Ümit Aktan was a former footballer, sports commentator, television presenter, and journalist who left a lasting mark on the history of Turkish sports broadcasting. He was born on 21 January 1949 in the Nazilli district of Aydın and passed away on 7 August 2025 at the age of 76.

Ümit Aktan – (Anadolu Ajansı)

Early Life

Ümit Aktan was born on 21 January 1949 in the Nazilli district of Aydın. He developed an interest in football during his high school years and joined the youth academy of Galatasaray Sports Club. However, his football career ended prematurely due to an injury sustained at a young age. Following this injury, he was unable to continue playing football at a professional level.

Beginning of His Sports Commentary Career

After retiring from football, Ümit Aktan entered the media industry and began working as a sports commentator for the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in 1972. Through this role, he became a regular presence on screen, providing live commentary for a wide range of sporting events. As sports programs gained consistent television coverage during these years, he achieved nationwide recognition.

Broadcasting and Hosting Activities

After his tenure at TRT, Aktan joined TGRT during its founding phase, where he provided match commentary and hosted various sports and competition programs. Later, he moved to Kanal 6, where he began hosting the program “Haydi Maça.” This program was subsequently transferred to Kanal A and continued until 2009.

Between 2007 and 2014, he served as a commentator on the program “Futbol Gecesi,” broadcast on TGRT Haber. In his later years, he provided commentary for Ziraat Turkey Cup matches on the a Spor channel.

Sports Journalism Activities

In addition to his television career, Ümit Aktan was active in journalism. He became a member of the Turkish Sports Writers Association in 1975. During the same period, he worked in the sports department of the newspaper Son Havadis. He also contributed as a sports columnist for the newspapers Tercüman, Yeni Şafak, and Türkiye. In his columns, he argued that sport could not be evaluated solely through scores and match results, emphasizing its cultural and social dimensions.

Commentary Style and Influence

Ümit Aktan’s commentary style garnered significant public attention throughout his broadcasting career. His voice tone, depth of knowledge, and narrative style were distinctive. His match commentaries during the 1990s were particularly notable, during which he covered events such as matches of the Turkey national team, Süper Lig fixtures, and European cup competitions.

Personal Life and Death

Ümit Aktan was married to actress Selin Dilmen for eight years. Information regarding his family and private life remained limited in the public sphere.

Several weeks before his death, Ümit Aktan suffered a heart attack. He was subsequently treated at a hospital in the Bodrum district of Muğla. After spending a period in intensive care, he passed away on 7 August 2025 at the age of 76. Despite medical interventions, treatment efforts proved unsuccessful.

Statements Following His Death

Ümit Aktan’s passing prompted numerous tributes from both the sports community and the media world. Galatasaray Sports Club issued a condolence message highlighting his historical ties to the club and his contributions to sports. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) also released a message of sympathy, emphasizing his significant contributions to sports media and Turkish football.

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak also issued a written condolence message. Minister Bak expressed his sorrow upon learning of Ümit Aktan’s death and extended condolences to his family, loved ones, and the media community. Various sports clubs across Türkiye also publicly shared messages of condolence.