Kemal Rıfat Kalpakçıoğlu

Kemal Rıfat Kalpakçıoğlu — Biography

Kemal Rıfat Kalpakçıoğlu (1899, Istanbul - 7 September 1975, Istanbul) was a Turkish former footballer, referee, coach, administrator and writer. Having started playing football in 1914 as a product of Galatasaray's own youth ranks, he was part of the club's dominant squad during the 1920s, when Galatasaray was the strongest side in Istanbul football, winning the Istanbul Football League championship with the club in the 1925-26 and 1926-27 seasons.

He made his debut for the Turkey national team on 22 June 1924 against Latvia and was part of the squad at the 1924 Paris Olympics that same year, going on to earn nine caps between 1924 and 1927. After retiring as a player, Kalpakçıoğlu worked as a football referee, and he also served as a coach and club administrator.