Nedim Kaleci

Nedim Kaleci — Biography

Nedim Kaleci was a Turkish footballer and sports administrator, born in Istanbul in 1900 and died there on 22 July 1981. He is remembered as the first goalkeeper to play for the Turkish national football team.

Kaleci began his career at Altınordu İdman Yurdu, where his performances between the posts earned him a call-up to the national side for its first official international, a match against Romania on 26 October 1923. He went on to represent Turkey at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris and earned nine further caps before 1925. In 1924 he moved to Fenerbahçe, but a hand injury suffered in an accident forced him to retire from playing at the age of 30, in 1932.

After his playing days ended, Kaleci turned to club administration, serving on Fenerbahçe's Senior Council and holding posts including club board member and vice-chairman between 1939 and 1967-1969, as well as deputy chairman of the Turkish Football Federation. During the surname-law era, his surname "Kaleci" (meaning "goalkeeper") was reportedly given to him by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk himself.