Fethi Heper is a former footballer and academician. He was part of the founding squad of Eskişehirspor and became one of the club’s all-time top scorers. Heper, who was the top goalscorer in the Turkish First League twice, also played for the national team. Advancing in academia alongside his football career, he attained the title of professor and held various positions within the Turkish Football Federation. He passed away on 13 February 2025 at the age of 81.

_{Youth photograph of Fethi Heper – Turkish Football Federation}

Fethi Heper was born on 3 February 1944 in Eskişehir. He completed his secondary education at Eskişehir College. With a scholarship he received, he studied for one year in San Francisco, United States. There, he played for a Spanish team and attracted attention by scoring eight goals in his debut match. He returned to Türkiye in 1961 and completed his secondary education.

He began his higher education at Middle East Technical University but later transferred to the Eskişehir Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences. He completed his undergraduate studies in 1967. He earned his doctorate in 1978, became an associate professor in 1981, and attained the title of professor in 1988.

Fethi Heper began his football career in 1960 with Eskişehir Gençlik Kulübü. In 1965, he joined the founding squad of Eskişehirspor and spent his entire professional career at the club. Between 1965 and 1974, he made 300 appearances for Eskişehirspor and scored 121 goals. He was the top goalscorer in the Turkish First League during the 1969–70 and 1971–72 seasons.

Heper played a key role in Eskişehirspor’s successes during the 1970s. On 5 May 1970, he stood out by scoring all three goals in the club’s 3–1 victory over Sevilla in the Fair Cities Cup. He was part of the Eskişehirspor squad that won the Turkish Cup in the 1970–71 season. He ranked third in the UEFA Cup scoring charts with six goals.

He earned three caps for the Turkey national team. Noted for his performances in international matches, Heper became one of the Turkish footballers with the most goals scored in a single international match, netting four against Malta (Finland). His nickname “Çengel Fethi” was given to him for his skill in controlling aerial balls with his chest. He retired from football after sustaining an injury in 1974.

_{Fethi Heper – Türkiye Gazetesi}

After concluding his football career, Heper focused on academic work. He began his tenure at the Eskişehir Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences, specializing in finance. He became an associate professor in 1981 and a full professor in 1988. He served as a faculty member in the Finance Department of the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences. He retired on 26 June 2011.

Following his football career, Heper also took on administrative roles, serving on the board of directors of Eskişehirspor. In 1997, he was elected to the Turkish Football Federation Board of Directors under the presidency of Mikdat Kiğılı. In subsequent years, he held various positions within the federation during the administrations of Haluk Ulusoy and Yıldırım Demirören. During Yıldırım Demirören’s tenure, he served as a board member responsible for national teams.

Fethi Heper was receiving treatment at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Health, Practice and Research Hospital due to COPD when he passed away on 13 February 2025 at the age of 81. His funeral will be held on 15 February 2025 at Mahmud Sami Ramazanoğlu Camii, after which he will be laid to rest.