Özkan Sümer

Özkan Sümer — Biography

Özkan Sümer was born on 20 November 1940 in Trabzon, Turkey. He began his football career as a defender for Trabzonspor and went on to become one of the club's most recognized figures. After retiring as a player, he moved into coaching, leading Trabzonspor, Galatasaray, Denizlispor, Samsunspor and the Turkey national football team over the course of his career.

Sümer is closely tied to Trabzonspor's celebrated run in the second half of the 1970s, when the club became the first Anatolian side to win the Turkish championship, a squad remembered as the "Black Sea Storm." During that era he alternated as head coach with Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı. His connection to the club extended beyond the pitch, as he later served as Trabzonspor's 12th club president. Sümer died on 22 December 2020 in his hometown of Trabzon, and he continues to be commemorated by the club and its supporters at his graveside each year on the anniversary of his death.