Can Bartu

Can Bartu (31 January 1936 – 11 April 2019) was a Turkish basketball and football player of Circassian origin. He was the first Turkish footballer to play a final in Europe. His statue was erected in Istanbul. After retirement, he also worked as a pundit and sports journalist.

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 against Beyoğluspor, scoring two goals and assisted two more in an eventual 4–0 victory. Then, that evening, Bartu scored 10 points, including a buzzer beater with three seconds remaining, in a basketball game to help Fenerbahçe win 44–43. He also played 26 times for the Turkey national football team.

In 1961, Bartu transferred to ACF Fiorentina in Italy, where he became the first Turk to play a European final against Atlético Madrid at the 1962 Cup Winners' Cup, being given the nickname "Signor" by the Italian press as a result. Later on, he played for Venezia A.C. in 1962 and S.S. Lazio in 1964.

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 and continued his career as a sports journalist writing for the newspaper Hürriyet.

He also took 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 București during a European Cup game.

Personal life and death Bartu was nicknamed "Sinyor" (from Italian "Signor" for nobleman).

Legacy The current training facilities of the Fenerbahçe senior football team are named after Bartu.