“We won the cup; we came on the same plane as the opponent, Süleyman Seba said, ‘Don’t celebrate!’”

Arda Güler’s Commentary:

"One of the most valuable players Türkiye has produced. We are proud."

Mehmet Özdilek’s answer to the question, “Is there a footballer in the Turkish League right now that you see as similar to you?”: “There isn’t a number 10 like me right now!”

Anecdote about a match with the player from whom he got the nickname Şifo:

“Since Mehmet is playing, he must be a better footballer.”

"Which was the most difficult away game during your football career?" Mehmet Özdilek's answer to the question: Trabzonspor

Legendary Coach Gordon Milne's statement:

“He is healthy and alive. He comes to Türkiye every year for the last 10 years to spend his vacation. He loves Türkiye, the Turkish people, and Turkish food very much.”

The interview titled "Sports Legend Mehmet Özdilek on Sports and Fair Play," organized by OYAK Marketing, was held at the OYAK Dragos Plaza Gökçeada Meeting Hall.

The event, featuring Mehmet Özdilek, nicknamed "Şifo Mehmet," who is synonymous with Fair Play in Turkish football, was attended by OYAK Marketing General Manager Yusuf Yenilmez and OYAK employees. The interview covered sports culture, the concept of fair play, and significant experiences from his football career.

The Legend of Şifo for Beşiktaş

He wore the Black and White jersey for 14 years. He is among the players with the most appearances and most goals for the club. He left his mark on the history of Beşiktaş alongside legends like Metin, Ali, and Feyyaz in the "Golden Age" squad of the Süleyman Seba era.

With 135 goals in approximately 500 official matches, he became one of the highest-scoring midfielders in Turkish football history. However, what made him special wasn't just the score and numbers. Mehmet Özdilek, who has earned a special place in Turkish football with his sportsmanship and character on the field, has become one of the symbolic figures of Fair Play by never receiving a red card throughout his career. The Black and White legend, Mehmet Özdilek, answered questions about his football life. Özdilek's candid statements about his sports philosophy and contemporary football were noteworthy at the program held at the OYAK Istanbul Center.

OYAK Marketing General Manager Yusuf Yenilmez: “How success is achieved is as important as success itself”

The program began with an opening speech by OYAK Marketing General Manager Yusuf Yenilmez. Yenilmez stated that sports are not just about competition. Emphasizing that within OYAK, the values upon which success is achieved are as important as success itself, Yusuf Yenilmez stated that ethical understanding, respect, and sportsmanship hold a priority place in the corporate culture.

Yenilmez said, “Sports are important for all of us, but it’s not just about competition. At OYAK, I believe that it’s not just about focusing on competition and success, but also about how you achieve it.”

Stating that OYAK will focus on sports organizations that highlight team spirit, unity, and togetherness in its 65th anniversary events, Yenilmez said that they believe sportsmanship and ethical conduct are fundamental values that support success not only in sports but in every aspect of life.

Yenilmez, ‘65th "In our events this year, we will highlight team spirit, unity, and togetherness even more, especially in our sports organizations. Just as in sports, I believe that sportsmanship and ethical conduct will always lead to a successful life in our normal lives," he said.

Mehmet Özdilek's Message: Sustainability is Important in Sports

Mehmet Özdilek said that throughout his football career, he tried not only to be a successful athlete but also an exemplary one. Stating that the love and respect he received from fans of different teams was very valuable to him, Özdilek said, "After you take off the jersey, your personality remains. The important thing is to be able to make it sustainable."

Statements about his private life

Mehmet Özdilek said that he preferred not to live his private life in the public eye. Stating that he tried to maintain the same lifestyle throughout his life, Özdilek said, "I tried not to share my private life with the public too much. Because this is my private life." Özdilek stated that he believes this stance is behind the love and respect he has received for years, adding, "I think that the path I have followed so far is the most important factor in maintaining people's love and respect."

“I used to walk 15 kilometers every day.”

Özdilek, also speaking about the difficulties he faced in his life, said, “I played on the school team, then I would walk 5 kilometers to go to club training. After that, I would walk 10 kilometers home and go back to school the next day. Despite all the difficulties, I kept saying, ‘I will be an athlete.’ Note, I said, ‘I will be an athlete,’ not ‘I will be a football player.’ And I believed that I would fight to be one of the best. My mother had a very beautiful saying about me. She said, (Family culture is very important in our family).”

Why Did He Choose Beşiktaş?

Mehmet Özdilek, explaining his reasons for choosing Beşiktaş in his career, said that the club's structure and player group at the time had a great influence on his decision. Özdilek stated, “Why did I choose it? When we became champions in the 87-88 season, all the teams in Turkey wanted to sign a contract with me. My reasons for choosing it were; Süleyman Seba, the board of directors, and the player profile. The players… Metin, Ali, Feyyaz, Rıza, Gökhan… Their feelings for each other, their unity on the field, the respectability of the Beşiktaş community in society, and the stance of Süleyman Seba and the board of directors were the most important factors in my decision.”

Süleyman Seba's Commentary

Mehmet Özdilek also made assessments regarding the Süleyman Seba era in his speech. “That period was truly a very important phase in the history of Beşiktaş and sports in general. It was the period when Beşiktaş was at its peak for 10-15 years, experiencing its greatest rise. It is a great honor for me to go down in history as the player who served that team, captained it, played the most games, and scored the most goals,” said Özdilek, also sharing noteworthy anecdotes about his working relationship with Süleyman Seba.

Özdilek stated, “I worked with Süleyman Seba for 13 years. If you ask how many times I saw Süleyman abi (brother) during that time, maybe 3-4 times. To meet with him, we would first get an appointment from Nur Hanım (Mrs. Nur). A date would be given, and we would go and meet him on that day.”

“We grew up with Çarşı; we could hear the voices of 40,000 people.”

Beşiktaş legend Mehmet Özdilek compared the old and new eras of football. Özdilek, nicknamed "Şifo Mehmet," said, "We grew up with Çarşı. We could hear the voices of 40,000 people. I think that era was more difficult in terms of football. We actually grew up with Çarşı. Sometimes the team's performance would drop. I would get the ball. I would look at my forward teammates up front, thinking I would pass. I couldn't see my teammates. They would all hide behind the opposing defenses. If things weren't going right, we didn't have a chance to get out. When we were taking our time, we could feel the voices of 40,000 people so clearly."

135 Goals…

In his statement, Mehmet Özdilek emphasized the remarkable number of goals scored as a midfielder, saying: “135 goals is a very high rate for a midfielder. This is just league performance. When European cups and the Turkish Cup are added, it reaches 160-170 goals.” "That's quite a high figure, and it seems difficult to surpass."

His encounter with Şifo, from whom he got his nickname

Mehmet Özdilek, while recounting the story of his nickname "Şifo," said that he had the opportunity to meet the Belgian footballer from whom he got the nickname years later. Özdilek stated that while he was playing on a dirt field in Kahramanmaraş, Şifo was playing for the Belgian National Team, and that the nickname was given to him because of the similarities in their leadership and playing styles on the field.

Özdilek explained that they met during a training camp in Antalya in 2001, and that the press brought the two together at the same table. He recounted the Belgian star's answer to the question, "Which of you is better?" at the end of the meeting: "I've given up since Mehmet is playing. Mehmet is a better athlete than me," showing great courtesy.

Short Questions Section…

Arda Güler is a great talent

Answering the question, "Could you give your assessment of Arda Güler?", Özdilek stated that the young star is one of the most valuable players Turkey has produced. He noted the importance of playing for one of the world's biggest clubs, saying, "The responsibility is very heavy, but he has the experience to handle it at such a young age. We are proud of him."

Gordon Milne is still alive and healthy

Mehmet Özdilek stated that he is still in contact with former Beşiktaş coach Gordon Milne, adding that the experienced coach comes to Bodrum for vacation every year. Özdilek said that Milne loves Turkey and the Turkish people very much, adding, "He continues his life in good health." Özdilek emphasized that although the English coach appears tough on the outside, he has a very strong human side, and that he is one of the most important coaches in Beşiktaş history.

(Questions and Answers section)

"There's no number 10 like myself"

When asked if he had seen a "number 10" similar to his own style of play, Özdilek clearly answered "No," stating that he hadn't encountered a similar player profile in today's football.

When asked whether he preferred being a coach or a player, Özdilek gave a short and clear answer: "Playing football."

Regarding the most difficult away game of his career, Özdilek stated that the Trabzon away game was particularly challenging during his time. When asked if he would choose the same path again if given the chance to play football, Özdilek answered "Undoubtedly," emphasizing his commitment to the sport.

Success Equals Şifo's Answer

When asked to define success in a single word, Özdilek smiled at the suggestion from the audience: "Şifo," and replied, "I guess it would be myself."

Among the matches he can't forget are his bicycle kick goal against Galatasaray, the Fenerbahçe match, and Beşiktaş's first Champions League appearance against Maribor, stating that these matches hold a special place in his career.

Speaking about teamwork, Özdilek stated that the unity within the old Beşiktaş squad was their greatest strength, saying, "We were all truly like brothers."

Regarding the VAR system, Özdilek said that the application is beneficial for Anatolian clubs, but that discussions continue regarding the big teams.

The program concluded with a jersey signing.

As part of the program, the final part of the moments from his 2001 testimonial match against AC Milan was shown to the experienced athlete Mehmet Özdilek on an LCD screen. Özdilek experienced emotional moments.

Following the event, OYAK Marketing General Manager Yusuf Yenilmez presented Özdilek with a special jersey prepared for use in OYAK's 65th Anniversary Sports Events. The program concluded with participants getting their jerseys signed and a group photo session.