Özhan Canaydın

Özhan Canaydın — Biography

Özhan Canaydın was a businessman in the textile sector who played for Galatasaray's basketball team and later led the club as its 33rd president from 2002 to 2008. During his presidency the football team won two championships and a Turkish Cup and the Türk Telekom Arena was built; he was respected even by rival fans for his fair-play approach. He died in Bursa on March 22, 2010.

He became a member of Galatasaray in 1957 at the age of 14 and was counted the club's youngest member. From 1958 to 1964 he played in the club's cadet, junior and senior basketball teams; in 1962 he took part in the European Junior Championship with the youth national team, and in 1963 he was one of the eight players of the Galatasaray side that became Turkish champions. He also graduated from Galatasaray High School in 1963. He retired from basketball in 1964.

In 1963 he entered business in his father's textile firm, soon set up his own company, and in 1984 invested with Italian partners in weaving, knitting, dyeing and garment production. The factory in Bursa, known as Biesseci, made export goods for international brands. At Galatasaray he served under the administrations of Ali Tanrıyar, Alp Yalman and Faruk Süren; in March 2002 he was elected president with 3,479 votes ahead of Mehmet Cansun, was re-elected in 2004 and 2006, and for a period also headed the Turkish clubs' association. He was married with two children. Galatasaray remembers him every year on the anniversary of his death, and a conference hall and an equestrian tournament at the club carry his name.