Ahmet Özacar

Ahmet Özacar — Biography

Ahmet Refik Özacar, known at Beşiktaş as "Küçük Ahmet" (Little Ahmet), was a Turkish international footballer who wore only the black-and-white shirt from 1955 to 1971. Fans and club circles regard him as one of the most legendary players in Beşiktaş history, and he is in the club's "Bronze 11" team of the century.

He joined Beşiktaş in 1955 from the Istanbul amateur side Şehremini Altınok. Because the squad already had an Ahmet five years his senior, Ahmet Berman, he became "Küçük" (Little). For sixteen years he played across the attacking line, from centre-forward to either wing and right inside. He was known for his goals-per-game average and for derbies, scoring nine goals each against Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. His was the only goal in the 1-0 win over Rapid Wien on 28 September 1960, Beşiktaş's first victory in European competition. In the Turkish top flight, founded in 1959, he scored 98 goals in 309 matches.

He won the league in 1959-60, 1965-66 and 1966-67 and the Federation Cup twice, and was an important part of the side that won two championships in a row for the first time. He had his testimonial in 1970 but was recalled the next season, when the club was in crisis, and came on in the second half of three league games. He won two senior caps and one for the B team. He died in Istanbul on 23 October 2005, aged 68, and was buried at Kozlu Cemetery; every year club officials and fans gather at his grave on the anniversary of his death.