Yıldırım Demirören (b. 1964, Istanbul) is a Turkish businessman and the chairman of the Istanbul-based Turkish multisports club Beşiktaş. He also owns Demirören Şirketler Grubu (English: Demirören Group of Compaines), which were founded in 1964^[1] and focused on liquid gas distribution.

Contents 1 Presidental career 2 Personal life 3 External links 4 References

[edit] Presidental career

He had various duties on club board as his father, former businessman Erdoğan Demirören served the team as well. Then he announced his candidateship on May 2004 as one of the 3 participants among Fikret Orman and Orhan Kaynar.^[2] After the club congress, he had achieved the chairman charge of the team as successor of Serdar Bilgili.

He was responsible for the renovation of the İnönü Stadium, the home stadium of his club. During his term of office also a club-owned TV-channel, BJK TV was founded which informs about the latest events and featuring various TV documents and programs related to club. He is able to support the club and to engage famous trainers like Vicente Del Bosque and Jean Tigana as well as players like John Carew, Ricardinho and Ailton with his own massive financial resources. He also promoted merchandizing of fan articles.

Beşiktaş have reached the top of Türkish League for the very first time in Demirören era after 137 league match weeks with beating Galatasaray in Istanbul derby after almost 4 years. ^[3]

Although on season 08/09 the football team succeeded winning two local trophies, Turkiye Kupası and Turkish league championship, there is a growing tension among the supporters against Demiroren for putting Besiktas financially insecure with a debt around 100 million dollars which he lend to the club 40% of it under his six year legacy.

[edit] Personal life

Demirören is an alumnus of Leysin American School. He is married and have three children. He is also member of Turkish business associations TÜSİAD and TUGİAD. His hobbies are golf and traveling.

Sporting positions
Preceded by Serdar Bilgili	President of Beşiktaş JK 2004–present	Succeeded by incumbent

[edit] External links

• (Turkish) Netbul.net profile
• English:  icon(Turkish) Official Demiroren GoC website

[edit] References