Istanbul Football League

The Istanbul Football League (Turkish: İstanbul Futbol Ligi) was founded as a regional football league under the name Constantinople Football Association League by James La Fontaine and Henry Pears in Istanbul, the capital of the former Ottoman Empire, in 1904. The Istanbul League was the first football organization ever in the Ottoman Empire and later Turkey. In the inaugural 1904–05 season the matches between the four teams, Moda FC, HMS Imogene, Elpis FC, and Cadi-Keuy FC were played on Sundays, leading to the name of the league, Istanbul Sunday League. Henry Pears, an Englishman and one of the three founders, promised to ultimately award the shield to the club with the most championships won during the initial 10 years.

Istanbul Football League

Founded	1904
Folded	1959
Country	Turkey
Number of teams	various
Level on pyramid	1
Domestic cup(s)	Istanbul Shield (1929–39) Istanbul Football Cup (1942–47)
Last champions	Fenerbahçe (16th title) (1958–59)
Most championships	Fenerbahçe (16 titles)

One of the founders of the league, James Lafontaine

Founder Henry Pears

The Istanbul Friday League was founded in 1915 and replaced the Istanbul Sunday League. Seven teams participated in its inaugural 1915–16 season. From 1923–24 to 1950–51 the league was called Istanbul League. The name was later changed and became Istanbul Professional League in the 1952 season, as professionalism was introduced by the Turkish Football Federation in 1951.

Fenerbahçe are the most successful club, having won the league a record 16 times in total.

Champions

Season	Winners (number of titles)	Runners-up
1904–05	HMS Imogene FC (1)	Moda FC
1905–06	Cadi-Keuy FC (1)	HMS Imogene FC
1906–07	Cadi-Keuy FC (2)	Moda FC
1907–08	Moda FC (1)	Cadi-Keuy FC
1908–09	Galatasaray SK (1)	Moda FC
1909–10	Galatasaray SK (2)	Strugglers FC
1910–11	Galatasaray SK (3)	Progress FC
1911–12	Fenerbahçe SK (1)	Rumblers FC
1912–13	Unaccomplished due to the Balkan Wars
1913–14	Fenerbahçe SK (2)	Altınordu İdman Yurdu
1914–15	Galatasaray SK (4)	Üsküdar Anadolu SK
1914–15	Fenerbahçe SK (3)	Türk İdman Ocağı
1915–16	Galatasaray SK (5)	Fenerbahçe SK
1916–17	Altınordu İdman Yurdu (1)	Üsküdar Anadolu SK
1917–18	Altınordu İdman Yurdu (2)	Fenerbahçe SK
1918–19	Unaccomplished due to Armistice of Mudros
1919–20	Cancelled
1920–21	Fenerbahçe SK (4)	Galatasaray SK
1921–22	Galatasaray SK (6)	Fenerbahçe SK
1922–23	Fenerbahçe SK (5)	Altınordu İdman Yurdu
1923–24	Beşiktaş JK (1)	Galatasaray SK
1924–25	Galatasaray SK(7)	Vefa SK
1925–26	Galatasaray SK(8)	Fenerbahçe SK
1926–27	Galatasaray SK(9)	Fenerbahçe SK
1927–28	Cancelled due to the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam
1928–29	Galatasaray SK (10)	Fenerbahçe SK
1929–30	Fenerbahçe SK (6)	Galatasaray SK
1930–31	Galatasaray SK (11)	Fenerbahçe SK
1931–32	İstanbulspor (1)	Süleymaniye FC
1932–33	Fenerbahçe SK (7)	Beşiktaş JK
1933–34	Beşiktaş JK (2)	Fenerbahçe SK
1934–35	Fenerbahçe SK (8)	Galatasaray SK
1935–36	Fenerbahçe SK (9)	Galatasaray SK
1936–37	Fenerbahçe SK (10)	Güneş SK
1937–38	Güneş SK (1)	Fenerbahçe SK
1938–39	Beşiktaş JK (3)	Fenerbahçe SK
1939–40	Beşiktaş JK (4)	Fenerbahçe SK
1940–41	Beşiktaş JK (5)	Fenerbahçe SK
1941–42	Beşiktaş JK (6)	Galatasaray SK
1942–43	Beşiktaş JK (7)	Fenerbahçe SK
1943–44	Fenerbahçe SK (11)	Beşiktaş JK
1944–45	Beşiktaş JK (8)	Fenerbahçe SK
1945–46	Beşiktaş JK (9)	Fenerbahçe SK
1946–47	Fenerbahçe SK (12)	Vefa SK
1947–48	Fenerbahçe SK (13)	Beşiktaş JK
1948–49	Galatasaray SK (12)	Beşiktaş JK
1949–50	Beşiktaş JK (10)	Fenerbahçe SK
1950–51	Beşiktaş JK (11)	Galatasaray SK
1952	Beşiktaş JK (12)	Galatasaray SK
1952–53	Fenerbahçe SK (14)	Beşiktaş JK
1953–54	Beşiktaş JK (13)	Galatasaray SK
1954–55	Galatasaray SK (13)	Beşiktaş JK
1955–56	Galatasaray SK (14)	Fenerbahçe SK
1956–57	Fenerbahçe SK (15)	Galatasaray SK
1957–58	Galatasaray SK (15)	Fenerbahçe SK
1958–59	Fenerbahçe SK (16)	Galatasaray SK

Istanbul Sunday League (İstanbul Pazar Ligi)

• 1905 HMS Imogene FC
• 1906 Cadi-Keuy FC
• 1907 Cadi-Keuy FC

• 1908 Moda FC
• 1909 Galatasaray SK
• 1910 Galatasaray SK

• 1911 Galatasaray SK
• 1912 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1913 Unaccomplished due to the Balkan Wars

• 1914 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1915 Fenerbahçe SK

• 
  Cadikeuy Football Club 1905-06 Champion
• 
  Moda FC 1907-08 Champion
• 
  Galatasaray SK 1908-09 Champion
• 
  Galatasaray SK 1909-10 Champion
• 
  Galatasaray SK 1910-11 Champion
• 
  Fenerbahçe SK 1911-12 Champion
• 
  Fenerbahçe SK 1913-14 Champion

Istanbul Friday League (İstanbul Cuma Ligi)

• 1915 Galatasaray SK
• 1916 Galatasaray SK
• 1917 Altınordu İdman Yurdu

• 1918 Altınordu İdman Yurdu
• 1919 Unaccomplished due to Mudros Armistice

• 1920 Cancelled
• 1921 Fenerbahçe SK

• 1922 Galatasaray SK
• 1923 Fenerbahçe SK

• 
  Galatasaray SK 1915-16 Champion
• 
  Altınordu İdman Yurdu 1916-17 and 1917-18 Champion
• 
  Fenerbahçe SK 1920-21 Champion
• 
  Galatasaray SK 1921-22 Champion
• 
  Fenerbahçe SK 1922-23 Champion

Istanbul League (İstanbul Ligi)

• 1924 Beşiktaş JK
• 1925 Galatasaray SK
• 1926 Galatasaray SK
• 1927 Galatasaray SK
• 1928 Cancelled due to the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam
• 1929 Galatasaray SK
• 1930 Fenerbahçe SK

• 1931 Galatasaray SK
• 1932 İstanbulspor
• 1933 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1934 Beşiktaş JK
• 1935 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1936 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1937 Fenerbahçe SK

• 1938 Güneş SK
• 1939 Beşiktaş JK
• 1940 Beşiktaş JK
• 1941 Beşiktaş JK
• 1942 Beşiktaş JK
• 1943 Beşiktaş JK
• 1944 Fenerbahçe SK

• 1945 Beşiktaş JK
• 1946 Beşiktaş JK
• 1947 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1948 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1949 Galatasaray SK
• 1950 Beşiktaş JK
• 1951 Beşiktaş JK

• 
  Beşiktaş JK 1923-24 Champion
• 
  Galatasaray SK 1924-25 Champion
• 
  Galatasaray SK 1925-26 Champion
• 
  Galatasaray SK 1926-27 Champion
• 
  Galatasaray SK 1930-31 Champion
• 
  Istanbulspor 1931-32 Champion
• 
  Besiktas JK 1938-39 Champion

Istanbul Professional League

• 1952 Beşiktaş JK
• 1953 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1954 Beşiktaş JK
• 1955 Galatasaray SK
• 1956 Galatasaray SK
• 1957 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1958 Galatasaray SK
• 1959 Fenerbahçe SK

Performance by club

Club	Titles	Runners-up	Seasons won
Fenerbahçe SK	16	18	1912, 1914, 1915*, 1921, 1923, 1930, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1953, 1957, 1959
Galatasaray SK	15	13	1909, 1910, 1911, 1915*, 1916, 1922, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1949, 1955, 1956, 1958
Beşiktaş JK	13	6	1924, 1934, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954
Altınordu İdman Yurdu	2	3	1917, 1918
Cadi-Keuy FC	2	1	1906, 1907
Moda FC	1	3	1908
HMS Imogene	1	1	1905
Güneş SK	1	1	1938
İstanbulspor	1	–	1932
Üsküdar Anadolu SK	–	2	–
Vefa SK	–	2	–
Rumblers FC	–	1	–
Strugglers FC	–	1	–
Küçükçekmece SK	–	1	–

*Galatasaray in the Istanbul Football Union League and Fenerbahçe in the Istanbul Champions League became champions.

Top Scorers

Season	Club	Top scorer	Goals	Matches	Rate
1928–29	Fenerbahçe SK	Zeki Rıza Sporel (1)	10	9	1.11
1929–30	Fenerbahçe SK	Zeki Rıza Sporel (2)	13	10	1.3
1930–31	Fenerbahçe SK	Zeki Rıza Sporel (3)	17	13	1.31
	Fenerbahçe SK	Fikret Arıcan (1)	17	14	1.21
1931–32	Beşiktaş JK	Hakkı Yeten (1)	8	5	1.60
1932–33	Beşiktaş JK	Hakkı Yeten (2)	10	11	0.91
1933–34	Beşiktaş JK	Hakkı Yeten (3)	10	12	0.83
1934–35	Fenerbahçe SK	Namık Erbay (1)	13	11	1.18
1935–36	Fenerbahçe SK	Ali Rıza Tansı (1)	19	21	0.90
	Fenerbahçe SK	Naci Bastoncu (1)	19	21	0.90
1936–37	Fenerbahçe SK	Esat Kaner (1)	14	10	1.40
1937–38	Beşiktaş JK	Şeref Görkey (1)	16	9	1.78
1938–39	Fenerbahçe SK	Fikret Arıcan (2)	25	15	1.67
1939–40	Galatasaray SK	Cemil Gürgen Erlertürk (1)	30	16	1.88
1940–41	Beşiktaş JK	Şeref Görkey (2)	22	15	1.47
1941–42	Fenerbahçe SK	Melih Kotanca (1)	23	14	1.64
1942–43	Galatasaray SK	Cemil Gürgen Erlertürk (2)	22	11	2.00
1943–44	Beşiktaş JK	Şükrü Gülesin (1)	27	17	1.59
	Fenerbahçe SK	Müzdat Yetkiner (1)	27	16	1.69
1944–45	Beşiktaş JK	Kemal Gülçelik (1)	27	18	1.50
1945–46	Beşiktaş JK	Şükrü Gülesin (2)	11	13	0.85
1946–47	Beşiktaş JK	Şükrü Gülesin (3)	9	14	0.64
	Galatasaray SK	Reha Eken (1)	9	12	0.75
1947–48	Fenerbahçe SK	Halit Deringör (1)	12	13	0.92
	Fenerbahçe SK	Lefter Küçükandonyadis (1)	12	14	0.86
1948–49	Beşiktaş JK	Şükrü Gülesin (4)	13	12	1.08
1949–50	Beşiktaş JK	Bülent Esel (1)	19	14	1.36
1950–51	Beşiktaş JK	Recep Adanır (1)	13	14	1.36
1952	Beşiktaş JK	Şevket Yorulmaz (1)	19	14	1.36
1952–53	Beşiktaş JK	Şevket Yorulmaz (2)	17	18	0.94
1953–54	Fenerbahçe SK	Lefter Küçükandonyadis (2)	14	14	1.00
1954–55	Galatasaray SK	Ali Beratlıgil (1)	14	18	0.78
1955–56	Galatasaray SK	Metin Oktay (1)	19	17	1.12
1956–57	Galatasaray SK	Metin Oktay (2)	17	16	1.06
1957–58	Galatasaray SK	Metin Oktay (3)	19	17	1.12
1958–59	Galatasaray SK	Metin Oktay (4)	22	16	1.38

Records

Titles

• Most titles: 16
  • Fenerbahçe SK

• Most consecutive titles: 5
  • Beşiktaş JK (1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43)

Biggest wins

• 20–0, Galatasaray SK vs Vefa SK, 1925–26
• 16–0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Anadolu Üsküdar 1908, 1930–31
• 14–0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Topkapı SK, 1938–39
• 14–0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Topkapı SK, 1939–40
• 14–1, Galatasaray SK vs Anadolu Üsküdar 1908, 1914–15
• 13–0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Süleymaniye SK, 1930–31
• 13–0, Beşiktaş JK vs Hilal SK, 1939–40
• 13–1, Fenerbahçe SK vs Davutpaşa SK, 1942–43
• 12–0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Süleymaniye SK, 1915–16
• 12–0, Beşiktaş JK vs Topkapı SK, 1939–40
• 12–1, Galatasaray SK vs Topkapı SK, 1936–37
• 12–1, Beşiktaş JK vs Taksim SK, 1941–42
• 11–0, Galatasaray SK vs Moda-Imogene Muhteliti, 1909–10
• 10–0, Galatasaray SK vs Süleymaniye SK, 1934–35
• 11–2, Beşiktaş JK vs Eyüp SK, 1936–37
• 11–2, Galatasaray SK vs Eyüp SK, 1937–38
• 11–2, Beşiktaş JK vs Eyüp SK, 1937–38
• 11–2, Beşiktaş JK vs Kasımpaşa SK, 1943–44
• 11–2, Beşiktaş JK vs İstanbulspor, 1943–44

References

Sources

• Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü Tarihi 1907–1957, Dr. Rüştü Dağlaroğlu
• Yüce, Mehmet (2015). İdmancı Ruhlar: Futbol Tarihimizin Klasik Devreleri: 1923–1952. Türkiye Futbol Tarihi (in Turkish). Vol. 2. Istanbul: İletişim Yayınları. ISBN 9789750516955.
• Arıpınar, Erdoğan; et al. (June 1992). Türk Futbol Tarihi 1904–1991 (in Turkish). Vol. 1. Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu Yayınları.