As part of the 120th anniversary celebrations, the grave of the club’s founder and number 1 member, Ali Sami Yen, was first visited. After praying for the soul of Ali Sami Yen at Feriköy Cemetery, the grave of Beşiktaş Gymnastics Club Honorary President Süleyman Seba was also visited.
After laying a wreath at the Taksim Republic Monument, they went to Galatasaray High School and after a moment of silence and the National Anthem at the Tevfik Fikret Hall, where the trophies of the sporting achievements achieved in 2024-2025 were exhibited, President Dursun Aydın Özbek took the podium and made his speech.
‘THIS YEAR WE ARE CELEBRATING NOT ONLY AN ANNIVERSARY, BUT ALSO A TURNING POINT.’
Özbek, in his speech from the Tevfik Fikret Hall podium, said, “Today, we are together here, under the shadow of a 120-year-old plane tree, to celebrate the birthday of Galatasaray Sports Club, which sprouted from the walls of a school and turned into the pride of a nation. We gathered in the home where we were born, at Tevfik Fikret Hall, to keep the eternal values of Galatasaray alive. This year, we are celebrating not only an anniversary, but also a turning point. In football 25. By winning our championship, we put the fifth star on our jersey. This is not just a sporting success; “It is the symbol of 120 years of stability, hard work and faith,” he said.
‘GALATASARAY IS NOT JUST ABOUT FOOTBALL’
President Özbek continued his speech as follows:
“However, Galatasaray is not just about football. It has continued to be a pioneer in every field of Turkish sports with dozens of trophies won in basketball, volleyball, swimming, rowing, sailing, water polo and many other branches. Yesterday, we opened the statue of Atatürk, Tevfik Fikret and Ali Sami Yen, which carries the spiritual heritage of our club. This statue is not only the memory of three great names, but also a symbol of what can be achieved when mind, morality and faith come together.” It is also a symbol
‘GALATASARAY SHOULD STAND ON ITS OWN POWER, WITHOUT RELYING ON ANYONE’
Making evaluations about Galatasaray’s financial independence, Özbek said, “Today, I declare once again with great pride that we have achieved financial independence, which is one of the biggest goals of our community. There is something we said from the first day we took office: Galatasaray should stand on its own power, without depending on anyone. And today, we have achieved this goal. With our exit from the Banks Union, Galatasaray has now achieved a financially independent, strong and sustainable structure. Today, Galatasaray is in Türkiye. It is the sports club with the highest capital and positive equity capital. This success is not just a management success; “It is the work of the common mind, solidarity and sense of belonging of our entire community,” he said.
‘THERE IS A GALATASARAY STORY IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS COUNTRY’
Galatasaray Club President Dursun Özbek concluded his words with the following statements:
“Yesterday, we were in Mardin’s Nusaybin district. There, we saw the love for Galatasaray on the faces of thousands of children and the light of hope in their eyes. There is a Galatasaray story in every corner of this country. We are working with all our strength to enlarge these stories, touch the hearts of children and make Galatasaray a brand of love and hope.
120 years ago, a group of young people had a big dream in the classrooms of this school:
“Beating non-Turkish teams.”
Today, we have already surpassed that dream. We no longer aim to just win, but to set an example.
Happy day to everyone who respects the past of this great club and looks to its future with hope. To those who founded Galatasaray, those who keep it alive and those who worked hard; I would like to express my gratitude to our athletes who sweat on the field and our fans who support us under all circumstances. To many 120 years, to many victories, to many days of unity and pride…
Long live Galatasaray!”