Isitan Gün is stepping down as chairman of Fortuna Sittard after nine years. The Turkish businessman, who played a significant role in the Limburg club’s survival, will remain involved as a shareholder in the background.
“Looking back, I can say with a clear conscience that I am happy with the progress we have made to this day, effectively saving the club from the brink of collapse,” Gün writes in an open letter on the club website.
“I have always believed that owners, directors, and managers are no more than custodians of clubs, entrusted with an enormous responsibility to carry the clubs safely into the future. I trust that I have done my part to carry out this mission. See you in the stands.”
Fortuna praises Gün, who almost a decade ago played a significant role in the club’s survival.
“The Turkish entrepreneur joined Fortuna Sittard in 2016 at a time when the club was in dire straits. At the time, the club was balancing on the verge of collapse, both sportingly and financially,” the club praises the businessman.
Fortuna did not receive a UEFA license
Fortuna had to fear losing its professional license and faced bankruptcy for years. Before Gün’s arrival, the club from Sittard was active in the Eerste Divisie (second tier) and attendance numbers were disappointing.
In recent years, Fortuna has proven to be a stable mid-table team in the Eredivisie (first tier). Last season, Fortuna finished eleventh in the Eredivisie. A point of concern is that the club recently did not receive a UEFA license. As a result, the Limburgers would not have been allowed to play European football if they had qualified.
Fortuna did not meet all the requirements for a license by the final application date (April 8, 2025), including the submission of an external auditor’s statement.