Metin Oktay

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Metin Oktay was born in Karşıyaka, İzmir, on 2 February 1936. His father was an Albanian factory worker and his mother a Turkish homemaker. He married Servet Kardicali on 12 May 1965, in Istanbul. On 9 February 1965, the couple had a daughter named Zeynep, who died the same day she was born. In 1979, Metin and Servet Oktay had a granddaughter from their son Rifat Halil Pala, named Zeynep Pala. Oktay lived with his family until he died on 13 September 1991 in Istanbul. He started his career at amateur club Damlacık in 1952, moved to Yün Mensucat the following season, and made his first appearance for the junior national team in 1954. He transferred to İzmirspor and became top scorer with 17 goals in the İzmir League. In 1955, Gündüz Kılıç transferred him to Galatasaray; Oktay signed a five-year contract in exchange for a Chevrolet car. He was top scorer in his first season in the Istanbul League with 19 goals, and Galatasaray won the championship. Oktay made a record-breaking contract with Galatasaray in 1960, leading to a divorce from his wife Oya Sarı. In December 1960, he scored four goals (after 1, 9, 61 and 71 minutes) in a 5–0 victory against Fenerbahçe. He became the first-ever Turkish footballer to play himself in a movie based on his life while actively pursuing his career. Oktay stayed with Galatasaray until 1969, except for a short period in 1961–1962 when he played for Palermo in Italy. He was the most crowned (six times) top goalscorer in the Turkish League and set a record with 217 goals in total. Tanju Çolak broke his record of most goals in a season in 1988 by a margin of one goal. Nicknamed the Taçsız Kral, he scored 18 goals against Fenerbahçe and 13 against Beşiktaş. He was assistant coach and head coach of Galatasaray in the 1969–70 season, later coached Bursaspor, and was a board member in 1984 for two years. He played 36 times for Turkey and scored 19 goals. Oktay died on 13 September 1991 in Istanbul at age 55 as a result of a traffic accident at the exit of the Bosphorus Bridge.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the pitch at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in the late 1950s, turning the grass into a muddy challenge for many. But as Metin Oktay received the ball near the halfway line, he seemed to glide over the wet turf with effortless grace. With a calm touch that defied the chaos of the tackle around him, he looked up, spotted the gap in the defense, and unleashed a curling shot from thirty yards out. The net rippled as the crowd erupted, chanting his name—a sound that would echo through decades of Galatasaray history.

Reader's Guide

Metin Oktay is remembered as a legendary striker for Galatasaray. His career highlights include being top scorer in the Istanbul League for four seasons and the Turkish League for three seasons, though these spells did not run consecutively. He scored four goals in a 5–0 victory against Fenerbahçe in December 1960. He holds the record for most Süper Lig goals in a single season with 38 (1962–63). His all-time top scorer tally for Galatasaray is 217 goals in the Turkish League, not across all competitions. He is honored annually on 13 September at his grave in Kozlu cemetery near Topkapı, Istanbul. The Metin Oktay Sports Complex and Training Center in Florya is named after him.

Did You Know?

• Metin Oktay's daughter Zeynep died the same day she was born.
• He scored four goals in a 5–0 victory against Fenerbahçe in December 1960.
• He was the first Turkish footballer to play himself in a movie based on his life.
• His record of 217 goals in the Turkish League was later broken by Tanju Çolak in 1988 by one goal.
• He died in a traffic accident at the exit of the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.