Ender Konca joined Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1971/1972 season after spells at Kasımpaşa, Istanbulspor and Eskişehirspor, becoming the first footballer to come to Europe from an Anatolian team. He played 41 competitive matches for Eintracht, scoring 8 goals and providing one assist. Ender Konca moved back to Fenerbahçe Istanbul during the winter break of the 1972/1973 season, won two Süper Lig championships with the team and won the Turkish Cup and the President’s Cup once each. In 1983, he hung up his football boots in Eskişehirspor, the city where he won the aforementioned cups. In an interview with TRT Deutsch, Şahan looks back on his football career and talks about his unforgettable experiences in Germany.

How did you come to join Eintracht Frankfurt?

I think I caught Eintracht Frankfurt’s eye with my performance in the match against Germany in Cologne on 17 October 1970. Berti Vogts was a very good right-back. I dribbled him out many times, but he never gave up. Vogts always wanted the jerseys of players who were superior to him on the field. He also asked me for my jersey and added it to his collection. I learned from the journalist Doğan Pürsün that Jürgen Grabowski, who also played in that match, had also noticed my performance and encouraged Eintracht Frankfurt’s then president Albert Zellekens to get me at all costs. Nine and a half months after that game, I played my first game for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Do you remember your first game for Eintracht Frankfurt?

On 30 July 1971, we played a friendly match against European Cup winners Ajax Amsterdam at the Waldstadion. Johan Cruyff was also on the pitch. I gave Grabowski an assist in the match, which we won 2-1. Towards the end of the game I suffered a slight injury and left the pitch to the applause of the crowd, who must have been convinced of my performance. Accordingly, I cannot forget the positive news that was published about me in the Frankfurt press after my first game. I was a conscript at the time and returned after the game in Türkiye to do my military service.

Do you remember your first match in the Bundesliga?

We played away against Hamburg on 14 August 1971. Özcan Arkoç was in the opposing goal there, and for the first time in the history of the Bundesliga, two Turkish players were playing against each other. I had a goal-scoring chance against Arkoç, but couldn’t score. We lost the match 1:5. I was very upset, and Grabowski tried to console me.

You are the first Turkish footballer to score a goal in the Bundesliga and you have scored 7 goals in total. What do you think was your most beautiful goal?

In the match against VfL Bochum, which we won 3:2 at the Waldstadion, I scored two goals. My most beautiful goal in the Bundesliga was scored in this match with a shot from 25 metres out.

On 30 October 1971, the 10th anniversary of the recruitment agreement between Germany and Turkey, you scored your most beautiful goal in the Bundesliga. Did Turks working in Germany at the time also come to your matches?

Hundreds of Turks came to each of our games in the Waldstadion. Their support boosted my morale enormously. At that time, I met many Turkish families who didn’t leave me alone there and spent a lot of time with them.

Who was your closest teammate or friend at Eintracht?

I liked all the players in our team. And accordingly, they also liked me. Jürgen Grabowski and Bernd Hölzenbein were my best friends. I considered them part of my family.

On 3 June 1972, in an away match against FC Bayern Munich, you tunnelled into Franz Beckenbauer in a duel. Is it true that he fouled you after this action?

After passing Johnny Hansen in this match, I “positionally” tunneled Franz Beckenbauer and was kicked by him. I finished the match in regulation. Also, I had not suffered any serious injury and was able to play again in the next match. There are situations like that in football, but I certainly had no intention of humiliating him. My decency does not allow such a thing.

Can you share with us your memories of the UEFA Cup match against Liverpool FC?

We played Liverpool away at the time, who were coached by Bill Shankly and had personalities like Kevin Keegan and Emlyn Hughes. We lost the game 2-0 and only managed a goalless draw at home. Liverpool knocked us out of the competition and ended up winning the UEFA Cup.

Why did you leave Eintracht Frankfurt at that time? Did you ever regret this separation?

I had to leave Eintracht Frankfurt because of financial problems and moved to Fenerbahçe Istanbul during the winter break of the 1972/1973 season. The team arranged a farewell dinner for me. I wrote a farewell letter entitled “Thank you”, which was also published in the German press. In retrospect, I very much regretted leaving Eintracht Frankfurt. If I had stayed, I would have been able to have a better career on the one hand and, on top of that, I would have set an example for Turkish footballers who wanted to play in Germany.

You visited Eintracht Frankfurt in 2017. What happened during that visit?

After 44 years, I was finally reunited with my former teammates. We were able to talk about the old days with Jürgen Grabowski, Dr Peter Kunter and Peter Reichel. I visited the stadium and the museum back then. Grabowski was a very good friend. In the end, I was glad to have seen him again, and accordingly, the news of his death made me very sad.

Do you think Eintracht Frankfurt will be successful in the UEFA Champions League?

I am very happy that Eintracht Frankfurt have won the UEFA Europa League. I firmly believe that the team will also be successful in the UEFA Champions League?

Thank you very much for the interview!