A Record Breaker, A Great Captain, A Brave Heart
In September 1962, at the Balkan Youth Athletics Championships held in Athens, a young athlete with a crescent and star badge on his chest achieved a height of 1.77 meters in high jump, surpassing his competitors and also breaking the Turkish record. This young athlete who proudly stood on the podium with his chest puffed out was İsmet Orhunbilge.
After being invited by Sait Altınordu to play football, İsmet Orhunbilge's athletic career, which started with track and field, would now continue with football.
In 1963, once again in the month of September, Sait Altınordu watched young İsmet performing athletics at Göztepe stadium and called out to him, "Come on, high jumper!"
HE WORE THE ALTINORDU JERSEY AT THE AGE OF 17
İsmet Orhunbilge, who registered with Altınordu as an amateur, first wore the red and navy jersey on November 16, 1963, at the age of 17, against İzmirspor, and he never took off the Altınordu jersey until the match against Konya İ.Y. in Konya on September 28, 1975, during the 1975-76 season.
The Great Captain proudly wore the Altınordu jersey continuously for 12 years.
During this time, he had the honor of representing the National Team 12 times, including in the Junior and Youth National Teams.
During these 12 years, İsmet Orhunbilge scored 2 official goals.
FIRST GOAL: In the 1964-65 season, at the age of 18, he scored his first goal on November 15, 1964, against PTT. (Altınordu: 3 - 1 PTT) (second goal for Altınordu)
He sent the ball into the net with a powerful shot from a corner kick.
The Great Captain, who took good care of himself, was present on the field in almost all matches he played throughout the seasons.
Playing together with his brother Hikmet Orhunbilge for many years in Altınordu, İsmet Orhunbilge becomes opponents for the first time in Tire when his brother moves to Tirespor in the 1973-74 season.
After his active football career in Altınordu, İsmet Orhunbilge remains involved in the club, serving as a captain and in managerial roles.
While the Great Captain still had many duties to fulfill for Altınordu and Turkish Football, unfortunately, he passed away in a tragic traffic accident on December 24, 1981, causing deep sorrow in the football world and the Altınordu community.
