FOUNDATION & CREST
Fenerbahçe
An idea that took root in Kadıköy.
How did a club begin, and how did its colours and crest tell its story?
- Founded
- 1907
- Place
- Moda, Kadıköy, Istanbul
- Founding figures
- Ziya Songülen, Ayetullah Bey, Necip Okaner and their friends
01 / BEGINNINGS
The founding story
Fenerbahçe grew from the wish of young men in Moda to form their own team in 1907. Ziya Songülen became the first president, Ayetullah Bey the secretary, and Necip Okaner the captain and treasurer. Local playing fields and schools supplied the early football community.
The first colours were yellow and white; yellow and navy followed in 1909. Shortages of players and resources made the early years difficult, and youth teams helped the club survive. Its beginnings were as much a local collective effort as a founding meeting.
Milestones in the story
- 1907Founded in Moda
- 1909Yellow and navy adopted
- 1910Hikmet Topuzer’s badge
- 1929Latin lettering on the border
02 / IDENTITY
How the crest took shape
The early symbol referred to the lighthouse at Fenerbahçe Point. Left winger Hikmet Topuzer drew the core of the present badge in 1910. Yellow and navy, a red field, a white surround and a green oak branch formed its five-colour composition.
A major visible change came in the surrounding inscription: the Latin alphabet replaced the Ottoman lettering from 1929. Small refinements followed, but the branch, colour fields and circular border endured. The two images show that continuity across the lettering change.
The changing shape of the crest
Historical designs and the current crest are shown to compare the club’s identity. Not every minor shirt-print difference represents a separate official design.