken, who began his career on the striker position played, and later on the center field position rather it was used to defense position.

Through his achievements at Galatasaray and the national team several Italian clubs were aware of Eken, including Lazio. As of December Eken moved to Italy's Serie B to the club Salernitana Calcio. He was one of the first Turkish players who were sold abroad. For this club, he played a season and completed it 21 league games. After a season Eken joined the Serie A U.S. Palermo. He also played one season long and then left this club Galatasaray direction. After several months of Palermo tried to Eken committed again, but this Eken refused. He tried his career in France continue and negotiated here, among other things with FC Nancy. While he was negotiating with Nancy, he continued his career with Galatasaray continued. In November 1952 Eken explained that he was with the person in charge of FC Nancy for a change agree, but in spite of a lower-paid contract for his career at Galatasaray decided to continue.

At Galatasaray he played until the summer of 1954 two more seasons and participated with the national team at the 1954 World Cup. After the World Cup Eken issued by Galatasaray for sale. In response to this decision Eken ended his football playing career. With a scheduled on January 8, 1955 farewell match between Galatasaray and the FK Sarajevo Eken was officially adopted in the football retirement.

National

Eken was in the context of the angestetzten April 24, 1948 Test match against the Greek national team by then- coach Ignatius Molnár for the first time in the squad of the Turkish national team. In this role he played from the beginning and made his international debut. From then on he was two years to the regularly nominated players and participated with the national team at the Summer Olympics in 1948. Here Eken reached with his team the quarterfinals and failed in this with a 1-3 defeat to Yugoslavia. Eken completed during this tournament every two games of his team.

In the summer of 1949 with Turkey Eken took part in the Mediterranean Cup and came in second behind the second choice of the Italian national team to second place.

Eken made in December 1954 in a friendly against the Israeli national team for the time being his last international match.

After more than three years, countries game abstinence Eken received in June 1954 for a WM1954 qualifier against the Spanish selection from coach Sandro Puppo a nomination. Now that Turkey asserted itself against Spain in three games, qualified one for the first time in club history for a World Cup.

Eken was on the occasion of the Football World Cup in 1954, by far the oldest player in the squad of the Turkish national team. Here they finished at the end of the group stage on points with the German team into second place. Although you had the better goal, it was decided by the then regime of the Second Group by a play between these two teams. In this encounter, the 7:2 Germany decided in his favor, Eken played his last international match. During this tournament Eken completed no international match.

Coaching career

Following his playing career Eken attended a coaching course in his adopted home of Italy. He interrupted this course and worked after his farewell game first as a sports journalist. For the summer of 1956 he came at Galatasaray as the successor of the coach Gündüz Kılıç this week. When asked about the rumor, he explained that although he did not receive a request, in the case of an offer but would predict. He then declared that he will make in the coming weeks his coaching license in Italy. In early August 1956, by Galatasaray announced that Eken will serve imterimsweise to hold office until the new coach George Dick the team. So Eken involved in coaching for several days. On August 7, 1956, he handed the office of Dick and henceforth worked as his assistant coach. Just four days later, Dick canceled due to illness his contract and was replaced by the old coach Gündüz Kılıç. After these developments Eken took over managerial activities for the club. In September 1956 Eken resigned his post at Galatasaray on to continue his coaching course in Italy.

After Eken had completed his coaching course in Italy, he returned to Turkey and took over in October 1956 the Istanbul club Beyoğluspor. At this time Eken counted among the few coaches who could show a trainer certificate. Parallel to his work at Beyoğluspor supervised Eken from November 1958 and the second selection of the Turkish national team, and a little later the Turkish national youth team.

In September 1959, Eken left after three years of activity Beyoğluspor and took over the city rivals Fatih Karagümrük SK. The main reason for this change was the fact that Beyoğluspor did not participate in the newly formed Millî Lig, but continued in İstanbul Profesyonel Ligi ( Engl.: Istanbul Professional League ) took part in the competition. In the spring of 1959, the newly established and nationally designed Millî Lig was started, with its present name Süper Lig Until that time existed in Turkey no national professional league, but it existed in the larger conurbations regional leagues. Wärhrend Beyoğluspor missed attending the Millî Lig Karagümrük was one of the founding members of this league. With Karagümrük Eken occupied in the second season Millî Lig eighth place in the table, fell short of expectations. The club at that time was the financially strongest clubs in Turkish football and had, among other things Galatasaray bought the Star Kadri Aytaç. Despite the disappointing cutting the club's management tried to extend the contract of Eken. For the new season Eken worked at Karagümrük as an assistant coach and thus assisted the new head coach Halil Özyazıcı.

In October 1960 Eken was an offer as head coach of the first division Izmirspor. Eken agreed and moved to the port city of Izmir. This club coached Eken one season long and finished with her season at the 7th place in the table. For the new season, he negotiated with his old club Karagümrük. After being first does not come to an agreement about the content, it later led to a renewed cooperation. With Karagümrük Eken experienced a mixed season and played the season end for the league. The relegation was achieved by a 3-0 win on the last game against city rivals Vefa Istanbul.

Even before the season end of season 1961/62 it became known that 'll leave you with Eken Karagümrük end to the season and his old club Beyoğluspor take over. With Beyoğluspor Eken participated in the relegation round for the Milli Lig and arrived here the rise in the Milli Lig Then Eken was brought for the coming season with Besiktas Istanbul linked and explained, not wanting to work as a trainer for the new season. Despite this announcement, he continued his work as a trainer continues at Beyoğluspor. In early January 1963, also announced that Eken, who will also always active for the national teams as a youth, assistant coach or trainer of the second selection supervise parallel to his trainer activities in future also the national team as head coach. Before that, the previous coach Ljubisa Spajić was dismissed after a 0-6 away defeat against the Italian national team during an EM -1964 qualifying match of his office. So Eken cared addition to his work at even the national team. His first international game, he completed against the Italian national team in the second leg on March 27, 1963. The game they lost by 0:1 unhappy with a goal in the 86th minute, and thus missed the part in the European Championships in 1964. From the trade press Eken was due his defensive oriented game tactics criticized. The Milli Lig ended Eken with Beyoğluspor on a non- relegation zone.

In the season 1963/64, Eken was introduced as the new coach of Göztepe Izmir. Incidentally supervised Eken the national team in all three internationals in 1963 and was then replaced in 1964 by Cihat Arman. Beginning in February 1964 joined Eken resigned from his post at Göztepe and moved to the city and league rivals Karşıyaka SK. End of the season he missed with Karşıyaka the league.

For the new season, he took over in the summer of 1964 his now relegated to the 2nd Lig old club Beyoğluspor. After this association failed direct resurgence, Eken left after a year and moved to first division Beyoğluspor Altay Izmir. With Altay Eken ended the 1965/66 season at the 6th place in the table.

For the new season, he left Altay and took over the league rivals Vefa Istanbul. After a poor start to the season in which we conceded four defeats in four games, Eken said after the league game against Istanbulspor his resignation and was replaced a few days later by his former assistant coach Basri Dirimlili.

After Eken no longer worked the rest of the season 1966/67, he was proposed for the new season as head coach of Galatasaray. Finally, he was late in May 1967 introduced as head coach, where he was to share this post with a foreign coach. It was later waived on another coach and decided that only Eken should look after the team. Although conceding disappointing results in friendlies in pre-season training phase, we had a good start to the season. In vorsaisonlich discharged TSYD Cup they defeated arch-rivals Fenerbahce and Besiktas and, winning the trophy. After disappointing Galatasaray began in the seasonal operation of the league, was considered by the Board of Directors, but to supplement the coaching staff by a foreign coach. In December Eşfak Aykac was hired as sports director and second coach. End of the season they finished far severed from the table top to 3rd place and also went in the Turkish Cup empty handed. With the end of season left Eken Galatasaray and was replaced by the Yugoslav coach Tomislav Kaloperović.

In the summer of 1969, he took over the post of Göztepe Izmir assistant coach and thus assisted the head coach Adnan Süvari. With Göztepe Eken reached the final of the Turkish Cup, sat here in two games against Eskişehirspor through and won the trophy. In Europe Cup Winners' Cup of the season 1969/70 they reached the quarter-finals. The first Lig was finished on the 5th place in the table.

After this successful season at Göztepe Eken moved to the summer of 1970 to the second division Adanaspor and took over the office of the head coach here. With this team he reached the end of season sovereign mastery of Lig 2 and thus the direct promotion to the Süper Lig After this success Eken was already planning on the team for the new season and called for the commitment of the goalkeeper Güngör Çelikçiler Göztepe Izmir. Due to this demand, he crushes with some club officials and resigned from his post. His resignation was not accepted. A few days later, he again tendered his resignation, which was accepted by the club this time. After his resignation Eken oversaw the Cup of the Youth and Sports Ministry and the last time the team took a 2-0 victory over Izmir Denizgücü this trophy.

In the season 1971/72 Eken negotiated with the newly promoted Giresunspor and agreed to cooperate. This change failed then later, so Ogun Altıparmak was introduced as head coach.

For summer 1972/73 Eken negotiated with the then second division side Trabzonspor. After he was not in agreement with Eken he accepted the offer from the second division side Sivasspor. With this club he played until the end of the season for the championship. Only by point loss in the last game days you missed the rise. So you were behind Adana Demirspor runner-up. After the failed climb with Sivasspor Eken left the town of Sivas and thus resigned.

After working at Sivasspor Eken not worked for a year as a coach and took over for the season 1974/75 second division Beykozspor. In the season was started with the stated goal of ascension. Once this target has been missed left Eken Beykozspor.

For the new season Eken hired the new first division club Orduspor. This club was responsible Eken only six games and then separated from his post. A few days after his resignation at Orduspor he took over the second division Rizespor. This club was responsible Eken remainder of the season, finishing in fourth place in the table with him.

For the new season Eken took the first division Göztepe Izmir. With this club he played until the end of the season to relegation. The chance for a relegation kept you going until the final day. Although you could win the last two games of the season, the league was missed by the better results of the three direct competitors.

In April 1980 Eken took over the head coach post at Istanbul's second division Sariyer SK six games before the end of the season. After he missed the club championship and thus the rise, he left his post.

Manager career

For the 1980/81 season he was presented at Galatasaray as a team manager and henceforth worked together with the head coach Brian Birch. In the first season in this function is finished the table on points with the runner- Adanaspor. The second season started disappointingly why before the winter break Birch by the Master Trainer Trabzonspor, was replaced by Özkan Sümer. Even with this trainer, it turned a no noticeable improvement, so we ended the season on disappointing 11th place in the table. Nevertheless, launched in the coming season with Sümer because you were Turkish Cup winners and Turkish Supercup winner with him. Eken worked until the summer of 1982 as team manager then left the club.

After this last activity manager at Galatasaray Eken ended his coaching and managerial career.

Achievements

As a player

With Galatasaray Istanbul: İstanbul Futbol Ligi: 1948/49,

With the Turkish national team: Participation in the Summer Olympics: 1948
Participation in the World Cup: 1954
Second in the Mediterranean Cup: 1949

As a coach

With Beyoğluspor: Promotion to the Süper Lig: 1961/62

With Galatasaray Istanbul: TSYD Cup: 1966/67,

With Adanaspor: Master of TFF 1 Lig: 1970/71
Promotion to the Süper Lig: 1970/71
Cup of the Youth and Sports Ministry: 1970/71

As an assistant coach

With Göztepe Izmir: Table fifth in the Süper Lig: 1969/70
Turkish Cup winner: 1969/70
Quarter final, in the European Cup Winners' Cup: 1969/70

As a sports Manager

With Galatasaray Istanbul: Turkish Cup winner: 1981/82
Turkish Super Cup Winner: 1981/82

Trivia

His older brother Danyal Vuran and his younger brothers Reha Eken also played several years for Galatasaray. Reha Eken worked after his football career as a player in position as a board member and sports managers continue for Galatasaray.

Galatasaray organized since the opening of the new stadium Türk Telekom Arena, under the auspices of the main sponsor Türk Telekom, before every home game as a thanksgiving for its legendary former player. So the League encounter against Mersin İdman Yurdu Eken and its also active as a player at Galatasaray brother rehab Eken was presented a plaque for her Thank you many years of service and accomplishments 5 November 2011 in the frame.

Eken one of the few players except the goalkeeper position in all position worked for Galatasaray. He began his career at Galatasaray as a striker and played three years in the middle and towards the end of his career in defense.

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