Held at the Eczacıbaşı Sports Club HDI Sigorta Sports Hall and moderated by Banu Yelkovan and Bağış Erten, the ceremony commemorated six decades of athletic development and societal impact. Notably celebrated as the first sports club worldwide to receive the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) "Women and Sport World Trophy" in 2018, the institution honored its historic contributions to women’s sports.
Prominent figures attending included Eczacıbaşı Holding Chairman Bülent Eczacıbaşı and Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, who presented appreciation plaques to Faruk Eczacıbaşı, Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Board Member Erdal Karamercan, and General Manager Ali Atalık.
Six Decades Across Five Pillars
The club’s developmental legacy was presented through archival retrospectives structured around five core themes: “Our Dream,” “Our Courage,” “Our Memory,” “Our Success,” and “Our Future.” A dedicated “Memorial Stand” seated historical icons from various branches alongside modern youth academy players.
Key Executive Perspectives
Faruk Eczacıbaşı (Club President): "Our sustained focus on women's volleyball was guided by a mission to cultivate resilient role models for young Turkish women. Alongside the federation and fellow clubs, we established an ecosystem that sets a global benchmark. Our goal for the new campaign remains lifting every championship trophy."
Mehmet Akif Üstündağ (TVF President): "Turkish volleyball is the undisputed global benchmark today. Club investments are the structural pillar of this leadership. Eczacıbaşı has formed the very substance and foundation of our national volleyball rise."
Nejat Emre Eczacıbaşı (Board Member): "The founding philosophy laid down by Dr. Nejat Eczacıbaşı and Şakir Eczacıbaşı reflected an enduring belief in youth empowerment—demonstrating that organized institutional backing unlocks excellence in sport, culture, and science alike."
Season Launch: Eczacıbaşı Peron Istanbul
Head Coach Giulio Cesare Bregoli and Team Captain Simge Aköz introduced the 2026–2027 roster competing across the Vodafone Sultans League, European cups, and the FIVB Club World Championship. The competitive campaign begins away against Nilüfer Belediyespor on October 3, 2026, with the home debut scheduled for October 11, 2026.
2026–2027 Roster:
Players: Simge Aköz (C), Selin Adalı, Mayu Ishikawa, Dilay Özdemir, Aslı Kalaç, Ezel Balık, Yaprak Erkek, Elif Şahin, Dana Rettke, Aleksandra Uzelac, Ekaterina Antropova, Iva Dudova, Camilla Weitzel, Ebrar Karakurt.
Staff: Giulio Cesare Bregoli (Head Coach), Gerardo Daglio, Kaan İncekara, Artun Aksan, Erman Güçin, Marius Clerc (Assistant Coaches), Bilun Yılmaz (General Manager).
