İsfendiyar Açıksöz

İsfendiyar Açıksöz — Biography

İsfendiyar Açıksöz was born on 19 July 1929 in Kastamonu, the son of Hüsnü Açıksöz, and was educated at Galatasaray High School. Playing as a right winger, he spent most of his career at Galatasaray and became closely associated with the club, earning the nickname "Serçe" (the Sparrow). In the 1950s he was part of the celebrated squad that also included Metin Oktay, Suat Mamat, Kadri Aytaç, Ali Beratlıgil and Turgay Şeren, and he was regarded as one of the finest right wingers of his generation; he also represented the Turkey national team.

After retiring as a player he moved into coaching, and is reported to have joined Orduspor as a player-manager during that period. From the 1970s into the 1980s he served for many years as a club official at Galatasaray, remaining a board member until his death. İsfendiyar Açıksöz died in Istanbul on 12 December 2006; following funeral prayers at Fatih Mosque, he was buried at Feriköy Cemetery.