Istanbul Football League

Istanbul Lig or originally Constantinople Football Association League was founded by James La Fontaine and Henry Pears and started with the 1904-05 season with only four teams as "Istanbul Sunday League". The matches between the four teams, Moda FC, HMS Imogene FC, Elpis FC, and Cadi-Keuy FC were played on Sundays, leading to the name of the Istanbul Sunday League. Henry Pears, an Englishman, promised to give the shield forever to the club who had won the most championships in 10 years.

File:James LaFontaine.jpg

Constantinople Football League Founder James Lafontaine

File:Henry Pears.jpg

Constantinople Football League Founder Henry Pears

The Istanbul Friday League was founded in 1915, and replaced the Istanbul Sunday League in 1915. Seven clubs took part in the league when it was first found in 1915-1916: Galatasaray SK, Fenerbahçe SK, Altınordu İdman Yurdu SK, Anadolu Üsküdar 1908 SK, Küçükçekmece SK and Anadolu Hisarı İdman Yurdu SK. From 1923-1924 till 1950-1951 the league was called İstanbul Lig. The name of the tournament later changed and became İstanbul Professional League in 1951-52 season. The Istanbul Football League was the first league organization in the Ottoman Empire (later Turkey). This league lasted for 55 years (four of the seasons had never been completed).

Champions

Club	Wins	Runners-up	Winning Years
Fenerbahçe SK	15	18	1912, 1914, 1921, 1923, 1930, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1953, 1957, 1959
Galatasaray SK	15	11	1909, 1910, 1911, 1915, 1916, 1922, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1949, 1955, 1956, 1958
Beşiktaş JK	13	6	1924, 1934, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954
Altınordu İdman Yurdu SK	2	3	1917, 1918
Cadi-Keuy FC	2	1	1906, 1907
Moda FC	1	3	1908
HMS Imogene FC	1	1	1905
Güneş SK	1	1	1938
İstanbulspor	1	-	1932
Üsküdar Anadolu SK	-	2	-
Vefa SK	-	2	-
Rumblers FC	-	1	-
Strugglers FC	-	1	-
Küçükçekmece SK	-	1	-

Season	Winner (number of titles)	Runner-up
1904–05	HMS Imogene FC (1)	Moda FC
1905–06	Cadi-Keuy FC (1)	HMS Imogene FC
1906–07	Cadi-Keuy FC (2)	Moda FC
1907–08	Moda FC (1)	Cadi-Keuy FC
1908–09	Galatasaray SK (1)	Moda FC
1909–10	Galatasaray SK (2)	Strugglers FC
1910–11	Galatasaray SK (3)	Progress FC
1911–12	Fenerbahçe SK (1)	Rumblers FC
1912–13	Unaccomplished due to Balkan Wars
1913–14	Fenerbahçe SK (2)	Altınordu İdman Yurdu SK
1914–15	Galatasaray SK (4)	Üsküdar Anadolu SK
1915–16	Galatasaray SK (5)	Fenerbahçe SK
1916–17	Altınordu İdman Yurdu SK(1)	Üsküdar Anadolu SK
1917–18	Altınordu İdman Yurdu SK(2)	Fenerbahçe SK
1918–19	Unaccomplished due to Armistice of Mudros
1919–20	Aborted
1920–21	Fenerbahçe SK (3)	Galatasaray SK
1921–22	Galatasaray SK (6)	Fenerbahçe SK
1922–23	Fenerbahçe SK (4)	Altınordu İdman Yurdu SK
1923–24	Beşiktaş JK (1)	Galatasaray SK
1924–25	Galatasaray SK(7)	Vefa SK
1925–26	Galatasaray SK(8)	Fenerbahçe SK
1926–27	Galatasaray SK(9)	Fenerbahçe SK
1927–28	Aborted due to The Olympics was held in Amsterdam
1928–29	Galatasaray SK(10)	Fenerbahçe SK
1929–30	Fenerbahçe SK(5)	Galatasaray SK
1930–31	Galatasaray SK(11)	Fenerbahçe SK
1931–32	İstanbulspor(1)	Süleymaniye FC
1932–33	Fenerbahçe SK(6)	Beşiktaş JK
1933–34	Beşiktaş JK(2)	Fenerbahçe SK
1934–35	Fenerbahçe SK(7)	Galatasaray SK
1935–36	Fenerbahçe SK(8)	Galatasaray SK
1936–37	Fenerbahçe SK(9)	Güneş SK
1937–38	Güneş SK(1)	Fenerbahçe SK
1938–39	Beşiktaş JK(3)	Fenerbahçe SK
1939–40	Beşiktaş JK(4)	Fenerbahçe SK
1940–41	Beşiktaş JK(5)	Fenerbahçe SK
1941–42	Beşiktaş JK(6)	Galatasaray SK
1942–43	Beşiktaş JK(7)	Fenerbahçe SK
1943–44	Fenerbahçe SK(10)	Beşiktaş JK
1944–45	Beşiktaş JK(8)	Fenerbahçe SK
1945–46	Beşiktaş JK(9)	Fenerbahçe SK
1946–47	Fenerbahçe SK(11)	Vefa SK
1947–48	Fenerbahçe SK(12)	Beşiktaş JK
1948–49	Galatasaray SK(12)	Beşiktaş JK
1949–50	Beşiktaş JK(10)	Fenerbahçe SK
1950–51	Beşiktaş JK(11)	Galatasaray SK
1951–52	Beşiktaş JK(12)	Galatasaray SK
1952–53	Fenerbahçe SK(13)	Beşiktaş JK
1953–54	Beşiktaş JK(13)	Galatasaray SK
1954–55	Galatasaray SK(13)	Beşiktaş JK
1955–56	Galatasaray SK(14)	Fenerbahçe SK
1956–57	Fenerbahçe SK(14)	Galatasaray SK
1957–58	Galatasaray SK(15)	Fenerbahçe SK
1958–59	Fenerbahçe SK(15)	Galatasaray SK

Istanbul Sunday League (İstanbul Pazar Ligi)

• 1905 HMS Imogene FC
• 1906 Cadi Keuy FRC
• 1907 Cadi Keuy FRC

• 1908 Moda FC
• 1909 Galatasaray SK
• 1910 Galatasaray SK

• 1911 Galatasaray SK
• 1912 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1913 Unaccomplished due to Balkan Wars

• 1914 Fenerbahçe SK

• 

  Cadikeuy Football Club 1905-06 Champion

• Moda FC.jpg

  Moda FC 1907-1908 Champion

• 

  Galatasaray SK 1908-09 Champion

• Galatasaray SK 1909-1910.jpg

  Galatasaray SK 1909-10 Champion

• Galatasaray SK 1910-1911.jpg

  Galatasaray SK 1910-11 Champion

• Fenerbahce SK 1911-1912.JPG

  Fenerbahçe SK 1911-12 Champion

• Fenerbahçe SK 1913-1914.JPG

  Fenerbahçe SK 1913-14 Champion

• Galatasaray SK 1915-1916.JPG

  Galatasaray SK 1915-16 Champion

Istanbul Friday League (İstanbul Cuma Lig)

• 1915 Galatasaray SK
• 1916 Galatasaray SK
• 1917 Altınordu İdman Yurdu SK

• 1918 Altınordu İdman Yurdu SK
• 1919 Unaccomplished due to Mudros Armistice

• 1920 Aborted
• 1921 Fenerbahçe SK

• 1922 Galatasaray SK
• 1923 Fenerbahçe SK

• Galatasaray SK 1915-1916.JPG

  Galatasaray SK 1915-16 Champion

• Altınordu İdman Yurdu.JPG

  Altınordu İdman Yurdu 1916-17 and 1917-18 Champion

• Fenerbahce SK 1920-1921.JPG

  Fenerbahce SK 1920-21 Champion

• Galatasaray SK 1921-1922.jpg

  Galatasaray SK 1921-22 Champion

• 

  Fenerbahce SK 1922-23 Champion

İstanbul League (İstanbul Lig)

• 1924 Besiktas JK
• 1925 Galatasaray SK
• 1926 Galatasaray SK
• 1927 Galatasaray SK
• 1928 Aborted due to The Olympics was held in Amsterdam
• 1929 Galatasaray SK
• 1930 Fenerbahçe SK

• 1931 Galatasaray SK
• 1932 İstanbulspor
• 1933 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1934 Besiktas JK
• 1935 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1936 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1937 Fenerbahçe SK

• 1938 Güneş SK
• 1939 Besiktas JK
• 1940 Besiktas JK
• 1941 Besiktas JK
• 1942 Besiktas JK
• 1943 Besiktas JK
• 1944 Fenerbahçe SK

• 1945 Besiktas JK
• 1946 Besiktas JK
• 1947 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1948 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1949 Galatasaray SK
• 1950 Besiktas JK
• 1951 Besiktas JK

• 

  Besiktas JK 1923-24 Champion

• Galatasaray SK and Fenerbahçe SK (1924-25).jpg

  Galatasaray SK 1924-25 Champion

• Galatasaray SK 1925-1926.jpg

  Galatasaray SK 1925-26 Champion

• 1926-27 Galatasaray.jpg

  Galatasaray SK 1926-27 Champion

• 1928-29 Galatasaray.jpg

  1928-1929 Galatasaray SK Champion

• 1930-31 Galatasaray.jpg

  Galatasaray SK 1930-1931 Champion

• 

  Istanbulspor 1931-32 Champion

• 

  Besiktas JK 1938-39 Champion

İstanbul Profesyonel Futbol Lig

• 1952 Besiktas JK
• 1953 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1954 Besiktas JK
• 1955 Galatasaray SK
• 1956 Galatasaray SK
• 1957 Fenerbahçe SK
• 1958 Galatasaray SK
• 1959 Fenerbahçe SK

Top Goalscorer

Season	Club	Winner	Goals	Games	Rate
1928-1929	Fenerbahçe SK	Zeki Rıza Sporel (1)	10	9	1.11
1929-1930	Fenerbahçe SK	Zeki Rıza Sporel (2)	13	10	1.3
1930-1931	Fenerbahçe SK	Zeki Rıza Sporel (3)	17	13	1.31
	Fenerbahçe SK	Fikret Arıcan (1)	17	14	1.21
1931-1932	Beşiktaş JK	Hakkı Yeten (1)	8	5	1.60
1932-1933	Beşiktaş JK	Hakkı Yeten (2)	10	11	0.91
1933-1934	Beşiktaş JK	Hakkı Yeten (3)	10	12	0.83
1934-1935	Fenerbahçe SK	Namık Erbay (1)	13	11	1.18
1935-1936	Fenerbahçe SK	Ali Rıza Tansı (1)	19	21	0.90
	Fenerbahçe SK	Naci Bastoncu (1)	19	21	0.90
1936-1937	Fenerbahçe SK	Esat Kaner (1)	14	10	1.40
1937-1938	Beşiktaş JK	Şeref Görkey (1)	16	9	1.78
1938-1939	Fenerbahçe SK	Fikret Arıcan (2)	25	15	1.67
1939-1940	Galatasaray SK	Cemil Gürgen Erlertürk (1)	30	16	1.88
1940-1941	Beşiktaş JK	Şeref Görkey (2)	22	15	1.47
1941-1942	Fenerbahçe SK	Melih Kotanca (1)	23	14	1.64
1942-1943	Galatasaray SK	Cemil Gürgen Erlertürk (2)	22	11	2.00
1943-1944	Beşiktaş JK	Şükrü Mustafa Gülesin (1)	27	17	1.59
	Fenerbahçe SK	Müzdat Yetkiner (1)	27	16	1.69
1944-1945	Beşiktaş JK	Kemal Gülçelik (1)	27	18	1.50
1945-1946	Beşiktaş JK	Şükrü Mustafa Gülesin (2)	11	13	0.85
1946-1947	Beşiktaş JK	Şükrü Mustafa Gülesin (3)	9	14	0.64
	Galatasaray SK	Reha Eken (1)	9	12	0.75
1947-1948	Fenerbahçe SK	Halit Deringör (1)	12	13	0.92
	Fenerbahçe SK	Lefter Küçükandonyadis (1)	12	14	0.86
1948-1949	Beşiktaş JK	Şükrü Mustafa Gülesin (4)	13	12	1.08
1949-1950	Beşiktaş JK	Bülent Esel (1)	19	14	1.36
1950-1951	Beşiktaş JK	Recep Adanır (1)	13	14	1.36
1951-1952	Beşiktaş JK	Şevket Yorulmaz (1)	19	14	1.36
1952-1953	Beşiktaş JK	Şevket Yorulmaz (2)	17	18	0.94
1953-1954	Fenerbahçe SK	Lefter Küçükandonyadis (2)	14	14	1.00
1954-1955	Galatasaray SK	Ali Beratlıgil (1)	14	18	0.78
1955-1956	Galatasaray SK	Metin Oktay (1)	19	17	1.12
1956-1957	Galatasaray SK	Metin Oktay (2)	17	16	1.06
1957-1958	Galatasaray SK	Metin Oktay (3)	19	17	1.12
1958-1959	Galatasaray SK	Metin Oktay (4)	22	16	1.38

Records

Titles

• Most titles: 15, joint record
  • Fenerbahçe SK
  • Galatasaray SK

• Most consecutive titles: 5
  • Besiktas JK (1938-1939, 1939-1940, 1940-1941, 1941-1942, 1942-1943)

Biggest wins

• 20-0, Galatasaray SK vs Vefa SK, 1925-1926
• 16-0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Anadolu Üsküdar 1908, 1930-1931
• 14-0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Topkapı SK, 1938-1939
• 14-0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Topkapı SK, 1939-1940
• 14-1, Galatasaray SK vs Anadolu Üsküdar 1908, 1914-1915
• 13-0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Süleymaniye SK, 1930-1931
• 13-0, Besiktas JK vs Hilal SK, 1939-1940
• 13-1, Fenerbahçe SK vs Davutpaşa SK, 1942-1943
• 12-0, Fenerbahçe SK vs Süleymaniye SK, 1915-1916
• 12-0, Besiktas JK vs Topkapı SK, 1939-1940
• 12-1, Galatasaray SK vs Topkapı SK, 1936-1937
• 12-1, Besiktas JK vs Taksim SK, 1941-1942
• 11-0, Galatasaray SK vs Moda-Imogene Muhteliti, 1909-1910
• 10-0, Galatasaray SK vs Süleymaniye SK, 1934-1935
• 11-2, Besiktas JK vs Eyüp SK, 1936-1937
• 11-2, Galatasaray SK vs Eyüp SK, 1937-1938
• 11-2, Besiktas JK vs Eyüp SK, 1937-1938
• 11-2, Besiktas JK vs Kasımpaşa SK, 1943-1944
• 11-2, Besiktas JK vs İstanbulspor, 1943-1944

References

• 4. Constantinople Football League, Ahmed Aramyan, 1951 Penguen Publishing
• Erdoğan Arıpınar; Tevfik Ünsi Artun, Cem Atabeyoğlu, Nurhan Aydın, Ergun Hiçyılmaz, Haluk San, Orhan Vedat Sevinçli, Vala Somalı (June 1992). Türk Futbol Tarihi (1904-1991) vol.1, Page(28-57), Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu Yayınları.