2026 Fenerbahçe SK Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (June 6–7)

The 2026 Extraordinary General Assembly of Fenerbahçe Sports Club is an administrative process announced by the club’s current president Sadettin Saran through the club’s official communication channels on 28 April 2026 and scheduled to take place on 6–7 June 2026. This decision follows a series of sporting failures including the football team’s elimination from championship contention and the separation of ties with head coach Domenico Tedesco, signaling the beginning of a new era in club management.

Following the team’s defeat to Galatasaray in the league, which left its championship hopes dependent on miracles, the club was prepared for profound administrative and sporting changes. President Sadettin Saran stated that he had consciously delayed certain administrative decisions during the season to avoid harming the team’s championship campaign and focus, but now concluded that further prolonging the process would be inappropriate.

In this context, Saran fulfilled his promise to the club’s community by publicly announcing that an extraordinary general assembly with elections will be held on 6–7 June to open the way for Fenerbahçe’s renewal and allow a new chapter to begin. It has been emphasized that this decision to hold elections was taken with full responsibility, solely motivated by a vision for the club’s future and free from any personal ambition or resentment.

In a detailed message issued on 28 April 2026, Sadettin Saran reflected on the challenges faced since assuming office and summarized his administration. He stressed that when he took on the role, he did not seek patience or time from the community, recognizing that the club could not afford to lose any more time. Despite operating in an environment where conditions were unequal and opportunities were not equally accessible, he affirmed that they never made excuses and worked tirelessly to bring the club to where it deserves to be. Saran highlighted that they deliberately avoided rhetoric that could divide, alienate or provoke conflict within the community, underscoring that their sole focus was Fenerbahçe’s success.

Saran emphasized that the presidency is not a platform for personal ambition and stated that the ability to step down at the right moment is an important virtue. He argued that the true objective is not to remain in office at the cost of harming the club, but to step aside at the appropriate time to enable its growth. He also addressed Fenerbahçe supporters, urging them to avoid internal disputes and personal agendas that drain the club’s energy, reminding them that the only force capable of uniting and strengthening the community is the collective bond around Fenerbahçe. Saran added that even after stepping down, he will continue to support the club alongside his colleagues in management.

With the date of the general assembly confirmed, various names have begun to circulate in unofficial circles as potential candidates for the presidency. According to unofficial reports in the media, Hakan Safi, Barış Göktürk and Mehmet Ali Aydınlar are emerging as leading contenders, and the election is expected to feature at least three candidates. As the process progresses, candidate lists, board member nominations and head coach commitments will be disclosed to the public, leading to a rapid intensification of the race and the emergence of a highly competitive multi-candidate congress atmosphere.

Alongside the administrative decision to hold elections, significant changes have also been made within the football team’s technical staff. Following the defeat to Galatasaray, which effectively ended the team’s championship prospects, head coach Domenico Tedesco was dismissed. According to media reports, the idea of parting ways with the Italian coach had been considered after the earlier loss to Karagümrük but was not implemented at that time; the final decision was made only after the Galatasaray derby. It was also clarified that the decision was taken independently by the management without any player request or influence.

After Tedesco’s departure, President Sadettin Saran visited the Samandıra Can Bartu Facilities and held a meeting with the players. During this meeting, Saran informed the players that the decision to separate from Tedesco was made to clear the way for the incoming management. He instructed the players to win their remaining three matches and emphasized that the team must at least secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

Until the extraordinary general assembly and during the remainder of the season, responsibility for the football team has been entrusted to assistant coach Zeki Murat Göle. The team has begun preparations for its upcoming league match against RAMS Başakşehir FK under Göle’s leadership, with training sessions focusing on indoor drills, passing organization and tactical exercises. The decision regarding the club’s permanent new head coach will be made by the new president and management elected on 6–7 June.

Fenerbahçe Sports Club President Sadettin Saran announced the extraordinary elective general assembly to be held on 6–7 June 2026, marking the beginning of a process in which individuals seeking to assume club leadership have sequentially disclosed their candidacies and strategies to the public. This process has unfolded according to a multifaceted timeline featuring official candidate announcements, internal merger appeals, and withdrawals by several figures previously mentioned as potential candidates.

Following the formal commencement of the election process, those intending to run for president have made their declarations in sequence:

At the outset of the process, former Fenerbahçe administrator and businessman Hakan Safi formally announced his unconditional candidacy for the presidency in the elective extraordinary congress via a written statement. A congress member since 1999, Safi described the club as “a great value, a sense of belonging and a passion alive in the hearts of millions,” and stated that their primary goal upon assuming office would be to bring the team titles in their first season. Safi also emphasized that regardless of who else enters the race, he would not withdraw from the election, firmly asserting his commitment.

Former member of the Board of Directors of Fenerbahçe Football AŞ, Barış Göktürk, has also declared his intention to run for president in the extraordinary elective general assembly.

Prior to the election, former administrator Mehmet Ali Aydınlar, whose name had been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, issued a written statement declaring he would not run. Aydınlar stated that the public debate sparked by his name being linked to candidacy had harmed Fenerbahçe’s sense of unity and contradicted the principles and values he upholds. Declaring that “Fenerbahçe is the club of values, not individuals,” Aydınlar announced to the public that he would not participate in the extraordinary congress race to prevent the club’s future from being overshadowed by personal disputes.

The club’s former president Aziz Yıldırım announced his candidacy in a written statement to Anadolu Agency. Yıldırım explained that while he had declared his candidacy in 2024 to better manage the club and in 2025 had advocated for younger leaders to take over, the current critical juncture—both economically and sportingly—compelled him to assume responsibility once again. Yıldırım declared himself a candidate for the club’s historic 120th anniversary, arguing that only strengthened unity and solidarity can resolve the chaos currently engulfing Fenerbahçe. In this spirit, he extended a merger proposal to all potential candidates, including previously announced contenders Barış Göktürk and Hakan Safi, emphasizing that experience and youth must act together.

The professional backgrounds and connections to the club of those announced as candidates for the presidency in the elective extraordinary general assembly are as follows:

^{Aziz Yıldırım (AA)}

Born on 2 November 1952, Yıldırım completed his primary and secondary education in Düzce, played amateur football, and graduated as a civil engineer from what is now Gazi University’s Faculty of Engineering. He served on the club’s board between 1990 and 1992 and was elected president of Fenerbahçe Sports Club on 15 February 1998, succeeding Ali Şen. He held the presidency continuously for 20 years until 3 June 2018, when he handed over the position to Ali Koç. During his tenure, the club won six Süper Lig titles, two Turkish Cups, and three Super Cups. In the 2007–2008 season, Fenerbahçe reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League and advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Europa League. The basketball branch also won the EuroLeague championship in 2017 under his leadership. Numerous facilities including the Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex, Ülker Sports Arena, Topuk Yaylası Facilities, and Can Bartu Facilities were constructed or renovated during his presidency. He also oversaw the transfers of globally renowned stars such as Alex de Souza, Roberto Carlos, Anelka, and Ortega.

^{Hakan Safi (AA)}

Born in 1973 in the Kasımpaşa district of Istanbul, Safi completed his secondary education at FMV Özel Işık High School, earned his undergraduate degree in Economics at Marmara University, and obtained a master’s degree in English Business Administration. He further completed an MBA at Boston University School of Management in the United States. Safi assumed control of his family’s businesses in the 2000s and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Safi Holding, which operates across diverse sectors including coal trading, port management (Safiport Derince), cement, food (Çorum Sugar Factory), and maritime industries. With a net worth of $750 million, he ranks 61st on Forbes Turkey’s list of the 100 Richest Turks. He has also held positions within the club’s board during the administrations of Ali Koç, elected in June 2024, and Sadettin Saran.

^{Barış Göktürk (AA)}

Born in Istanbul in 1982, Göktürk graduated from Saint Benoit French High School and the University of California with a degree in Business Economics. As Chairman of the Founding Board of Göktürk Holding and CEO of Yükselen Çelik A.Ş., he leads a group with companies operating in iron and steel, industry, commercial real estate, and exhibition management across Türkiye, the United States and Germany. In 2013, he acquired Ramateks Metal from the US-based Mechel Group and took Yükselen Çelik public in 2019. In 2022, he was ranked 29th on The Economist’s list of the 40 most successful CEOs and businesspeople under 40 in Türkiye. A member of the National Die Manufacturers Union (UKUB) and the Defense Aviation Cluster (SAHA), Göktürk served on the Board of Directors of Fenerbahçe Football AŞ during the 2024–2025 term and held the position of Executive Chairman of the Fenerbahçe Development Platform.

Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü President Sadettin Saran announced the extraordinary elective general assembly to be held on 6–7 June 2026, marking the beginning of a process in which individuals seeking to take over the club’s leadership have sequentially disclosed their candidacies and strategies. This process has unfolded according to a multifaceted timeline featuring official candidacy announcements, internal merger appeals, and the withdrawal of several previously mentioned figures from the race.

Following the formal initiation of the election process, those intending to run for president have made their declarations in sequence:

At the outset of the process, former Fenerbahçe administrator and businessman Hakan Safi formally announced in a written statement his unconditional candidacy for the presidency at the elective extraordinary congress. A congress member since 1999, Safi described the club as “a great value, a sense of belonging and a passion alive in the hearts of millions,” and stated that their primary goal upon assuming office would be to bring the team back to championship success in their first season. Safi also emphasized that regardless of who else enters the race, he would not withdraw from the election.

Former member of the Board of Directors of Fenerbahçe Futbol AŞ, Barış Göktürk, has also declared his intention to run for president in the extraordinary elective general assembly.

The club’s former president Aziz Yıldırım announced his candidacy in a written statement to Anadolu Agency. Yıldırım stated that he had declared his candidacy in 2024 to better manage the club, and in 2025 attempted to make way for new leadership by advocating that “the youth must take over.” However, given the current critical juncture facing the club economically and sportingly, he has decided to assume responsibility once again. Yıldırım declared his candidacy for the club’s legendary 120th anniversary, arguing that the only way out of the current chaos is through strengthened unity and solidarity. In this spirit, he has extended a merger proposal to all potential candidates, including Barış Göktürk and Hakan Safi, who previously announced their candidacies, emphasizing that experience and youth must move forward together.

The professional backgrounds and connections to the club of those announced as candidates for the presidency in the elective extraordinary general assembly are as follows:

^{Aziz Yıldırım (AA)}

Born on 2 November 1952, Yıldırım completed his primary and secondary education in Düzce, played amateur football, and graduated as a civil engineer from what is now Gazi University’s Faculty of Engineering. He served on the club’s board between 1990 and 1992, and was elected President of Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü on 15 February 1998, succeeding Ali Şen. He held the presidency continuously from 1998 to 2018, stepping down at the general assembly on 3 June 2018 in favor of Ali Koç. During his tenure, the club won six Süper Lig titles, two Turkish Cups, and three Turkish Super Cups. In the 2007–2008 season, the football team reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League and advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Europa League. Additionally, the basketball branch won the EuroLeague championship in 2017 under his leadership. Numerous facilities including the Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex, Ülker Sports Arena, Topuk Yaylası Facilities, and Can Bartu Facilities were constructed or renovated during his presidency. He also oversaw the transfers of globally renowned stars such as Alex de Souza, Roberto Carlos, Anelka, and Ortega.

^{Hakan Safi (AA)}

Born in 1973 in the Kasımpaşa district of Istanbul, Safi completed his undergraduate studies at Marmara University’s Department of Economics and earned a master’s degree in English Business Administration. He further obtained an MBA from Boston University School of Management in the United States. Safi assumed control of his family’s businesses in the 2000s and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Safi Holding, which operates across diverse sectors including coal trading, port management (Safiport Derince), cement, food (Çorum Sugar Factory), and maritime industries. With a net worth of $750 million, he ranks 61st on Forbes Turkey’s list of “The 100 Richest Turks.” He has also held positions within the club’s board during the presidencies of Ali Koç and Sadettin Saran, both elected in June 2024.

^{Barış Göktürk (AA)}

Born in Istanbul in 1982, Göktürk is a graduate of Saint Benoit French High School and the University of California with a degree in Business Economics. As Chairman of the Founding Board of Göktürk Holding and CEO of Yükselen Çelik A.Ş., he leads a group with companies operating in iron and steel, industry, commercial real estate, and exhibition sectors across Türkiye, the United States, and Germany. In 2013, he acquired Ramateks Metal from the US-based Mechel Group, and in 2019 he led the public offering of Yükselen Çelik. In 2022, he was ranked 29th on The Economist’s list of “Turkey’s 40 Most Successful CEOs and Businesspeople Under 40.” Göktürk is a member of the National Die Makers Association (UKUB) and the Defense Aviation Cluster (SAHA). He served on the Board of Directors of Fenerbahçe Futbol AŞ during the 2024–2025 term and held the position of Executive Chairman of the Fenerbahçe Development Platform.