Istanbul Football League

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)

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.

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

[1][2][3]

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)

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)

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

Beşiktaş JK 1923-24 Champion
Galatasaray SK 1924-25 Champion
Galatasaray SK 1925-26 Champion
Galatasaray SK 1926-27 Champion
1928-29 Galatasaray SK Champion
Galatasaray SK 1930-31 Champion
Istanbulspor 1931-32 Champion
Besiktas JK 1938-39 Champion

Istanbul Professional League

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	11	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	–

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	Müjdat 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

"Turkey - Istanbul League 1904–1918". rsssf.com. RSSSF. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
"İstanbul Ligi Tarihi" (in Turkish). Retrieved 25 January 2018.
"İstanbul Futbol Ligleri" (in Turkish). TFAB. Retrieved 25 January 2018.

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). 2. Istanbul: İletişim Yayınları. ISBN 9789750516955.
Arıpınar, Erdoğan; et al. (June 1992). Türk Futbol Tarihi 1904–1991 (in Turkish). 1. Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu Yayınları.

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[1] "Turkey - Istanbul League 1904–1918". rsssf.com. RSSSF. Retrieved 25 January 2018.

[2] "İstanbul Ligi Tarihi" (in Turkish). Retrieved 25 January 2018.

[3] "İstanbul Futbol Ligleri" (in Turkish). TFAB. Retrieved 25 January 2018.