Lefter Küçükandonyadis

Verified Timeline

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 in the same edition. He played abroad for ACF Fiorentina and OGC Nice from 1951 to 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. He later played a single season with AEK Athens at age 39, scoring twice in a 7–1 victory against Apollon Smyrnis and becoming the eldest goalscorer in Greek Championship history until surpassed in 1997. He was capped 46 times for Turkey, scoring 21 goals, and played at the 1948 Olympics and 1954 World Cup. He coached Egaleo, Johannesburg, Samsunspor, Orduspor, Mersin İdman Yurdu, and Boluspor. Both his parents were of Greek origin. He faced discrimination, including during the Istanbul pogrom in 1955 and after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. His statue was erected next to Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in 2009. A Netflix film about his life, titled 'Lefter: Bir Ordinaryüs Hikayesi', was released in 2015.

In Their Own Story

The Fenerbahçe Lefter Küçükandonyadis Sports Complex was established in 1989 as a sports complex of Fenerbahçe S.K. It is situated at Münir Nurettin Selçuk Cad., Kızıltoprak's Dereağzı location in Kadıköy district of Istanbul, Turkey. The facility's renovation was completed in 2002. Formerly called Fenerbahçe Dereağzı Facility, it was renamed in honor of Lefter Küçükandonyadis (1925–2012), the legendary Greek-descent Turkish striker of Fenerbahçe S.K. and Turkey national team. In 2003, the football field was covered with artificial turf, and a Tartan track was added. Covering an area of 3.7 ha (9.1 acres), the sports complex is owned by the district municipality, and run by the Fenerbahçe S.K.

Reader's Guide

Lefter Küçükandonyadis is a legendary forward for Fenerbahçe and Turkey. He is known for his prolific scoring, being named 'Ordinaryus' (professor of professors) in Turkey, and for his Greek heritage which led to discrimination. His career spanned Turkey, Italy, France, and Greece.

Did You Know?

• Lefter is one of a few players whose names are included in the Fenerbahçe Anthem.
• He was the first Turkish football player to receive the 'Golden Honor Medal' from the Turkish Football Federation.
• Poet Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu praised him in the poem 'İstanbul Destanı' with the line 'Ver Lefter'e yaz deftere'.
• He scored twice in an away 7–1 victory against Apollon Smyrnis for AEK Athens at age 39.

Historical Origins and Renaming

The Fenerbahçe Lefter Küçükandonyadis Sports Complex was established in 1989 as a sports complex of Fenerbahçe S.K. It is situated at Münir Nurettin Selçuk Cad., Kızıltoprak's Dereağzı location in Kadıköy district of Istanbul, Turkey. The facility's renovation was completed in 2002. Formerly called Fenerbahçe Dereağzı Facility, it was renamed in honor of Lefter Küçükandonyadis (1925–2012), the legendary Greek-descent Turkish striker of Fenerbahçe S.K. and Turkey national team.

Infrastructure and Modernization

Covering an area of 3.7 ha (9.1 acres), the sports complex is owned by the district municipality, and run by Fenerbahçe S.K. In 2003, the football field was covered with artificial turf, and a Tartan track was added. There are two football fields with artificial turf ground, both of 30 m × 50 m (98 ft × 164 ft) size. The fields are illuminated. The stadium with the dimensions of 68 m × 105 m (223 ft × 344 ft) has an artificial turf ground, and is illuminated. It has a covered stand with 200 seats. There is a hall for indoor sports with wood-parquet flooring court of 28 m × 15 m (92 ft × 49 ft). The open-air swimming pool is non-standard with a depth of 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in). It is illuminated. There is a fitness center with PVC flooring.

Multidisciplinary Training Hub

The sports complex serves as a venue for a number of sport sections such as athletics, boxing, men's football academy, rowing, sailing, table tennis as a training and camp site. It also has a cafeteria.

Role in Women's Football

The stadium is used for trainings of the Fenerbahçe S.K. teams, and is the home ground of Fenerbahçe women's football team starting with the semi-finals match of the 2022-23 Women's Super League season on 13 May 2024.