Nurizade Ziya Songülen was born in Istanbul in 1886. He was a bureaucrat, engineer, and sports administrator who was active in administrative, diplomatic, and sporting fields during the final years of the Ottoman Empire and the founding years of Türkiye.^【1】.

He assumed leadership among the founders of the Fenerbahçe Sports Club, established in 1907, and became its first president (1907–1908)^【2】. He played a primary role in determining the club’s name, selecting its first emblem, and securing its initial material resources. Coming from a prominent family and having received civil engineering education in London, Nurizade Ziya Songülen served as an inspector within Düyun-u Umumiye and was among the founders of Union Club (İttihat Spor), one of the earliest initiatives for modern sports infrastructure. He also carried out diplomatic missions on behalf of the Ankara Government during the National Struggle^【3】.

Family Origins and Social Status

Nurizade Ziya Bey was born in Istanbul in 1886. Through his mother’s line, he belonged to the Ottoman dynasty and came from a family with deep economic and social roots. Family members held the highest administrative positions in the Ottoman state for over a century, including Grand Vizier, Grand Admiral, Governor, Mayor, Minister of Justice and Foreign Affairs, and Ambassadorship. The honorific "Nurizade" he used until the Surname Law was derived from his grandfather, Mehmed Nuri Pasha, a Foreign Minister of the Tanzimat era who served as ambassador to London and Paris. His actual name was Mehmet Ziyad. His family embraced Western philosophy and prioritized a corresponding educational approach^【4】.

Educational Background

Ziya Bey received a European education in early childhood under British governesses. He completed his secondary education at Saint Joseph High School and graduated in 1903 at the age of 17. Known during his school years as "Fil Ziya" due to his physical stature, he traveled to England after graduation to study civil engineering in London. This education enabled him to attain native-level proficiency in both English and French^【5】.

Düyun-u Umumiye Period

After completing his education in London, Nurizade Ziya Bey returned to Istanbul in 1906 and began his professional career at Düyun-u Umumiye, one of the state’s financial oversight institutions. He started as a clerk and later rose to the position of inspector. Throughout his career, he demonstrated a work ethic shaped by Western philosophy and discipline^【6】.

Founding of Fenerbahçe Sports Club

In the spring of 1907, Nurizade Ziya Bey, together with Enver Yetiker, Ayetullah Bey, Necip Okaner, and Asaf Beşpınar, founded the Fenerbahçe Football Club^【7】. Assuming a leadership role among the founding members, he served as Fenerbahçe’s first president from 1907 to 1908^【8】.

Using his personal resources, he procured the team’s first uniforms and necessary sporting equipment.

He played an active role in selecting the club’s first emblem, designated as "The Lighthouse That Sheds Light," and in adopting the name "Fenerbahçe." He also initiated diplomatic efforts to secure the club’s participation in leagues by meeting with James Lafontaine, the organizer of the Istanbul Football League^【9】.

Sports Career

In addition to his administrative duties, Nurizade Ziya Bey actively played as a defender for Fenerbahçe’s first football team. Recognized for his physical strength, he ensured defensive stability and exhibited a distinctive character on the field through powerful shots. The only surviving photograph of him, taken at the end of 1908, depicts him in Fenerbahçe uniform as a player^【10】.

Departure from Fenerbahçe

Nurizade Ziya Bey’s departure from the club occurred gradually. He stepped down as president in 1909 and resigned from club membership in 1910. Reasons for his departure included the team’s poor results in the league, the burden of the club’s financial obligations falling solely on him, and his desire to focus on the Union Club (İttihat Spor) project. Even after his resignation, he did not entirely sever ties with the club; he personally paid the rental fees for Union Club’s grounds to enable Fenerbahçe’s training sessions, thereby providing indirect support^【11】.

Union Club (İttihat Spor) Initiative

In late 1908, he became one of the founders of Union Club alongside figures such as James Lafontaine and Mr. Whittal. This initiative aimed to professionalize sports and manage them according to commercial principles, diverging from the amateur ethos of the time. He played an active role in leasing the land where today’s Fenerbahçe Stadium stands from Sultan II. Abdülhamit and contributed significantly to securing the capital required for construction. He led the establishment of modern facilities at Union Club capable of hosting multiple sports—including cricket, football, tennis, and athletics—and a 1,000-seat grandstand^【12】.

Political Identity and Diplomatic Activities During the National Struggle

Nurizade Ziya Bey held an active Committee of Union and Progress identity aligned with the Young Turk philosophy. In 1918, he traveled to Frankfurt, Germany, for professional training. During the Turkish War of Independence, he provided diplomatic support to the Ankara Government and served as "Katip" (Secretary) in the delegation that attended the 1921 London Conference. Prior to the conference, he conducted technical and diplomatic assessments in the Samsun and Trabzon regions and presented his findings to the international press to advocate for the national cause^【13】.

Death

Nurizade Ziya Songülen died in 1936. He is buried in the Aşiyan Cemetery in Bebek^【14】. In commemoration of the club’s 110th anniversary, Fenerbahçe Sports Club erected a memorial tomb for Ziya Bey. The inauguration ceremony of this memorial tomb took place on 22 December 2017, attended by club leadership, members of the Songülen family, and youth academy athletes^【15】.