Legendary Turkish sports commentator’s 61-year career breaks record
Nicknamed the “Doyen of commentating” in his home country of Türkiye, 86-year-old Orhan Ayhan is now verified to be a world record holder.
He’s led the longest career as a sports commentator in history, spanning 61 years from January 1963 to the present day.
He takes the title from the late György Szepesi, a Hungarian commentator who enjoyed a 60-year career from 1945 to 2005.
Orhan has worked for Turkish state-run broadcaster TRT for most of his career.
His commentary has informed and entertained generations of Turkish sports fans via the radio, black and white TV, and now in full colour.
The first event he commentated was a European Cup football match between Turkish club Galatasaray and Italy’s AC Milan on TRT radio, five years before the country’s first television broadcast.
He’s commentated in five continents over his six-decade career, attending some of the world’s biggest sporting events.
He covered boxing at the Olympics in 1972, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012, as well as football matches at the 1994 and 2002 World Cups.
One of the highlights of Orhan’s career was interviewing iconic Brazilian footballer Pelé, who won the World Cup more times than any other player.
On a week-to-week basis, Orhan used to provide commentary for Turkish and Italian club football matches, in addition to American boxing bouts featuring stars like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
Nowadays, he continues to call boxing and kickboxing fights. His most recent event was the Turkish Kickboxing Championships which were held in the city of Antalya.
On top of his job as a commentator, Orhan has worked as a sports journalist and columnist for various Turkish newspapers.
He also serves as a board member for several organizations: the Turkish Journalists’ Association, the Sports Writers’ Association (of which he was a founding member), and the Turkish Boxing Federation.
Speaking about Orhan’s record-breaking career, the deputy head of TRT Spor, Özgür Gence Buzbaş, said: “Throughout his illustrious career, Mr Orhan Ayhan has provided exemplary commentary during pivotal boxing events at the Olympic Games. Furthermore, his astute commentary has graced the viewers during notable football matches in FIFA World Cups.
“Mr Orhan Ayhan’s enduring commitment to excellence extends beyond live sports commentary. He remains an invaluable asset to our channels, consistently delivering captivating content through his weekly documentary programme titled Orhan Ayhan’la.
“This programme has not only garnered widespread acclaim but has also become a cornerstone of our broadcasting schedule, captivating audiences with its insightful narratives and engaging storytelling.”
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