Galatasaray’s legendary ‘Panther of Berlin’ dies at 84

ISTANBUL

Legendary Galatasaray and Turkish national team goalkeeper and former coach Turgay Şeren succumbed to a long illness early on July 7 in Istanbul at the age of 84. 

Şener played at Galatasaray between 1947 and 1966 and was capped 52 times for Turkey, including two matches at the 1954 FIFA World Cup, the first of two times in which Turkey participated in the tournament.

He was nicknamed the “Panther of Berlin” after making saves against West Germany in 1951 in Berlin to help the Turkish team achieve a rare 2–1 win against Die Nationalmannschaft. 

He was the first Turkish footballer to ever play in South America when he signed with River Plate in 1967, though he returned soon due to a financial problem between the Argentine giants and Galatasaray.  

Şeren was awarded a testimonial match by the club in 1967 in Istanbul, inviting players like Ion Pârcălab, Lev Yashin and Ion Nunweiller. 

Next year he began his career as a coach and headed Galatasaray in the season of 1979-80.

The player then appeared as a pundit on private broadcasters and wrote sports columns.