Süleyman Seba, honorary chairman of Turkey’s giant soccer club Beşiktaş, died this evening at the age of 88. He was incumbent between 1984 and 2000.
While he was reported having health issues lately, he was hospitalized in June for high fever.
Beşiktaş JC released an official statement with the headline “Our pain is great! We have lost our honorary president Süleyman Seba".
The statement also cited the following: “Süleyman Seba, the most important figure of Beşiktaş attitude will from now on live in the hearts of all Beşiktaş JC community…His memory will never leave our minds.”
Who is Süleyman Seba?
Süleyman Seba (Abkhaz name Tsyba) was born on 5 April 1926 in Soğuksulu, a village in the Sakarya Province of Turkey.
Sent to Istanbul by his father for education, Seba attended the prestigious Galatasaray High School in the Beyoğlu district for a while, but later went to Kabataş High Schoolon the Bosphorus, another prestigious historic Turkish high school, in the Beşiktaş district.
Seba later enrolled into Istanbul University's Faculty of Literature, but due to his football career he never graduated.
Seba started to play football in the Kabataş High School team. The promising player was soon discovered by the local football club Beşiktaş J.K. and admitted to its junior team. With his contribution, the junior team became the champions of that season, and Seba was promoted to the rank of team captain a short time later. In 1945, he was called to become a member of the A-team.
Seba went down in Turkish football history when he scored the first ever goal in BJK İnönü Stadium against the Swedish side Allmänna Idrottsklubben during the inauguration match of the venue in 1947.
In 1954, he was forced to retire from his career as a footballer due to a meniscus injury. During his entire professional career he played only for Beşiktaş J.K..
There is not much information on Seba's years after retiring from active sports. However, it is known that he served for some time in the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and rose to the rank of colonel.
In 1957, Seba became an active member of Beşiktaş J.K..
Six years later, in 1963, he became a member of the club's Presidential Council.
In 1984 Seba took the helm of the club, gaining more votes in the presidential election than Mehmet Üstünkaya who was the club president between 1981–1984. The election was held on April 1, 1984. Seba got the support of 403 members whereas Üstünkaya obtained the support of 338 members. During this election Seba received the support of the all-time Beşiktaş legend "Baba" (Father) Hakkı Yeten.
In his second year as chairman, Beşiktaş won the Turkish Super League championship for the first time in four years. Beşiktaş immediately became the dominant team in Turkey and in the 1986–1987 season reached the quarter-finals of the European Champion Clubs' Cup (known as the UEFA Champions League today) but lost to Dinamo Kiev.
Seba went on for a 16-year presidency as club chairman of Beşiktaş J.K.. During the elections of 2000, Seba declared that he would not run for another term.
Seba is still one of the most respected figures (and the honorary chairman) of Beşiktaş J.K. which became a financially strong club thanks to his efforts – far stronger than the practically bankrupt club which he took over in 1984. (HK/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
