Istanbul Football League
The Istanbul Football League (Turkish: İstanbul Futbol Ligi) was founded as a regional football league under the name Constantinople Football Association League by James La Fontaine and Henry Pears in Istanbul, the capital of the former Ottoman Empire, in 1904. The Istanbul League was the first football organization ever in the Ottoman Empire and later Turkey. In the inaugural 1904–05 season the matches between the four teams, Moda FC, HMS Imogene, Elpis FC, and Cadi-Keuy FC were played on Sundays, leading to the name of the league, Istanbul Sunday League. Henry Pears, an Englishman and one of the three founders, promised to ultimately award the shield to the club with the most championships won during the initial 10 years.
![](../I/m/James_LaFontaine.jpg)
![](../I/m/Henry_Pears.jpg)
Founded | 1904 |
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Folded | 1959 |
Country | Turkey |
Number of teams | various |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Domestic cup(s) | Istanbul Shield (1929–39) Istanbul Football Cup (1942–47) |
Last champions | Fenerbahçe (16th title) (1958–59) |
Most championships | Fenerbahçe (16 titles) |
The Istanbul Friday League was founded in 1915 and replaced the Istanbul Sunday League. Seven teams participated in its inaugural 1915–16 season. From 1923–24 to 1950–51 the league was called Istanbul League. The name was later changed and became Istanbul Professional League in the 1952 season, as professionalism was introduced by the Turkish Football Federation in 1951.
Fenerbahçe are the most successful club, having won the league a record 16 times in total.
Champions
Istanbul Sunday League (İstanbul Pazar Ligi)
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- Cadikeuy Football Club 1905-06 Champion
- Moda FC 1907-08 Champion
- Galatasaray SK 1908-09 Champion
- Galatasaray SK 1909-10 Champion
- Galatasaray SK 1910-11 Champion
- Fenerbahçe SK 1911-12 Champion
- Fenerbahçe SK 1913-14 Champion
Istanbul Friday League (İstanbul Cuma Ligi)
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- Galatasaray SK 1915-16 Champion
- Altınordu İdman Yurdu 1916-17 and 1917-18 Champion
- Fenerbahçe SK 1920-21 Champion
- Galatasaray SK 1921-22 Champion
- Fenerbahçe SK 1922-23 Champion
Istanbul League (İstanbul Ligi)
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- Beşiktaş JK 1923-24 Champion
- Galatasaray SK 1924-25 Champion
- Galatasaray SK 1925-26 Champion
- Galatasaray SK 1926-27 Champion
- 1928-29 Galatasaray SK Champion
- Galatasaray SK 1930-31 Champion
- Istanbulspor 1931-32 Champion
- Besiktas JK 1938-39 Champion
Istanbul Professional League
Performance by club
Top Scorers
RecordsTitles
Biggest wins
References
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