Mustafa Eröğüt is a seasoned football executive with over 17 years of experience in sports management, both domestically and internationally. His career spans key leadership roles in club and federation settings, marked by a commitment to innovation, education, and strategic development in football.
Education & Early Career
Eröğüt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ithaca College (USA), a Master’s in Sports Management, and a PhD in Sports Administration from Marmara University. He began his career in 2007 as Administrative Coordinator at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Youth Academy, later serving as Administrative Manager for the municipality’s professional football team. His early roles laid a strong foundation in youth development and club operations.
Roles at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF)
From 2012 to 2014, Eröğüt held several key positions at the Turkish Football Federation, including Acting Director of the Football Development Department and Deputy Director-General of Football. In these roles, he managed administrative operations for the senior national team under coaches Fatih Terim and Abdullah Avcı, coordinated with FIFA and UEFA, and oversaw development programs for women’s, futsal, and beach soccer national teams.
Leadership at İstanbul Başakşehir FK
Eröğüt joined İstanbul Başakşehir FK in 2014, serving as Executive Director, CEO, and eventually Vice President until 2023. During his tenure, the club achieved its first Süper Lig championship and became a model for sustainable football management. He spearheaded the launch of the Professional Football Management Certificate Program (PFYSP), Turkey’s first club-led football management education initiative, which, as of 2024, operates with the official support of the European Club Association (ECA).
Vice Presidency at the Turkish Football Federation
From June 2023 to July 2024, Eröğüt served as Vice President of the Turkish Football Federation. In this role, he oversaw FIFA and UEFA relations and led the UEFA Euro 2032 Bid Process Committee, playing a pivotal role in Turkey’s successful joint bid with Italy to host the tournament. He also championed the implementation of technological advancements such as the semi-automatic offside system and increased transparency in VAR decisions.
International Representation & UEFA Involvement
Eröğüt has been actively involved with UEFA for nearly a decade. He served on the Youth and Amateur Football Committee from 2015 to 2024 and has been a member of the UEFA Football Committee since February 2024. He also acted as a UEFA delegate during the UEFA U17 European Championship in Croatia in 2017. Additionally, he contributed to the European Club Association’s Youth Working Group between 2019 and 2023.
Broader Contributions & Governance
Beyond football, Eröğüt has been a member of the Board of Directors and the Audit and Risk Management Committee at Acıbadem Healthcare Group since 2017. He also served as Deputy Secretary General of the Turkish Clubs Association (Kulüpler Birliği) from 2016 to 2017, where he was involved in key initiatives such as the Super League Media Tender Commission and the introduction of VAR technology.
Vision & Leadership Style
Eröğüt is recognized for his strategic foresight, commitment to education, and ability to foster international collaborations. His leadership style emphasizes transparency, innovation, and inclusivity, aiming to elevate Turkish football on the global stage while nurturing the next generation of football professionals.
Our Exclusive Interview with Mustafa Eröğüt
Who is Mustafa Eröğüt outside of football?
Outside of football, I’m someone who is deeply curious—about people, systems, and how we grow as individuals and communities. I’ve always believed that learning shouldn’t stop with formal education. I enjoy reading across disciplines, traveling to experience different cultures, and spending time reflecting on how we can do things better, not just in sport, but in society.
While football is my professional passion, I try not to let it define all of who I am. I care about ideas, conversations, and causes that bring people together. I’m especially drawn to topics like leadership, psychology, history, and education—areas that connect what we do with why we do it.
I also value balance. The pace of football can be relentless, so I make time for quiet moments, whether it’s a walk, a book, or time with my family. These are the moments that recharge me and give me the clarity I need to lead with purpose.
In short, I see myself as someone who tries to contribute meaningfully wherever I am. Football gives me a platform—but I hope my impact goes beyond it.
What philosophies or principles guide your leadership in football administration?
I believe in leadership that is grounded in integrity, collaboration, sustainability, and resilience. Success isn’t just about quick results, it’s about building something that lasts and can adapt over time. That means making decisions aligned with a long-term vision, trusting the people you work with, and staying consistent even when challenges arise.
For me, resilience is about holding steady during difficult times and learning from setbacks. There’s a quote by Rumi that I often think about: “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” It’s a powerful reminder that growth often comes from the hardest moments.
At its core, leadership is not about control, it’s about creating an environment where trust, initiative, and learning can thrive.
How do you balance long-term strategy with the daily demands of running a football club?
It’s always a balance, and it requires both discipline and adaptability. Every day brings its own set of urgent decisions—logistics, staff issues, player needs, unexpected challenges. At the same time, if you only focus on the day-to-day, you lose sight of where you’re going. That’s why I try to live by a mindset that blends both: to act with urgency today, but always think with tomorrow in mind.
There’s a philosophy I relate to deeply: “Work as if you’ll live forever, plan as if today is your last.” In football management, that means putting full energy into the present without sacrificing long-term vision. We set clear goals, empower teams to act
independently, and ensure that daily actions contribute to a bigger picture. But I also stay hands-on enough to catch small issues before they become big ones.
You have to care about both timelines what needs to happen now, and what you want to build over years. That’s how sustainable progress is made.
Who has had the biggest influence on your journey so far?
I like to start with international examples because they helped me see football through a broader, more strategic lens. Working directly with Ferran Soriano during the Başakşehir–Manchester City collaboration was a defining learning moment. His ability to think long-term, to combine business intelligence with football logic, and to build a sustainable structure across multiple clubs taught me what modern football leadership can look like. He showed that clarity and consistency can scale across countries and cultures.
I also had the chance to work closely with Hans-Joachim Watzke during the EURO 2024 process. What impressed me most was his ability to lead with calm authority. He balances financial discipline with a deep emotional connection to the club and its values. Watching him represent Dortmund with stability and integrity gave me a real-world example of value-based leadership that’s not afraid of pressure or complexity.
And of course, Sir Alex Ferguson a reference point for anyone interested in leadership. His ability to reinvent, stay hungry, and lead teams with both structure and emotional intelligence has shaped how I think about people and performance. What stood out to me was not just his success, but his longevity, and the way he adapted without losing his identity.
Each of these figures, in their own way, helped shape how I think about leadership: not just as a title, but as a responsibility to build trust, culture, and something that lasts beyond your own time.
What kind of books or subjects do you enjoy reading?
I’m a collector at heart. I have over 300 match-worn shirts from around the world, but my biggest passion is my personal sports library of more than 500 books in Turkish and English, focused on football, leadership, and performance.
I’ve always been drawn to books that go beyond results. I enjoy exploring how football works behind the scenes, tactics, club structures, psychology, culture. Titles like Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson and Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski helped shape my thinking around how strategy and data influence the game. They opened my eyes to football as a system, not just a sport.
I also enjoy reading about leadership and mindset. The Captain Class by Sam Walker gave me a deeper appreciation for leadership that happens quietly but consistently. Legacy by James Kerr taught me that culture, humility, and discipline are the backbone of sustainable success. Edge by Ben Lyttleton explores how small mental edges make a big difference in performance.
More recently, I’ve read How to Win the Premier League and Succeed Under Pressure. These books were timely. One focuses on the practical strategies that helped managers lift titles, the other on how top athletes and coaches manage stress, pressure, and critical moments. Both reinforced how mental clarity and emotional balance matter just as much as tactics.
Reading, for me, isn’t just about gaining knowledge, it’s about staying connected to the deeper meaning of what we do. Books help me reflect, stay open to new ideas, and grow as both a person and a professional.
Describe your daily routine when you’re working inside a club.
My day usually starts early with a check-in on the team and staff. I have meetings with department heads, review key updates, and try to stay connected with everything going on. I also keep some time for reading or quiet thinking, which helps me stay focused and make better decisions.
How was the experience of participating in the UEFA Champions League for the first time with İstanbul Başakşehir, from a sports professional’s perspective?
It was a defining chapter in my career. Competing in the UEFA Champions League is something every club dreams of, but for a club like İstanbul Başakşehir founded only
in 2014, it was especially meaningful. It proved that with clear vision, consistent work, and belief, even young clubs can reach Europe’s top level.
Hosting teams like Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and RB Leipzig was surreal at times. These are clubs with global history and deep resources and yet we stood on the same stage, not as spectators, but as competitors. It pushed us to operate at the highest professional standard and tested every part of our organization.
One moment that still stands out was our away match in Paris. When both teams left the pitch in protest of a racist incident involving the fourth official, it was no longer just a football match it became a statement. That act of solidarity, in front of a global audience, showed that football can be a platform for principle and unity. I’m proud we were part of that moment.
The whole Champions League experience taught me that growth doesn’t happen only in success it happens in how you prepare, how you respond, and how you carry your identity onto the world stage.
It reminded us and hopefully others that Turkish clubs are capable not just of competing at the highest sporting level, but also of leading with integrity, ethics, and values when the moment demands it.
What’s next for Mustafa Eröğüt in your career journey within football and beyond?
I’m committed to continuing my journey in football with purpose and vision. In the short term, I want to keep contributing to institutional excellence whether that’s at club level or through national and international football structures. I believe football can and should be more than a game. It can be a platform for education, inclusion, and positive change.
Looking further ahead, I’m interested in leadership roles where I can help shape how football is governed and how the game serves people. I also care deeply about mentoring the next generation of professionals, sharing what I’ve learned, but also learning from them.
Whether in football or beyond, I want to be part of building systems that prioritize values, people, and long-term thinking. For me, that’s the kind of legacy worth working for.