Birol Pekel

Birol Pekel — Biography

Salih Birol Pekel (18 August 1938, Kadıköy, Istanbul – 7 February 2004, Istanbul) was a Turkish footballer, coach and club official who played as a forward. Before turning to football he had also been active as a basketball player.

Unusually for Turkish football, he wore the colours of both Istanbul rivals, Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe, and is counted among the legendary players of each; he also played for Rizespor. He was part of the Beşiktaş side that won the club's first Turkish championship and of the Fenerbahçe team that took two consecutive titles, including the 1967-68 season in which the club completed the first double in its history. He also appeared for the Turkish national team.

Pekel's name is inseparable from that of Şenol Birol, his long-time attacking partner at Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Rizespor, for whom he was the principal provider. Supporters composed the rhyming chant "Şenol-Birol gol" for the pair, which became popular enough that a feature film of the same title was made in 1965, with Pekel appearing in a supporting part. After retiring he worked as a coach and as a football administrator.