Hakkı Yeten

Hakkı Yeten, (1910-1989) was a legendary Turkish football player and highly respected president of the İstanbul-based football club of Beşiktaş J.K. which he also coached. Yeten was instrumental in introducing soccer to the United States.

Hakki Yeten was born in 1910 at Vadina in Bulgaria, then under Ottoman rule. His father, a major in the Ottoman Army moved his family of six children to İstanbul, settling in the Beşiktaş district when Hakki was a year old. In 1914, Yeten's father was killed in the Battle of the Dardanelles. Hakkı went on to attend military high school (as his two elder brothers did before him).

Yeten was attracted to football after his eldest brother, Muhtar (a multi-talented sportsman) introduced him to the sport. Hakkı played in the school team, and was discovered soon by Beşiktaş J.K. club managers. In 1931, Hakkı dropped out his school and joined Beşiktaş.

He played for Beşiktaş for 17 years, contributing to its numerous victories.Declared as permanent captain, he led Beşiktaş to 8 İstanbul League Champions, 3 İstanbul Cups, one İzmir International Fair Cup, 3 National League Champions, one Turkish Champion, 2 Prime Minister Cups and 4 Private Cups. Hakkı Yeten was capped 3 times for the Turkey national football team. His fame became international, and eventually the English team Arsenal showed and interest in him. However, Hakki Yeten preferred to stay in Turkey [http://www.webkartallari.com/besiktas/onursalbaskanlar.asp] . Hakkı Yeten scored 382 goals in 439 games. He quit football as a player in 1948 after fans hooted him during a match.

He was appointed coach in the 1948-1949 season, and served once again as manager in the 1950-1954 season.

Hakkı Yeten studied Law, graduating in 1937. He became a legal advisor for a state owned bank. After his retirement from the active sports, he served as Vice Chairman of the Turkish Football Federation, and acted as president of Beşiktaş J.K. for three terms in 1960-1963, 1964-1966 and 1967-1968. In 1984, he backed Süleyman Seba in the elections, who became his successor.

Called "Baba" ("Father") Hakkı, he was elected the first honorary president of his club before he died on April 17, 1989 in İstanbul.

References

* [http://www.webkartallari.com/besiktas/onursalbaskanlar.asp Biography in Turkish]
* [http://www.karakartal.com/kulup/antrenor.php Beşiktaş JK website in Turkish]