Can Bartu

Can Bartu (31 January 1936 – 11 April 2019) was a Turkish basketball and football player. After retirement, he also worked as a pundit and sports journalist.

Can Bartu
Personal information
Full name Can Bartu
Date of birth (1936-01-31)31 January 1936
Place of birth Istanbul, Turkey
Date of death 11 April 2019(2019-04-11) (aged 83)[1]
Place of death Istanbul, Turkey
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder, Left winger
Youth career
?–1955 Fenerbahçe
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1955–1961 Fenerbahçe 326 (173)
1961–1962 Fiorentina 14 (5)
1962–1963 Venezia 30 (11)
1963–1964 Fiorentina 10 (3)
1964–1967 Lazio 46 (11)
1967–1970 Fenerbahçe 46 (8)
Total 426 (211)
National team
1956–1968 Turkey 26 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Personal life

Bartu was considered as a "legendary" footballer, and was nicknamed the "Sinyor" (from Italian "Signor" for nobleman).[2][3]

After his retirement, he wrote columns long time for the daily Hürriyet.[2]

Can Bartu died at the age of 83 on 11 April 2019.[2] He was interred at the Karacaahmet Cemetery following a memorial ceremony held at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, the home ground of Fenerbahçe S.K., and the religious funeral at the Marmara İlahiyat Mosque in Üsküdar.[3]

Career

He started to play basketball for Fenerbahçe and was a six-time international representative with the national basketball team. He was invited by the football coach Fikret Arıcan to play football beside basketball. On 25 January 1957, Bartu played football for his club against Beyoğluspor. He scored two goals and assisted for two more. He helped so his team won 4–0. Then, that evening, Bartu played basketball for Fenerbahçe, scoring 10 points. He helped his club win 44–43 shooting a goal three seconds before the finish. Bartu switched then over to football in his club. He played 26 times for the Turkish national football team.

In 1961, Bartu transferred to ACF Fiorentina in Italy. Later, he played for Venezia A.C. in 1962 and for S.S. Lazio in 1964. He is the first ever Turkish footballer, who played a final game in Europe with Fiorentina against Atlético Madrid in 1962. He was nicknamed "Signor" by the Italians due to his technique and gentile manner on the playground and because of his chic outfits worn off field.

After successful seasons in Italy, Bartu returned to Turkey in 1967 to play in his former club Fenerbahçe for more three years. Overall, Bartu played 326 games with Fenerbahçe and scored 162 goals. He became four-time Turkish Super League champion in 1959, 1961, 1968 and 1970 with Fenerbahçe.

He retired from active sport in 1970. Bartu currently is a sports journalist writing for the newspaper Hürriyet.

Nowadays he also takes part on a national TV channel in Turkey as a commentator.

Bartu was the UEFA Cup ambassador of Turkey in 2008/2009 season, when the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul hosted the final.

Bartu replaced the injured Turgay Şeren at 77' and played as a goalkeeper against Romania on 2 November 1958 in Bucureşti during a European Cup game.[4]

Career statistics

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 December 195719 Mayıs Stadium, Ankara, Turkey Belgium1–1DrawFriendly
2.1 November 196419 Mayıs Stadium, Ankara, Turkey Tunisia4–1WinFriendly
3.14 September 196919 Mayıs Stadium, Ankara, Turkey Pakistan4–2Win1969 RCD Cup
4.14 September 196919 Mayıs Stadium, Ankara, Turkey Pakistan4–2Win1969 RCD Cup
5.17 September 196919 Mayıs Stadium, Ankara, Turkey Iran4–0Win1969 RCD Cup
6.24 September 1969Mithatpaşa Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey  Switzerland3–0WinFriendly
Correct as of 10 May 2019[5]

Legacy

The current training facilities of the Fenerbahçe senior football team are named after Bartu.[2]

References
  1. "Son dakika: Fenerbahçe efsanesi Can Bartu yaşamını yitirdi" (in Turkish). 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  2. "Turkish football legend 'Sinyor' Can Bartu dies at 83". Hürriyet Daily News. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  3. "Fenerbahçe legend Can Bartu dies at age 83". Daily Sabah. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  4. http://www.angelfire.com/nj/sivritepe/5859/znta.html
  5. Football PLAYER: Can Bartu
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