Ümit Aktan
Ümit Aktan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ümit Yusuf Aktan 21 January 1949 |
| Died | 7 August 2025 (aged 76) |
| Resting place | Ortakent Cemetery |
| Education | Journalism |
| Alma mater | Galatasaray High School, Marmara University |
| Occupations | , |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 |
Ümit Yusuf Aktan (21 January 1949 – 7 August 2025) was a Turkish sportscaster, journalist, author and presenter.
Personal life
Ümit Yusuf Aktan was born to Mualla Karabay as the only child of his family in Nazilli, Aydın on 21 January 1949. He studied at Galatasaray High School nine years as a boarding student. After completing the secondary education, he intended to study Political Science. However, he enrolled in the Faculty of Journalism at the newly founded Marmara University in Istanbul due to his father's insistence.[1]
In 1974, Aktan made his first marriage to Nigar Akanay, a ballet dancer at the State Ballet of Istanbul. His second marriage in 1978 to Ayşe Onarır, a news and programme presenter at the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), lasted only six months.[2] His next marriage was to Neslihan Aktan.[3] Little is known about this marriage.[4] From this marriage, he had a 1981-born son Enkidu,[3][4] named after a legendary figure in ancient Mesopotamian mythology.[5] On 3 November 1991, Aktan married to Selin Dilmen (born 1969), a stage, television and cinema actress, who had made a brief mariage before in 1989.[6] From this marriage, they had a daughter Dilara born in 1995.[4][6] The couple divorced in 1999.[6] In 2007, in a simple but surprise wedding ceremony in Bodrum, Muğla Province, he made his last marriage to Sema Küçükşahin (born 1959), with whom he had a long time relationship.[4]
He spent his summer holidays at his summer residence in Turgutreis neighborhood of Bodrum, southwestern Turkey.[1]
Aktan died on 7 August 2025, at the age of 76, in the hospital, where he was treated for heart disease.[7][8] He was buried at Ortakent Cemetery following the religious service in Kerem Aydınlar Mosque in Ortakent village of Bodrum, attended by former sportspeople and journalists.[8] He was survived by his spouse Sema.[4]
Career
Aktan started playing football during his high school years.[9] He played in the school team four years, and served as the team captain. Later, he was admitted to the Galatasaray Youth team, where he played two years as captain.[1] However, a serious injury ended his football career.[1]
In 1972, Aktan passed the exams to enter the state-owned Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), and started as a sports journalist. On 17 February 1973, he announced for the first time a top-level football league match. In 1975, he became a member of the "Türkiye Spor Yazarları Derneği" (Turkish Sports Writers Association) while he was working at the newspaper Son Havadis. Later, he served as the manager of the sports department at the daily Yeni Asır. On 22 April 1993, he took part at the establishment of the TGRT (Türkiye Gazetesi Radyo Televizyonu), and announced football league matches there. He later presented sports and game shows on TGRT. In 1997, he was appointed TGRT's sports director. After transferring to TV channel Kanal 6, he began presenting the programme "Haydi Maça" ("Let's Go To The Match"). After transferring from Kanal 6 to the TV channel ATV, he continued with his programme "Haydi Maça" until 2009. He served as a commentator on the programme "Futbol Gecesi" ("Football Night") broadcast on TGRT News. He also wrote columns for the newspapers Tercüman, Yeni Şafak, and Türkiye.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Ümit Aktan" (in Turkish). Biyografiler. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ^ "Ümit Aktan'ın ilk eşi Nigar Akanay kimdir ne iş yapar? İşte Ümit Aktan'ın kaç evlilik yaptığı ve eşleri". Turgutlu Yankı (in Turkish). 7 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Ümit Aktan'ın oğlu Enkidu Aktan kimdir Enkidu Aktan kaç yaşında?". Gündem (in Turkish). 9 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Ümit Aktan'ın eşi Sema Aktan (Küçükşahin) kimdir? Nereli, ne iş yapıyor?". Sivas Ekspres (in Turkish). 7 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ^ "Gılgamış". Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). 3 July 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "Selin Dilmen kimdir? Hayatı ve kariyeri". SonMühür (in Turkish). 7 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ^ "Ümit Aktan'ı kaybettik" (in Turkish). Galatasaray Spor Kulübü. 7 August 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Spor spikeri Ümit Aktan Bodrum'da toprağa verildi". TRT Spor (in Turkish). 8 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ^ "Ünlü spiker Ümit Aktan hayatını kaybetti". Gazete Oksijen (in Turkish). 7 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.