Ali Kemal Denizci

Ali Kemal Denizci — Biography

Ali Kemal Denizci is a winger remembered as the star of Trabzonspor's first title-winning years; his pace and unpredictable runs earned him the nickname "Fırtına Kemal" (Storm Kemal). He was central to the club's first promotion to the Süper Lig and its first two championships, and he became Trabzonspor's first national-team player. Fans and the club regard him as one of the most important figures in its history. After retiring he went into coaching, and in 2018 Trabzonspor appointed him a management adviser.

He started at Çarşıbaşı, played for Trabzon Yolspor and Rizespor, and cancelled a contract he had signed with Kayserispor when second-division Trabzonspor made him an offer. The team won the second tier in 1973-74, finished ninth in its first top-flight season and reached the cup final. He was at the heart of the side that won the league in 1975-76 and 1976-77, and he also won the Turkish Cup in 1976-77 and 1977-78. When financial trouble forced Trabzonspor to sell him to Fenerbahçe in 1978, it provoked a strong reaction in Trabzon. At Fenerbahçe he won the 1978-79 Turkish Cup but was unhappy; he moved to Beşiktaş in 1981 in exchange for coach Friedel Rausch signing Ali Kemal's own brother Osman, and won another title in 1981-82.

For Turkey he made 27 appearances and scored 3 goals. After his playing days he spent a period as Trabzonspor's assistant coach, took Kardemir Karabükspor to third place in the 1992-93 second division, and was the Turkish Football Federation's person responsible for the Black Sea region. He is the older brother of Osman Denizci.