Fenerbahçe is heading into another pivotal presidential election this weekend, in a vote that highlights ongoing instability at the top of one of Türkiye’s most influential and politically sensitive football institutions.
The extraordinary general assembly comes less than a year after Sadettin Saran’s narrow victory over Ali Koç in September 2025, extending a turbulent cycle of leadership changes driven by unmet expectations on the pitch, internal divisions, and mounting pressure from supporters desperate to end a prolonged Süper Lig title drought.
Founded in 1907, Fenerbahçe remains a cornerstone of Turkish sport and part of the nation’s “Big Three” alongside Galatasaray and Beşiktaş.
Its vast membership base routinely turns presidential elections into mass political events, with tens of thousands of votes cast and campaigns shaped as much by symbolism and identity as by football results.
The modern era of the club has been defined by two contrasting presidencies.
