Our story
How Anadol
began
The founding story of KFC Anadol, recorded by Engin Özdemir in conversation with Mehmet Urbut, the club’s first player.
1963 → 1967
First, the mine
The first generation came to Belgium in 1963 to work in the coal mines. As the years passed, one thought kept bringing them together: their young people needed sport, social life and a place to belong.
During their discussions in late 1967, they decided there was a real need for a football club that would look after those young people and bring them together through sport.
Where it began
Lange Hasan’s café
That historic gathering took place in the café of Hasan Amca from Zonguldak, on the Koolmijnlaan. Everyone knew him by his nickname: Lange Hasan.
His café earned its place in the club’s history as the place where KFC Anadol was born.
The founders
Those who led the way
According to the story passed down through the club, these were among the people who drove the idea forward and put the most work into making it happen.
- Nusret Demirkan
- Fehmi Taşdemir
- Nihat Dönmez
- Şakir Abi
- Ahmet Pere
- İsmail Urbut
- Nurettin Baştürk
- Mehmet Pal
Many others joined as founding members in the period that followed, strengthening the foundations of the club even further.
Şakir Abi is the name everyone knew him by; his family name has not been passed down. Mehmet Pal was known as Mehmet Pal from Istanbul.
The early years
FC Anadol
To bring the young people together through sport, the founders gave life to their club under the name FC Anadol. In those early years, the club was not yet affiliated with the Belgian FA.
The players played among themselves and arranged friendly matches against teams from the surrounding area. Football brought more than matches: it strengthened the sense of unity and togetherness within the Turkish community.
The name and the deer
Why Anadol?
When the founders were choosing a name and a crest, one idea stood out. In those years, Koç Holding had begun producing the Anadol in Turkey, a car that attracted a great deal of attention. Its deer emblem stood out as well.
“Let our club be called Anadol, and let us use the deer in our crest. Perhaps the Koç family will sponsor us one day.”
With that thought in mind, a letter was sent to Koç Holding in the years that followed, asking for support. Koç Holding responded positively and sent the club twenty tracksuits as a one-off gift. It is remembered as one of the first contributions from a company in the club’s history.
1973
Joining the official leagues
In 1973, FC Anadol officially registered with the Belgian FA and received club number 8026. From then on, the club competed in Belgium’s official leagues.
8026Club number since 1973
At the time, FA regulations required a club secretary to hold Belgian nationality. To meet that requirement, Jef Aerts, who worked for the municipality’s planning department, was appointed secretary. With the formalities complete, FC Anadol could enter official competition.
The first team
Our first footballers
These were the first footballers to wear the FC Anadol shirt in the club’s early years.
Standing, left to right
- Mehmet Urbut
- Durmuş
- Nusret Demirkan
- Yılmaz Pal
- Ahmet Yalçınkaya
- Ferdi Öneren
- Aydın Zevne
- Hasan Göstek
Seated, left to right
- Atila
- Nevzat Zevne
- Nurettin Baştürk
- Nizamettin Tamparlak
- Bahattin (Trakyalı)
These men were among the first football pioneers of the Turkish community in Belgium. Through enormous commitment and sacrifice, they helped make it possible for the club to still be here today.
Today
What they left behind
Today, KFC Anadol proudly continues as an important symbol of unity, solidarity and sporting culture within the Turkish community in Belgium.
We remember with respect and gratitude everyone who laid the foundations of this club: the founders, board members, footballers and all those who gave their time and effort. The legacy they left behind will continue to inspire the generations that follow.
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Engin Özdemir in conversation with Mehmet Urbut, the first player of KFC Anadol.