Hamit Arslan

Hamit Arslan — Biography

Hamit Arslan was a Turkish footballer and military veteran born in 1894 in the Ottoman Empire. He served for many years as a player, team captain and technical director of İzmir's historic Altay club. Captured by British forces in World War I and later active in the Turkish War of Independence, he served among the forces under Fahrettin Pasha that entered İzmir on September 9, 1922, then settled in İzmir and joined Altay after being discharged.

The first footballer from İzmir capped for the Turkish national team, Arslan was part of Turkey's squad at the 1924 Paris Olympics and made several national-team appearances. His long tenure as Altay's captain earned him the nickname "Baba" (Father), and he is remembered as one of the club's longest-serving captains of the early republican era; his exact date of death is not clearly documented.

After retiring, he worked as a sports columnist for Sada-yı Hak and Anadolu, and as a railway clerk in Uşak, where he also played for and coached Uşak Turan İdman Yurdu, winning several titles. Known for his authoritative yet gracious manner, he earned respect across İzmir's sporting community.