Vahap Özaltay

Vahap Özaltay or Vehâb Özaltay[1] (born, Beşir oğlu Vahap;[2] in 1907,[3] 1908[4] or 1909[3] – 10 June 1965) was a Turkish international footballer[5] and track and field athlete.[6]

Vahap Özaltay
Personal information
Date of birth 1907 or 1908 or 1909
Place of birth Istanbul,[1] Ottoman Empire or
Izmir,[2] Ottoman Empire or
Beirut, Ottoman Empire (today Lebanon)
Date of death 10 June 1965
Place of death Izmir, Turkey
Position(s)
Youth career
1921–1922 Kastamonu Sultânisi[1]
1922–1923 Altay S.K.
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1923–1931 Altay S.K.
1932–1934 Racing Club de France
1934–1936 Altay S.K.
1936–1937 Racing Club de France
1937 Şişli Spor Kulübü
1937–1940 Altay S.K.
National team
1932 Turkey 1 (0)
Teams managed
1937 Şişli Spor Kulübü (Player-coach)
1954 Turkey national army football team
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He is most notably for his service at Altay S.K., being the first professional football player in Turkey and being the first Turkish player to ever play for a foreign club.[7] He chose his last name based on his love for Altay (lit. "Pure/Real Altay").[7]

Özaltay was born in 1908 in Beirut. He was the son of a civil servant. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to Aydın. Shortly after the Greek Occupation of İzmir on 21 May 1919, his family moved to Kastamonu. He started his football career in Kastamonu.

Career

Club career

After the Greek presence ended on 8 September 1922, his family moved to İzmir. He was 14 years old when he started playing for Altay. He started playing in the main squad for Altay beginning in 1922. Altay was the leading Turkish football Club in Izmir. He won Izmir League with Altay on 5 occasions (1923–24, 1924–25, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1930–31).

Özaltay was transferred to the French club Racing Club de Paris in 1932, becoming the first Turkish player to do so. He played in France for 5 seasons for Racing Club. Due to his head-made goals, he was nicknamed "Le Tête de Turc" in France.[5]

In 1937 he returned to Turkey and played for Altay again. This time he played for Altay as a professional football player. He is the first Turkish player given a professional football player certificate by the Turkish State.

International career

Özaltay represented Turkey at senior level once,[1] against Bulgaria in a friendly game, held at Taksim Stadium, Istanbul, on 4 November 1932, ended 3–2 for Bulgaria.[8][9]

Coaching career

After his football career, he worked as a manager for Altay and for the national team of the military. He became famous as being the first manager to use the WM formation.[10] With the national team he won the World Army Football tournament of 1954.

Personal life

Özaltay was married with 7 children.[11] His younger brother, Saim, also played for Altay S.K.[4] Although the rivalry between their clubs, Özaltay and Said Altınordu, Altınordu F.K. icon were best friends.[8] Özaltay died due to a heart attack following his given speech at generalassembly of Altay S.K., on 10 June 1965.[8]

References
Citations
  1. Yüce 2015, p. 260.
  2. Berent 2014, p. 55.
  3. Fidan, Halil (9 June 2020). "Türk sporunun 'Siyah incisi': Vahap Özaltay" (in Turkish). Anadolu News Agency. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  4. Berent 2014, p. 18.
  5. Photograph and information (in Turkish), retrieved 25 May 2015
  6. "Türkiye'nin ilk profesyonel futbolcusu Vahap Özaltay". Milliyet (in Turkish). 3 May 1964. p. 12.
  7. Erten, Bağiş (20 August 2006). "Aurelio bahane, ırkçılık şahane (!)" (in Turkish). radikal.com.tr. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
  8. "Türk Sporunun Acı Kaybı: Vahap Özaltay". Milliyet (in Turkish). Izmir. 12 June 1965. p. 8. Önceki gün Altay kongresinde vefat eden ilk profesyonel futbolcumuz dün törenle toprağa verildi.
    Vahap 1932 Kasımında Bulgaristan'la yaptığımız milli futbol maçında da Ay Yıldızlı formayı giymiştir.
    Önceki gün Altay kongresinde vefat eden ilk profesyonel futbolcumuz dün törenle toprağa verildi
  9. "Türkiye - Bulgaristan TFF Maç Detayı" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  10. Berent 2014, p. 112.
  11. "Metin, Futbolcuları Vazifeye Çağırıyor". Milliyet (in Turkish). 16 June 1965. p. 8. G.Saray ve milli takım kaptanı, hasılatı Özlatay'ın ailesine bırakılmak üzere şöhretlerden kurulu bir takımın Altay'la bir maç yapılmasını teklif etti.
Books
  • Berent, Orhan (2014). Alsancak'ın Sakini Altay (in Turkish). Istanbul: İletişim Yayınları. ISBN 9789750515378.
  • Yüce, Mehmet (2015). İdmancı Ruhlar: Futbol Tarihimizin Klasik Devreleri: 1923-1952 Türkiye Futbol Tarihi - 2. Cilt (in Turkish). Istanbul: İletişim Yayınları. ISBN 9789750516955.
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