Galatasaray’s former football player and sports commentator Gökmen Özdenak died in the hospital where he was treated.
78-year-old Özdenak was taken to intensive care on December 29.
As Fotomaç family, May God have mercy on Gökmen Özdenak, who contributed to Turkish football for many years both as a player and as a commentator; We offer our condolences and patience to his family, loved ones and the entire sports community.
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE FROM GALATASARAY
The yellow-red club published a condolence message on its social media account after the news of Gökmen Özdenak’s death.
We have learned with deep sadness the news of the death of Gökmen Özdenak, one of Galatasaray’s unforgettable players, sports writer, commentator and member of our club with registration number 6225. Gökmen Özdenak, who started his football career in Galatasaray when he was only 20 years old, played for 13 years… pic.twitter.com/XQIgWWlXyl
— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) December 31, 2025
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM TFF
Turkish Football Federation (TFF) published a condolence message for Galatasaray’s former national football player Gökmen Özdenak, who was announced to have passed away.
In the message published on TFF’s website, “We have learned with deep sadness that Gökmen Özdenak, one of the valuable names of Turkish football and the former player of our National Team, has passed away. May God have mercy on the late Gökmen Özdenak; we offer our condolences to his grieving family, relatives, loved ones and the entire sports community, especially Galatasaray.” It was said.
In the statement, which also included Özdenak’s national career, the following statements were used:
“Gökmen Özdenak, who played for our star and crescent jersey in a total of 14 competitions, 9 of which were for the A National Team, 4 of which were for the Ümit National Team and 1 for the Under-18 National Team, played for Galatasaray and İstanbulspor in his club career. Gökmen Özdenak, who is also the older brother of Yasin Özdenak, one of our former national goalkeepers of Galatasaray and İstanbulspor, played in a total of 4 Super Leagues and 2 football teams throughout his career. Özdenak, who scored Galatasaray’s 50th goal in the European cups, won the President’s Cup, 2 Prime Minister’s Cups and the Turkish 50th Anniversary Cup. After his football career, he worked as a football commentator in television programs and a sports writer in newspapers.