Dursun Aydın Özbek, President of Galatasaray Sports Club, who was a guest at the leadership session of the first “Baretim’26,” said he views the presidency of the club as taking on the trust of a community. Özbek, who noted that he had dreamed of one day becoming the club’s president during his years as a boarding student at Galatasaray High School, addressed the students, saying, “Set your goals, dream big, and pursue your dreams with determination.”

Organized by the Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ) Construction Club on November 4–5, 2026, “İlk Baretim’26” took place at the Davutpaşa Congress and Culture Center. The event’s leadership session was attended by our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Güleda Engin, Galatasaray Sports Club President Dursun Aydın Özbek, and Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Prof. Dr. Uğur Kurt. Özbek explained how they balanced the fans’ expectations for athletic success with the general assembly’s sensitivity regarding financial discipline. He also shared with the students how his engineering education had guided him in both his professional career and sports management.

“We are entrusted with the responsibility of a community”

Reminding the audience that the president and board of directors at Galatasaray are elected by the general assembly, Özbek said this authority imposes a responsibility on the administrators toward the entire community. “What does it mean to be elected to office? They’re entrusting you with the responsibility of managing a community. They’re saying, ‘Here you go, brother—this is a very important club. Manage it on our behalf,’” he said, describing this responsibility.

He also used the same analogy to explain the difference between managing your own business and managing a club. “You can manage your own business and your own assets in different ways; you can evaluate them differently. But when managing a trust, you need to be three, five, or ten times more careful. That’s why we’re managing a trust—the trust of a community.”

Noting that transfer requests and expectations regarding financial discipline sometimes put pressure on the administration, Özbek said that sharing the work being done with the community facilitates the discussion of differing viewpoints. “If you’re transparent, if you share what you’re doing, that pressure ceases to be a burden. It becomes a diversity of ideas,” said Özbek, adding that these perspectives contribute to the decision-making process.4

Facility Development and the Goal of a Championship

Özbek said that when he was re-elected president in 2022, they prioritized establishing a sustainable financial structure and facility development. Noting that Galatasaray has approximately 2,000 athletes across 17 sports, Özbek also touched on the club’s role in developing athletes from its youth system.

Özbek said that Galatasaray’s four consecutive Super League championships have not changed the fans’ expectations, adding, “At Galatasaray, winning the championship is always the bottom line. You have to be champions every year,” he said. Regarding the 2026–2027 season, he added, “Get your flags ready for the 2026–2027 season.”

“The club has its challenges. We must take these challenges seriously,” said Özbek, describing the legacy he would leave for his children and grandchildren through the work he carried out during his presidency. “More than money, the nature, scope, and magnitude of the service rendered during this period will be the greatest legacy I leave them.”

From Galatasaray High School to Club Presidency

Born in the Şebinkarahisar district of Giresun, Özbek said that during his years as a boarding student at Galatasaray High School, he and his friends looked up to Selahattin Beyazıt, one of the club’s former presidents, as a role model. He noted that during those years, he dreamed of becoming successful in his professional life, just like Beyazıt, and one day serving as president of Galatasaray. “If you pursue your dreams, they will come true one day. But dream with determination and without giving up. That is my greatest advice to you,” he said.

Özbek, who graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) in 1974, played soccer for the İTÜ Sports Club during his university years and later served as an administrator for the club. In his professional career, he worked in the automotive and tourism sectors.

Noting that his engineering education made it easier for him to adapt to different sectors, Özbek advised students not to shy away from working in various fields, saying, “An engineer can do any job. The nature of the education is such that adapting to any job, doing it, and succeeding is extremely easy for an engineer.” He noted that in his role in club management, he balanced the expectations of athletes and fans with the needs of the facilities.

Student Years and Post-Graduation Responsibilities

Noting that his student years were not easy due to economic and family circumstances, Özbek said, “Your student years are the best years of your life. They never come back. So enjoy them. I’m saying this because I wasn’t able to enjoy them myself.” He explained that sharing the same dormitory, dining hall, and classrooms with students from different cities across Turkey helped him get to know the country.

Noting that he had traveled to 67 provinces in Turkey during his professional career, Özbek advised young people to visit different cities and get to know the people living there. He conveyed what this experience meant to him, saying, “My greatest gain in life was getting to know Turkey and the Turkish people.”

In the final part of his speech, Özbek touched on the topic of trust in both professional life and personal relationships, saying, “It is very important to be transparent with your family, with your workplace, and with the people who love you.” “No one will judge you by the mistakes you make. Everyone will judge you by how transparent you are,” he said, urging students to be open even when they make mistakes.

Urging the students to maintain their ties with the university even after graduation, Özbek said, “You have a duty to serve Turkey. We have a duty to serve Yıldız Technical University. Do not shy away from this.”

Following the talk, the Construction Club presented Galatasaray Sports Club President Dursun Aydın Özbek with a YTÜ hard hat. 

As part of the “My First Cap” event, a cap-wearing ceremony was also held to present students with the first caps they will wear throughout their lives and to help them take their first steps in their careers with motivation.