Besiktas Gymnastics Club (Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu) was founded with the name of Besiktas Bereket Gymnastics Club on March 1903. Kemal Ataturks modern Turkey was not born yet, it was the time of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The sultan was Abdulhamit. Although those were the days that all the club and sports activities are forbidden, 26 young people founded the club. In a short time,
many other young people were also joined Besiktas and the club became larger. Samil Osman Bey was the first president of the club. Although they were working on different branches, they kept all of their activities in secret.

The first branches of the club were wrestling, boxing, weight-lifting and a variety of gymnastics branches.

The monarchial rules were relaxed with the declaration of mesrutiyet on July 23, 1908, which is a limited version of democracy. A law allowing the foundation of sport clubs was declared on August 3, 1909.

Finally the club was officially registered on January 20, 1910 with the name of Besiktas Ottoman Gymnastics Club and Sukru Pasha took the presidency of Besiktas over.

After all Besiktas became the first officially registered Turkish Club.

Soccer and Besiktas

Some of the young patriots from Besiktas neighborhood in Istanbul formed two soccer clubs called Validecesme and Basiret under the leadership of Seref Bey. They were not a member of Besiktas Gymnastic Club. One day they came together and Seref Bey said:
- Besiktas Ottoman Gymnastic Club is the strongest and biggest club of Besiktas. If we want to think big, we should come together under Besiktas Ottoman Gymnastic Club.

Validecesme and Basiret soccer clubs joined Besiktas Ottoman Gymnastic Club in 1911. In a very short time, soccer became the first branch in the club.

Emblem

The emblem of Besiktas symbolizes the foundation date. There are two white and
three black bars on the emblem. It consists of a total of nine parts.

The first white bar shows 1
The tree black bars show3
The second white bar shows1
Number of bars is 9

The Arabic calender was being used in Ottoman Empire and 1319 is the foundation year of Besiktas in Arabic calender, which is the year 1903 in modern calender.

Colors: Black and White

When Besiktas was founded, the colors of the club were Red and White. After the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, the Ottoman Empire lost most of the Balkan lands and left many deads including some of the sportsmen of the club. This was a black day for the all nation.

Then Besiktas decided to change its Red and White colors to Black and White, as the Black is the symbol of mourning, until all of the Balkan lands are taken back by the Turks.

But the Turks could not get the Balkan lands back and the colors of Besiktas stayed Black and White.


Why Black Eagles

In the 1932-33 season, when the teams came to the last week, Fenerbahce was the leader and Besiktas was the second two points after Fenerbahce, and the last game was between Besiktas and Fenerbahce.

To be the champion, Besiktas might definitely win the game, a tie or loss would make Fenerbahce the champion. Seref Bey who is the one of the greatest personality in Besiktas history passed away just one days before the big game with Fenerbahce.

All Besiktas world was very sad and they played with black socks, shorts and black jersey. All players were throughout black, because black is the symbol of mourning.

All black dressed players attacked Fenerbahce from 1st thru 90th minute. They had 66 attacks on Fenerbahce but unfortunately could not score any of them.

Besiktas lost the championship that year, but all black dressed Besiktas was spoken in every corner of Istanbul.
- They were unbelievable
- What a great team
- They were attacking like eagles
- They were like Black Eagles

Besiktas won something maybe more important than the championship:

It was the glory and the honor of being named as BLACK EAGLES.

 
Copyright © 1998
Ahmet Emre