Dursun Özbek: We must become an organization that competes on a global scale

Incumbent President Dursun Özbek, who is a candidate in the ordinary election meeting to be held next Saturday at Galatasaray High School, held a candidate introduction meeting at Galatasaray Island. During the event, which saw high attendance, Özbek explained the projects he has carried out so far and his plans for the upcoming term to the members.

Reminding that 23 months have passed since they took office, President Özbek said, "We are now in a new election period. But we are not here today to hold an election launch, but to build the future of Galatasaray together. When we took office, there were promises we made to you and goals we set for our Galatasaray."

"We have acquired a 30-decare commercial area adjacent to our Riva land for our club"

Stating that they have carried out renovation works at Galatasaray Island and the Kalamış Facilities, Dursun Özbek said, "When we took office, our Riva project was ongoing. We revised our agreement with Emlak Konut in November 2024 for the second phase of the project. Accordingly, with the completion of the construction of the second phase, housing sales and marketing will be carried out by Emlak Konut. In addition, last year we acquired a 30-decare commercial area adjacent to our Riva land for our club."

"With the Florya project, we paid off the remaining part of the Banks Association loan"

Stating that they will deliver the apartments built in the Mecidiyeköy building in June, Özbek said regarding the Florya land, "The evaluation of our Florya land was one of the most important issues in this period. It was also a very important step for our club to gain financial independence. A revenue-sharing agreement in return for land was signed. With the 50 million Dollar advance payment made to our club, we paid off the remaining part of the Sportif A.Ş. loan from the Banks Association and also paid a portion of the overdue commercial debts. In the coming period, the license application will be made, and then construction will begin. The financial support that will come from this project in the future will be used in line with the authority we have received from you."

"Kemerburgaz Metin Oktay Facilities are the new football mind of Galatasaray"

Emphasizing that the Kemerburgaz Metin Oktay Facilities are a world-class facility they are proud of, the yellow-reds' president stated, "It was one of the necessary works for our Galatasaray to achieve victories in Europe. I feel great honor and great happiness to have completed this facility during my presidency. The Kemerburgaz Metin Oktay Facilities are not just a facility for us. This is the new football mind of Galatasaray. The Kemerburgaz Facilities were completed entirely using our club's own resources."

Stating that they have spent approximately 70 million Euros on facility projects during their tenure, Dursun Özbek said, "If we had chosen not to carry out these facility works, Galatasaray might have had no debt today, or even had money in its coffers, but we would have lost the vision entrusted to us by our founders."

"With Aslantepe Valley, one of Europe's most modern infrastructures will belong to Galatasaray"

Stating that Aslantepe Valley is the future of Galatasaray, Özbek said, "We are building a 165,000 square meter living and sports center. With this project, our basketball, volleyball, and amateur branches will be gathered under one roof. There will be a basketball arena, a volleyball arena, a swimming pool, performance centers, and camping areas. This project will host Galatasaray to achieve greater success in every branch it competes in. With the recognition of Aslantepe Valley, the area, including our stadium, will become a sports complex that lives 365 days a year with basketball, volleyball, football, and swimming. The zoning plan for the work here in Aslantepe has been approved. Ministry approval has been obtained, and the construction permit has been issued. We held the groundbreaking ceremony on April 23, National Sovereignty and Children's Day. When this project is completed, one of the most modern sports infrastructures in not only Turkey but also Europe will belong to Galatasaray. Financial resource efforts for the Aslantepe Valley project are ongoing. In the first phase, it is planned to move the club management and affiliated administrative units to the administrative buildings."

Mentioning the work they have done at RAMS Park, President Özbek said, "We increased the LED and scoreboard area from 357 square meters to 1,743 square meters. We have both enhanced the fan experience and increased our sponsorship revenues. Modern football is no longer played only on the field; it grows with brand power, technology, and the experience economy."

"Now is the time to start preparing for bigger goals"

Reminding that they have achieved great sporting success during this period, Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek said, "Our men's football team won its 4th consecutive championship, and 26th in total, after 3 championships full of records. We celebrated our championship at our stadium. We experienced a night where every minute was perfect with all our fans. Now is the time to start preparing for bigger goals."

"We must make Galatasaray one of the most successful actors in this new world"

Expressing that Galatasaray must now become a global sports brand, Dursun Özbek said, "In the coming period, our goal is to reach 150 million digital followers, enter the world's top 15 clubs in the Deloitte Money League, reach an annual revenue level of 600 million Euros, and become a team that is talked about for its successes in the Champions League every season. We must no longer be a club that only competes in Turkey, but an organization that competes on a global scale. Major sports clubs in the world no longer just compete on the field. They compete in the economy, they compete in technology, they compete in brand value, and they compete in fan experience. We must make Galatasaray one of the most successful actors in this new world."

He introduced the major transformation program

President Dursun Özbek also explained to the members the major transformation program they have planned under 7 headings for the new term. Özbek said, "Our first program is the experience economy with stadium and Aslantepe revenues. We no longer see our stadium just as a place where matches are played. We are creating a Galatasaray center that lives 365 days a year. Our second program is the growth of commercial and sponsorship revenues. Today, the Galatasaray brand is Turkey's strongest sports brand. But we will not settle for this. We will take the Galatasaray economy to much higher levels with new sponsorship models, international collaborations, growth in licensed products, and new brand investments. The records we broke at Galatasaray Store are the first step of this. Our third program is digital platforms and the fan ecosystem. In today's world, no brand without digital power can achieve sustainable growth. Our goal is for Galatasaray to be one of the world's largest digital sports communities. Our fourth program is international growth. We can no longer be a club that only speaks to Turkey. Today, Galatasaray has millions of fans in Europe, the Middle East, America, and Asia. Our fifth program is sporting excellence and academy transformation. Success is not a coincidence. Success is planning, success is stability. Thanks to the squad we have built in recent years, the investments we have made, and our technical structuring, we have won consecutive championships. We have started to make people watch a strong Galatasaray in Europe again. But our goal is not just to be successful in Turkey; we also want permanent success in Europe. Galatasaray is a major sports club that aims for the top in every field of sports. Now, we are making this success sustainable by strengthening the infrastructure. Our sixth program is artificial intelligence and technology investments. We will create a Galatasaray that puts technology at the center in every field, from football to performance analysis, from fan experience to data management. Because technology will manage the sports world of the future. We want to be a club that is not left out of this transformation, but a pioneer of it. Our seventh and final program is sustainability and social responsibility. Galatasaray must be a club that is not only a winner but also an example. Beyond these programs, one of the goals we have set for ourselves is to take our place in the NBA Europe project. Our work on this continues. I hope we will give good news very soon."

"We became candidates to write a brand new story with my friends"

Stating that they have achieved very important things in the last 4 years and that they now have a very important opportunity to write a new story, Dursun Özbek said, "Now, my friends and I have a historical responsibility to write Galatasaray's new story. We became candidates to write a brand new story with my friends. Hopefully, with your support, we will write a brand new project for Galatasaray, for the future of Galatasaray, that will make us all happy."

"If you are there, we can do anything"

Reminding that May 17 is the anniversary of the UEFA Cup, the president of the yellow-reds continued his words as follows:

"May 17, the memories of our UEFA Cup are very vivid in all of our minds. Tomorrow is its anniversary. Our living legend Fatih Terim, who is one of the most important actors who made us taste this happiness, has a very beautiful saying: 'The greatest championship is the next championship'. We are now looking ahead. Now I ask you, are you ready for the 27th championship? Well, are you ready to lift the cup in Europe again? Are you ready to build one of Europe's most important sports complexes together with the Kemerburgaz project? Are you ready to make Galatasaray one of the world's top 15 sports clubs? Are you ready for a global Galatasaray with 150 million fans? Are you ready to grow the Galatasaray brand all over the world? Are you ready to be Turkey's world club and the world's Turkish club? Then if you are there, we can do anything. I promise here once again that I will work tirelessly with my friends for these goals. I believe that Galatasaray is now on the threshold of a new era, the future belongs to Galatasaray."

He invited the members to the election

Finally, inviting members to the election to be held next Saturday, Dursun Özbek concluded his remarks by saying, "We have become candidates to serve you in the 2026-2028 term. We have an election on Saturday. We will ask for your mandate for this new term. My request to you is to come to the election on Saturday. I look forward to seeing you all at the school on Saturday."