Fenerbahçe favourite Lefter passes away
Saturday, January 14, 2012
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Lefter Küçükandonyadis, the former Turkey striker who scored 423 goals in 615 appearances during two spells at Fenerbahçe SK, has died at the age of 86 following a long illness.
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Former Turkey and Fenerbahçe SK forward Lefter Küçükandonyadis died on Friday at the age of 86 following a long illness.
Born on 22 December 1925 in Buyukada, one of the Princes' Islands near Istanbul, Lefter started his career at Taksim SK. After four years of military service, he joined Fenerbahçe in 1947 and went on to score 423 goals in 615 appearances over two spells with the club.
Single seasons ensued at both ACF Fiorentina and OGC Nice, in 1951/52 and 1952/53 respectively, before a return to Fenerbahçe where he would remain for 11 years. He retired in 1964 following a brief stint with AEK Athens FC.
Nicknamed 'Ordinarius', Lefter was capped 46 times by Turkey and scored twice at the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland. In total, he registered 21 international goals, a Turkish record for many years until it was surpassed by Hakan Şükür and then Tuncay Şanlı.
After hanging up his boots he coached Greek side Egaleo FC, South Africa's SuperSport United FC, Orduspor, Mersin İdman Yurdu and Boluspor. He later worked as a newspaper columnist.