The team’s players are nurtured like green sprouts. They become strong athletes for Turkey’s glory thanks to care and protection. The Fenerbahçe logo tells the story of one of the country’s landmarks, the memory the club passes on to the younger generation.
Fenerbahce: Brand overview
Founded: | 3 May 1907 |
Founder: | Ziya Songülen, Ayetullah Bey, Necip Okaner |
Headquarters: | Istanbul, Turkey |
Website: | fenerbahce.org |
Fenerbahçe is a kind of memorial to the lighthouse that rises in the Kadiköy district of Istanbul. Even its name speaks about it: the word “fener” is translated as “lighthouse,” and “bahçe” means “garden.” The theory is supported by the fact that the first form of the club was yellow and white because daffodils of the same color grew around the lighthouse.
Founded in 1907, Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü initially acted as an underground organization because Sultan Abdul Hamid II banned the Turks from playing football. It came out of the shadows only in 1908, when a decree appeared on sports teams’ compulsory registration.
Meaning and History
The lighthouse influenced the players’ names and shapes and was reflected in the first Fenerbahçe emblem, which was yellow and white. But then Ziya Songülen chose the club’s new official colors: blue and yellow. The original design was changed in 1910 to match the graphic sign.
What is Fenerbahçe?
Fenerbahçe is a professional football team from Turkey. Its base is located in Istanbul, and the team is a member of the Super League, never having been relegated from it. It is the most successful sports club in the country, competing in the UEFA Europa League and the Turkish Cup. The club was founded in 1907.
1910 – 1912
The logo was designed by Hikmet Topuzer – Fenerbahçe’s right-winger. He drew a red circle containing a blue and yellow shield with three green oak leaves and two acorns.
1912 – 1914
The designers extended the shield and made the bottom corner sharp so it no longer fit into the circle. The oak branch turned brownish-green. An A-frame appeared in a white ring with black outlines and the club’s name written in Arabic letters.
1914 – 1928
The new emblem uses dark shades of the same colors as before. Only black and brown are gone: the inscription, the outlines, and the oak branch are now golden.
1928 – 1959
Another redesign took place in 1928, immediately after the Turkish language reform. Arabic letters were replaced with European ones, so the inscription in the ring became “FENERBAHÇE SPOR KULÜBÜ 1907.” At the same time, it turned black again, like the only remaining outline.
The oak branch is completely green—it doesn’t even have a dark outline. The shield has been reduced to fit entirely within the red circle. The primary colors are lighter and brighter than in the previous version.
1959 – 1963
The designers have updated the centerpiece with a circle, shield, and oak branch, replacing it with the Hikmet Topuzer emblem. They also expanded the outer outline and separated the year of the club’s creation with two bold dots.
1963 – 1964
The inscription’s font has changed: now the letters are blue, thin, small, and have practically no spacing. The dots next to the number “1907” have turned into two five-pointed stars. Not without metamorphosis in the graphic part: acorns on the branch became two additional leaves. Very intense colors were used for the shield and circle.
1964 – 1968
Fenerbahçe returned the 1959-1963 logo but retained a five-leafed oak and two stars separating the club’s name from the foundation year. The palette is muted again.
1968 – 1979
The lettering and outlines around the edges of the ring have turned blue. The extra leaves turned into acorns again. The remaining three leaves have detailed veins. The colors are light for the first time in many years.
1979 – 1983
The contours and letters are thin. The oak branch is enlarged: it is so large that it takes up almost all the shield space. The color scheme includes dark and very pale shades.
1983 – 1986
The designers expanded the white ring by reducing the red circle with the shield. The oak branch also became smaller, and the shape of the top leaf changed noticeably. The lettering and outer outline of the logo are blue. The colors are not as muted as in the previous version.
1986 – 1989
The shield has acquired a triangular shape, which violates the proportions of the red circle. The white ring is outlined in black on both sides. The letters and numbers are also black, increasing in size and moving closer to the center.
1989 – 1990
The red circle is expanded again, the shield’s undersides are rounded, the oak branch is large and detailed, and the brightness of the color palette is reduced.
1990 – 1992
All contours, except the outer one, have disappeared again. Items in the white ring turn blue. The oak branch is the same schematic as the emblem from the 1979-1983 period.
1992 – today
The current emblem looks brighter and more proportional. The red circle is reduced, and letters and numbers are evenly distributed in the ring. Oak leaves no longer take up the entire space. Harmony is disturbed only by the shield’s cut-off bottom corner, which does not fit in the circle. On the T-shirts, the top’s logo is complemented by three stars, which indicate the number of championships won.
Fenerbahce: Interesting Facts
Fenerbahçe is a famous Turkish soccer team that has existed since 1907. Their name comes from their neighborhood in Istanbul, meaning “lighthouse garden,” because of a lighthouse there.
- Colors and Emblem: They love yellow and navy blue, which stand for being noble and strong. Their symbol has an oak leaf for power.
- Winning Lots: Fenerbahçe has won many games and trophies in Turkey. They’re known for being good at soccer.
- Their Stadium: They play at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. It’s big and loud, and fans love cheering there.
- Big Rivalries: They have huge rivalries with Galatasaray and Beşiktaş, two other big teams in Istanbul. Games against Galatasaray are super intense because it’s like a battle between two sides of the city.
- Playing in Europe: They’ve done well in European tournaments, making it far and earning respect.
- More Than Soccer: Fenerbahçe isn’t just about soccer. They also play basketball, volleyball, and other sports, and they’re pretty good at those, too.
- Fans Everywhere: They have many fans in Turkey and worldwide. These fans are super passionate and love to show their support.
- More Than a Team: Fenerbahçe is a big deal in Turkey, not just for sports but for bringing people together and doing good things in the community.
- Making History: They were unbeatable at home in European games for 15 years, from 1975 to 1990, which is pretty awesome.
Fenerbahçe isn’t just a soccer team; it’s a big part of people’s lives in Turkey, with a history of being strong, winning, and bringing joy to lots of fans.
Font and Colors
The modern graphic sign is based on the drawing of the soccer player Hikmet Topuzer. The designers have completed it with a white ring to represent the name and year of the Fenerbahçe Foundation. The oak leaves symbolize the strength of the club.
The font used is considered grotesque because the letters do not have serifs. Green stands for success, blue stands for generosity, yellow stands for opponents’ envy, red stands for Turkey’s flag and love, and white stands for sincerity and purity.