Is he a candidate or not? Aziz Yıldırım announced his decision at the controversial congress.

26.07.2025 15:40

The former president of Fenerbahçe, Aziz Yıldırım, stated in his remarks at the High Advisory Board Meeting that he would not run for president. Yıldırım expressed that the youth should take responsibility and that those who would not contribute anything to Fenerbahçe should not be candidates. He also expressed his disapproval of the election date being set for September.

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Former Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yıldırım made statements at the High Advisory Board Meeting. Yıldırım said he would not be a candidate for the presidency.

"I WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE"

"I will not be a candidate, Ali Bey, relax. If I were, I would say it here. Look, Saadettin Bey announced his candidacy. Hakan Bey announced his candidacy. Let the young ones come, let them take ownership. Those who will not contribute anything to Fenerbahçe, those who say, 'As long as I am here, Fenerbahçe cannot be a champion,' should not be candidates," he said.

Aziz Yıldırım, who stated that it was wrong for the election date to be in September, highlighted the following points from his speech;

AZIZ YILDIRIM'S SPEECH

After coming to the podium, former Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yıldırım first stated, "In no club, except for amateur branches, which were also established by Aziz Yıldırım and his friends. The girls' basketball team was in 1907, we were closing it when I came. Galatasaray was ahead 13-0. We brought 13-0 to 13-13. There is no need for applause. I will explain, I am full. I am full, I mean, I am full!"

"WE WERE ABOUT TO BE RELEGATED!"

In 7 years, Fenerbahçe Football Team was almost relegated during the Ali Şen period in the 80s. A few years ago, we also faced the risk of relegation. 1 billion Euros were spent, over 100 players were acquired. I wish we hadn't spent this much; if Samsun had spent 250 million Euros like other clubs, we would have saved 750 million. We would have closed all debts and achieved the same result. If we consider second place a success, we are mistaken.

"I AM NOT A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY!"

If you say they will take me by collecting signatures, come here and say it. Say it here, my friend. I say that if signatures are to be collected according to the statute and the system given by the state, if it is collected, I will not be a candidate. Close this. Close this. I will not be together. If I were a candidate, I would say it, relax. Relax! Sadettin Bey is saying 'I am a candidate' here. I am not saying it. I am not saying it, he is saying it. Hakan Bey is here, he is also saying 'I am a candidate.' I want Aziz Yıldırım, Ali Koç, and others not to be in this club. Let the young ones come and take ownership of this club. Otherwise, the future is at risk.

EVENT REFERENCE TO ALİ KOÇ

Those who will not contribute anything to Fenerbahçe, those who say, 'As long as I am here, Fenerbahçe cannot be a champion,' should not be candidates for the presidency! Regards!

"GALATASARAY WAS AHEAD 13-0!"

In no club, except for amateur branches, which were also established by Aziz Yıldırım and his friends. The girls' basketball team was in 1907, we were closing it when I came. Galatasaray was ahead 13-0. We brought 13-0 to 13-13. There is no need for applause. I will explain, I am full. I am full, I mean, I am full!

"HOW MUCH IS FENERBAHÇE'S DEBT?"

What is the High Advisory Board? I read from the statute, 'The High Advisory Board advises the management on administrative, financial, legal, sports, and social issues concerning the club's development and future within the framework of legislation and budget obligations. It reviews the audit committee report to be provided by the management board every 3 months.' Was the audit committee report given? I, Aziz Yıldırım, was a member under the management of the late Metin Aşık, whom I remember with respect in 1990. The late Güven Sazak, the late Hasan Özaydınlı, and then during the Ali Şen period, and then for 20 years during the Aziz Yıldırım period, we never did it without the audit committee report coming to the Council. This is the second time in the 7-year Ali Koç period. How much is Fenerbahçe's debt? Let's see!"

"I CALLED THE GALATASARAY PRESIDENT 'A FLY PAIR'"

Let's be united against the outside, we are ready for everything! Ali Bey says from there, 'He didn't say against Galatasaray.' I called their presidents 'a fly pair,' and they couldn't say anything!

"WE ARE 10 YEARS BEHIND!"

Being strong comes from winning. If we cannot win in football, there can be no success. As of the end of this year, there is a 6 championship difference, 2 of which are due to me. 4 years have passed. Our problem is not the congress in September. Know this well. If the congress is held in September, Ali President continues, Aziz President continues, that is not the problem. We are 10 years behind. If this continues, I will make this speech here again, just so you know.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT THIS PLACE!"

I would have expected you to leave this place because the audit committee was not read; we would have left this place. How much debt do we have?

"THOSE WHO SAY 612 MILLION EUROS ARE DISHONORABLE"

Is the debt today 25 billion? I will tell very interesting things. I came with documents. Again, they say Aziz Yıldırım left a debt of 612 million Euros; if I did this, I am dishonorable, and those who say this are also dishonorable. Let them come here! They are repeating the same things on paper. I will explain one by one. Everyone please understand. After that, let them say Aziz Yıldırım is lying.

"I WAS NOT ACQUITTED, I LIVED WITH THAT SHAME"

Last year, didn't we talk on TV with Ali Koç, I was going to sell all my assets for 300 million, including the hall, but he said it wouldn't work, we closed the subject. They agreed with the Banks Association. Ali Bey takes the signatures very seriously, makes comments. I will make a comment. Aziz Yıldırım and his friends were not acquitted by Ali Bey's management in November 2018 at Fenerbahçe Sportif AŞ. I roamed as a former president who was not acquitted for 2 years. I lived with that shame. What did Aziz Yıldırım do! Who made this place, you are sitting here. Who made this place! How did the club do it, leave the club, I did it! Leave it! I gave the money, I did it, leave it for God's sake.

"NOT BEING ACQUITTED IS WRONG."

We went to the match in Konya, I saw the hall there, it was very high at 9 meters, we lowered it to 6 meters. We built the stadium. Today, they said there is nearly 100 million dollars in revenue from the stadium, I cannot know if my information is correct or not. I rented Topuk Plateau, I built it. I built facilities in Ankara. I built Dereağzı. Thanks millions to Murat Ülker for the closed hall, I had it built. I was not acquitted. There are 600 million in assets. We did not acquit it because it was bankrupt in Football AŞ. In the following years, it is written that Sportif AŞ is bankrupt in all of them. The next management will not acquit these friends either. Is it wrong or right! No, not being acquitted is wrong; there may be no such custom in Fenerbahçe, but they did not acquit us.

"I WROTE A LETTER TO ALİ KOÇ"

In the 2018 congress, we may not be acquitted until June, but we brought it, and we had it acquitted. In the 2019 ordinary financial general assembly, they brought us, who were acquitted at that date, as if we were not acquitted. I wrote a letter to Ali Koç, saying, 'We were acquitted; if you put us in a position of not being acquitted, your election will be invalid, and therefore 1 year of work will be wasted.' On the same day as the congress, they took it out of the story of what will be done. It appeared that we were acquitted.

"I TOLD ALİ BEY 'HOLD THE ELECTION IN JUNE'"

Ali Bey said, 'They will not acquit.' This is wrong. It is also wrong to hold the election in September. You came to me in May. Şekip Bey and Hulusi Bey were there. It was the end of May; you were going to the basketball match. We congratulate all of them. You go and talk to those who are candidates, 'I will be president here for another year. Let me stay. If I cannot make you a champion, I will leave,' I said. Go out to the community and say, 'I am making a decision for the congress in June, I want a vote of confidence,' I said.

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Mr. Ali, did I tell you! Heh. What did you say, 'Let me go to the match, we can talk when I come back'? You didn't come. You didn't call. When you didn't come, I made an explanation. I said if there are 16,464 signatures or whatever, I will be a candidate. The election to be held in September will harm this community, know that. Whether you win or someone else wins, this community will be hurt. You are making the transfers, you are doing everything, if the result is adverse, it will be a shame for this club. Reconsider. I say this as a senior.

"THEY DID NOT PAY THE PRINCIPAL!"

Now let's come to the money issue. They say Aziz Yıldırım left a debt of 612 million. Now, on June 1, 2020, Fenerbahçe Sports Club, like other clubs, made an agreement with the Banks Association. In this agreement, all our debts were collected by the banks, converted to the then TL, and managed that way. On June 1, 2021, we approved all our debts with the Banks Association for a little over 3 billion 202 million. There was a $50 million loan taken from Yapı Kredi Bank, which was also included in this debt. In the financial report we provided in May 2018, there was a debt of 1.950 billion. 220-230 million was in dollars and euros, the rest was in TL. They gave us 400 million Euros to make it easier for us. The actual amount was 2 billion TL. If I am lying, insult me, write, draw, come talk to me. Then what happened, a new administration came. They made expenditures. They took $50 million from the bank. They tied all of it to the Banks Association on June 1, 2020, for 3.2 billion. They did not pay any money from the principal.

"1 BILLION 391 MILLION INTEREST!"

The president said that the banks cut 50% from the revenues. I don't see that here. He can explain. We would accept it. It is not here, it is not visible. Until the end of 2023, the principal does not appear to have been paid. In 2023 and 2024, 48 million 243 thousand principal is shown to have been paid. We came to 2024 and we said in TV talks, in congress activities, that we must definitely get out of the Banks Association, because of the 49% interest. In the first 2 years they converted this money, the TL interest was between 8.5% and 12.5%. At that time, there were also 5-6% interest rates in dollars and euros. Returning to TL was a smart move at that time, I congratulate you. In 2023 and 2024, this needed to be urgently converted to currency, not all clubs did it. Fenerbahçe paid 1 billion 391 million in interest.

"HOW WILL YOU CLOSE THE DEBT?"

In 2024 and 2025, 1 billion 598 million in debt was paid. In total, more than 3 times the principal was paid in interest. This needs to be stopped immediately. It is a shame. It is a lot of money. The Banks Association could not close its debt. Let them come and explain how they will close it.

"YOU SOLD MY PLAYERS!"

After I left the club, they sold players for nearly 50 million. Money came into the club. Fernandao, Eljif Elmas, Giuliano, Josef de Souza, and together with basketball, they brought in a total of 45 million Euros. When these were sold, money came into the club. Also, my company, which we opened in this hall in 2004, Sportif AŞ! By 2011, it had reached a capital of 1.8 billion dollars. Forbes had written about it. That company was harmed with July 3. They sold shares, and there was an inflow of nearly 25 million. I passed a law, I worked for 15 years. The money spent by professionals should be spent on amateurs. There was an inflow of nearly 100 million Euros from there.

"WE AGREED WITH MR. ALI FOR 300 MILLION!"

We agreed with Mr. Ali in the last TV talk for 300 million, I had bought all the assets. All clubs, not just Fenerbahçe, did not pay any money from the principal, excluding interest. Our club converted the principal from 5.62 dollars to 3.2. Others converted it from 5. They took 50 million dollars, they got less credit than us. 5.62, let's say 6 dollars. Now let's say the dollar is 40. If we divide 40 by 6, it means that TL has fallen 7 times on its own. A debt of 3 billion, which was divided by 6, has now fallen to 80-90. No one should say I drew water from the well.

TO HAMDI AKIN; "DON'T MAKE ME ATTACK YOU"

Aziz Yıldırım got angry and reacted when executive Hamdi Akın said, "There is no economic situation as you describe";

"Look, the Banks Association gave me this. Let him read it. This document given to me. Hamdi (Akın). Hamdi. Look, don't make me attack you. I didn't come here with that intention. Don't make me attack you. Sit where you are. Don't make me attack you. Look, don't make me attack you."

EROL BİLECİK'S REACTION

There is an enormous opposition in Fenerbahçe. This opposition does not stop day and night. It produces everything. Is there such an opposition, man, is there such an opposition!

Erol Bilecik was telling here. If he had come here, look at what I would have told. I will talk to him. I said to you, 'There is a kid in the box, is he Erol's son?' No, I said, that's his son, Hulusi said 'I know that too.' He was wearing a Galatasaray jersey. Erol is also bothering me. Man, I didn't say anything to you!"

"NO ONE SPEAKS EXCEPT ME!"

I spoke 1-2 times in 7 years. No one speaks except me. Everyone is waiting for me. On February 15, 1998, I became president by one vote, God granted it. An honor, a dignity. In the evening there was a Fenerbahçe - Galatasaray match, at Ali Sami Yen across. I went to the locker room at halftime, it was 1-1, I guess. Vefa Bey's list had been elected, they were all there. I was alone there. After the match, I went home. All the athletes went to Mr. Ali Şen's house. This was the opposition in Fenerbahçe. There is no opposition in Fenerbahçe right now. Social media is writing. I don't have it. I don't read it. Let them write whatever they want. If you follow it, you will be influenced by it.

"GALATASARAY IS EVERYWHERE!"

Aziz Yıldırım: "The majority is with Galatasaray everywhere. We must first accept this. A relative of mine bought a jersey for his child, took the child to Fenerium to get a number written, the child said 45, Osimhen."

A member: "Are we going to talk about Galatasaray here?"

Aziz Yıldırım: "I am the president of the team that beat Galatasaray 6-0. Everyone is crying blood here. All Fenerbahçeliler are crying blood. The issue here is not that I should be the president, Sadettin Bey came, etc., this is not it. Look, we cannot catch it. In 2006, Celal Doğan was saying 'Let's block Fenerbahçe's way.' Today we must all do our best together. Let's support, but let's speak openly. Who is being obstructive?!"

My father was a very manly man. A real man dies once, he used to say. We will die once.

"HOW MUCH DID THEY AGREE WITH ADIDAS?"

The esteemed management won the election in 2018 by saying 'we will be transparent.' They are not transparent in any matter. How much did they agree with Adidas, does anyone know? What is the amount? If we knew the amount, if it is high, break it to close the bank.

"BUY LAND, CLOSE THE BANK!"

Buy 1-2 plots to close the bank. Take dollar euro loans from the bank, go and close the TL debt with that. Then next year, 1.5 billion interest will be paid, what a shame.

"THE PLACES YOU SHOWED, I BOUGHT!"

They showed three places, all three are lands provided by Aziz Yıldırım. It was March 2018 or earlier. I went to Mr. Murat Kurum, we had bought 225 acres of land from Gebze. We were going to take all the infrastructure to that land. I explained to him, I asked for his help. He said to us, 'Why are you going there, we have our lands there, let's combine them, let's build residences, let it be income for the club.'

Rıdvan Dilmen and Zekeriya Pasha were also here. I explained to the President, he said to talk to Mr. Hulusi Pasha. He sent it to Mr. Yaşar, who said to write a petition, we sent it to the NATO office, and the operation started. The land was acquired that way. Just say thank you, what will happen? That land was acquired with the permission and guidance of the people I mentioned. I thank them.

"CONGRATULATIONS ATAŞEHİR"

In 2018, we talked with Mr. Murat Kurum about the Ataşehir land. Murat Ülker said, 'Let's build here, let's make offices and houses.' At that time, we went, we were doing it, the election happened, and we left. It couldn't be done for 7 years. Last night, Murat Ülker told me, 'We sorted it out,' he said, 'we are at the final stage, we are doing it.' Congratulations to the community.

"I WANT KENAN EVREN'S MONEY!"

Another topic is Kenan Evren. It has been over 20 years. I would return Kenan Evren and ask for the money I gave back. There is nothing to be done for Kenan Evren that brings money; if it does, I congratulate him.

"I WAS BUILDING AN ISLAND FOR YOU!"

They say vision. You sent us away by saying Aziz Yıldırım has no vision. Aziz Yıldırım was building an island for you. He was building an island on 6 acres of rock in Maltepe.

"THEY DIDN'T SELL ME A BOX!"

Ali Koç: "Mr. President, please tell the truth."

Aziz Yıldırım: "What is the truth?"

Ali Koç: "All the boxes were sold; this year we reserved one box for you."

Aziz Yıldırım: "Where did you reserve it? The matches are starting. Where is my box?"

Ali Koç: "Is it because there hasn't been a box for 7 years that you are not coming?"

Aziz Yıldırım: "I have a written request. Tell Mr. Hulusi. I have a daughter; if I had a box, I would come. I have been coming for at least 2 years, Mr. Ali. I bought a box from Chelsea; my daughter goes there for the match. What can she do?"

"DON'T KEEP BOTHERING ME!"

You increased the capital; you made an influx of 128-130 million dollars into the club. If I hadn't established the company, you wouldn't have found the money. Don't keep bothering me. If you bother me, you will come out at a loss. I will come out as a creditor. He will sell it to me for 300; he has promised. You said we are growing; what did you do, brother? Tell me. What have we grown in to be rising?

"WE RECEIVED 90 MILLION DOLLARS 10 YEARS AGO!"

Aziz Yıldırım: "You made an agreement with Chobani; congratulations. Don't say 'this is the biggest' or anything; we received 90 million dollars 10 years ago."

Ali Koç: "What did you do with the money?"

Aziz Yıldırım: "I spent it!"

"I GAVE MY LIFE, MR. ALI!"

You researched so much, but you found nothing. I gave my life, Mr. Ali; I went to prison, I served time, I gave my life. It can't be done just by talking. Everything I did, I did for this club. My friends did the same. We are the club; we are a part of it. Know this.

"THERE IS A DEBT OF 25 BILLION TL!"

How many agreements did you make with Adidas? In 2013, we made a 5-year agreement with Abdullah Kiğılı. It was 6 million dollars every year. If it's a very big agreement, let's congratulate. They were giving 100,000 jerseys; the club could sell them. There were bonuses in the Champions League, UEFA, league, and cup. Our agreement was like this. We don't know your new agreement; maybe it's very good, but we don't know. Do you know what the biggest danger is? They don't tell you; there is a debt of 25 billion. Just so you know. There is one month until the election; they don't tell you.