Varol Ürkmez

Varol Ürkmez — Biography

Varol Ürkmez was born on July 17, 1937, in Adapazarı (present-day Sakarya). A goalkeeper, he is remembered chiefly for his years with Beşiktaş and Altay İzmir, though he also played for Galatasaray, Manisaspor and Tekelspor. His performance in Beşiktaş's away leg against Real Madrid in the 1958-59 European Champion Clubs' Cup earned him the nickname "Panther of Madrid," while his flamboyant, high-flying saves also led some to call him — half mockingly — the "Flying Goalkeeper."

Beyond the pitch, Ürkmez became a fixture of the tabloid press for his colorful private life, including a fondness for nightlife and a long list of romantic engagements that reportedly included well-known figures such as actress Fatma Girik. Riding his popularity in the 1960s, he also appeared in several Yeşilçam films, including Sırrı Gültekin's Kavgasız Yaşayalım (1963) and Şekerli Misin Vay Vay (1965), Kenan Pars's Aklın Durur (1965), and Veli Akbaşlı's Tavan Arası (1965).

He died in Istanbul on January 29, 2021, following a sudden heart attack while undergoing cancer treatment.