Lefter Küçükandonyadis

The Ordinaryus of Fenerbahçe

via Wikipedia: Lefter Küçükandonyadis · see source

Lefter Küçükandonyadis (22 December 1924 – 13 January 2012) was a Turkish professional footballer who played as a forward. He is often recognized as one of the greatest strikers to play for Fenerbahçe and Turkey.

Quick Facts

Born: 22 December 1924
Birthplace: Büyükada, Istanbul, Turkey
Died: 13 January 2012
Place of death: Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey
Height: 1.69 m / 5 ft 7 in
Position: Inside left
Total caps: 388
Total goals: 197

Lore & Background

Lefter started his footballing career on Büyükada but professionally played first with Taksim SK. He transferred to Fenerbahçe in 1947, winning the National Division championship in 1950 and becoming Turkish top scorer that season. He played abroad for ACF Fiorentina (1951–1953) and OGC Nice (1951–1953). Returning to Fenerbahçe, he won two Istanbul League titles and three Turkish League titles (1959, 1961, 1964).

He scored 423 goals in 615 games for Fenerbahçe. After ending his career in Turkey in 1964, he played a single season with AEK Athens at age 39. He scored twice in a 7–1 victory against Apollon Smyrnis and became the eldest goalscorer in the history of the Greek Championship until surpassed by Tasos Mitropoulos in 1997. He participated in only five games, retiring after an injury against Iraklis.

He was capped 46 times for Turkey, 9 as captain, playing at the 1948 Olympics and 1954 World Cup, scoring 21 goals. He coached Egaleo, Johannesburg, Samsunspor, Orduspor, Mersin İdman Yurdu, and Boluspor.

Reader's Guide

Lefter is a legendary forward for Fenerbahçe, known for his goalscoring and inclusion in the club anthem. He faced discrimination as a Greek in Turkey, including during the Istanbul pogrom and after the Cyprus invasion. His statue stands near Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. A Netflix film about his life, 'Lefter: Bir Ordinaryüs Hikayesi', was released in 2015.