Şakir Eczabaşı, one of the Eczacıbaşı Sports Club’s founders and Club President between 1966 and 1996, passed away eight years ago on this day. We take this occasion to remember him with affection and admiration.
Who was Şakir Eczacıbaşı?
Şakir Eczabaşı was born in Izmir in 1929. After completing his studies at Robert College, he studied pharmaceutical science at the University of London. Throughout his professional career, he took on important responsibilities in the Eczacıbaşı Group, including Chair of the Eczacıbaşı Group’s Executive Committee and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. As President of the Eczacıbaşı Sports Club for almost 30 years and Chair of the Board of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts for 16, he played a leading role in enriching Turkey’s sports, art and cultural life.
Şakir Eczabaşı initiated the effort to establish the Eczacıbaşı Sports Club and became its first President in 1966, a position he held until 21 December 1995. During his tenure, the Eczacıbaşı Sports Club set many records in the fields of women’s and men’s volleyball, basketball, and table tennis.
Between 1966 and 1995, the Eczacıbaşı Sports Club Women’s Volleyball Team won the National Championship 18 times, the President’s Cup three times (1989, 1991, and 1993), and the General Directorate of Physical Education Cups six times (1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, and 1980). It also placed second in European championships two times (1980 Champion Clubs Cup and 1993 Confederation Cup) and fourth in Europe once (1984 Champion Clubs Cup). The Eczacıbaşı Sports Club Men’s Volleyball Team won the National Championship 11 times, the Turkey Cup twice (1990, 1991), and the President’s Cup once (1991). They also played in three European finals, placing third in 1980 and fourth in 1978 and 1992.
The Eczacıbaşı Sports Club Men’s Basketball Team won the Second League Championship twice, the National League Championship eight times, and the Presidents Cup once, in 1988. The Eczacıbaşı Sports Club’s Table Tennis Team won 13 National Championships, 11 Federation Cups, and eight Ministry of Youth and Sports Cups.
