The 5 Best Turkish Footballers of All Time
The 5 Greatest Football Players from Turkey
As a footballing nation, Turkey’s golden age has mostly come in the 21st century, though the Eurasian region was regularly seen in the Olympic football tournaments from 1924-1960.
Football is a true passion of the Turkish people.
Having only qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice and UEFA European Championships once prior to the current century; the Turks have reached the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2008 European Championship since, as well as the quarter-finals of Euro 2000.
The Crescent-Stars have three bronze medals to show for their efforts in these tournaments. The national team brought pride to the nation even before the success, but the triumphs shifted the spotlight onto some of the country’s most talented players.
Continuing our series on the greatest players to have represented their countries, here are 5 of the very best to have played for Turkey:
1. Hakan Sükür
Position: Striker
Caps: 112
Goals: 51
Turkey’s highest ever goalscorer with almost twice as many goals as 2nd ranked Burak Yilmaz (27), Kral was awarded his first senior national team cap in 1992 at 20-years old. Sükür slotted into international football seamlessly, scoring 6 goals in his first 11 caps for the Crescent-Stars.
Given Turkey’s #9 early in his international career; the prolific striker started every game at Euro’96 as the Turks crashed out in the group stages, and was then heavily involved in his nation’s run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2000, scoring a pivotal brace in a 2-0 win vs Belgium during the final round of group stage games to secure qualification as Turkey snatched the Belgian’s spot in the group.
Sükür continued to be instrumental in the new century as he captained his side in every game at the 2002 WC; and scored the quickest goal in World Cup history (10.8 seconds) to help secure Turkey’s first-ever bronze medal in a 3-2 third-placed playoff win vs South Korea. Captaining Turkey in 30 of his 112 caps, Sükür’s last cap came in 2007 at the age of 36-years old.
Renowned for his instinctive movement; elite heading ability and composure from the penalty spot, Sükür’s 15-year international career also illustrates great professionalism. Nicknamed the Bull of the Bosphorus, Sükür is also the all-time top scorer in the Turkish Football league, The Super Lig with 249 goals.
Turkey’s greatest player has fallen on hard times for numerous reasons, Hakan Suker is now driving an Uber in the US, exiled from his home country.
2. Rüstü Reçber
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 120
Goals : 0
Turkey’s most capped player with a distinguished international career spanning 18 years, Rüstü Reçber’s first cap for his country came in 1994 at the age of 21.
He soon became the #1 ‘keeper for Turkey, starting every game at both Euro ’96 and 2000 whilst keeping 2 clean sheets in the latter as the Turks made it to the QFs.
Reçber continued into the 21st century as one of the first names on the Turkey team sheet, being particularly stellar in the team’s run to the Bronze medal in the ’02 WC.
Having played every game in South Korea and Japan and kept 3 clean sheets in the process, he was named in the team of the tournament.
Reçber was one of the few senior players in the squad for the ’03 Confederations Cup, and his experience was vital as he started 3 of 5 games during Turkey’s run to another bronze medal at a major tournament.
Initially in the Euro 2008 squad as the 2nd-choice goalkeeper, Reçber stepped in for suspended Volkan Demirel in the QF tie vs Croatia. In a cagey 1-1 game, the veteran ‘keeper’s mistake led to Croatia’s goal in ET, before he made amends to assist the equalizing goal in the 122nd minute.
The then-35-year-old then saved a decisive penalty in the shootout to take his country to the ’08 Euro SF. Reçber subsequently captained Turkey in the SF 3-2 loss to Germany.
His last cap came in 2012 at 39-years old. Having been told on his U-21 debut by the legendary manager, Faith Terim, that he would be Turkey’s greatest ever ‘keeper, Reçber actually met expectations. A brave shot-stopper with good positioning and a knack for saving penalties, Reçber’s charisma often brought tranquillity to his defence.
A true footballing icon.
3. Bülent Korkmaz
Position: Centre-back
Caps: 102
Goals: 0
One of only 5 players to amass more than 100 for the Turkish national team, as well being the first to break the 100-cap mark. Büyük Kaptain (Great Captain) Bülent Korkmaz was a resolute and dependable defender in his 15 years playing for Turkey.
His first call-up came in 1990 after 3 years in the Galatasaray first team, at the age of 22-years old. Korkmaz was then in the Euro ’96 squad, but played no minutes for his national side.
A dislocated shoulder in Gala’s UEFA Cup final victory ensured he missed Euro 2000, but Korkmaz’s elite mentality made certain he would not miss the 2002 WC.
The defender started 5 out of 7 games in South Korea and Japan, marshalling a three-man backline that kept 3 clean sheets as the Turks came third and won Bronze for the first time in a major tournament. Korkmaz then played a vital part in Turkey’s 2nd bronze medal, starting 3 from 5 in their 2003 Confederations Cup run to the semifinals.
His last cap came in 2005 at the age of 38. Nicknamed Cengaver (Warrior) by fans, Korkmaz was a one-club man with an 18-year playing career for the Turkish giants Galatasaray. He is in the top 10 for most appearances in the Turkish league, ranking 10th (428).
4. Tugay Kerimoglu
Position: Central Midfielder
Caps: 96
Goals: 2
Known for his vision and range of passing as a ball-playing midfielder, Tugay broke into the Galatasaray first team at the age of 17 in 1987. 3 years later, he received his first call-up to the Turkey senior national team.
Entering 1996, Tugay had already amassed 34 caps for his country. As a result of his ability and experience, he was called up to the squad for Euro ’96, starting every game as Turkey crashed out in the group stage.
The Turkish metronome continued to be involved with the national team going into the 21st century, albeit not in a starting capacity.
Tugay was involved in the Euro 2000 squad, playing 3 of 4 games at the tournament as the Turks made it to the quarter-finals, but the midfielder only started 1 from the 3.
At this point, the playmaker was 30-years old. Tugay then went through a renaissance pre-2002 WC, moving to Premier League club Blackburn Rovers and thus playing at a higher level than his previous club of two years, Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers.
The deep-lying midfielder played over 30 Premier League games each in two consecutive seasons for Blackburn, leading to a call-up to the 2002 WC where Tungay turned back the clock and started all 7 of Turkey’s games as they won Bronze in South Korea and Japan.
His last cap came in 2007 at 37-years old. Tugay’s quality was such that even in his 30’s, he was still regarded as one of the finest ballplayers in Europe by managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson.
5. Tuncay Sanli
Position: Forward / Attacking Midfielder
Caps: 80
Goals: 22
A maestro capable of truly anything with the ball at his feet, Tuncay broke into the first team of second-division Turkish side Sakaryaspor at the age of 18 and immediately became a regular in the starting eleven. He received his first call up to the national team 2 years later, in 2002.
Tuncay received one cap that year but went on to star in the FIFA Confederations Cup the next year, with 4 goal involvements in 5 starts (3 goals, 1 assist) as Turkey won their 2nd bronze at a major tournament in 3 years.
Tuncay won the silver ball and shoe as the 2nd best player and second-highest scorer in the tournament.
He also scored and still holds the record for the fastest goal in Confederations Cup history, netting after 120 seconds vs Colombia in the third-place playoff game. By 2008, Tuncay was vice-captain of the national team and irreplaceable in the starting eleven.
After the first of two hat-tricks for Turkey in 2006, as well as consistently brilliant form for Premier League side Middlesbrough, he was called up to Turkey’s Euro 2008 squad.
The forward was instrumental in his nation’s run to the semifinal, assisting 2 goals in 4 games and even playing as a goalkeeper for a few minutes after Turkey’s ‘keeper was sent off vs the Czech Republic.
He missed the SF vs Germany through suspension. Tuncay’s last cap came in 2010 at the age of only 28. An attacker capable of either picking a pass, scoring long-range screamers or pulling off acrobatic golazos, Tuncay was often poetry in motion.
Honorable Mentions:
Metin Oktay, Alpay Özalan, Emre Belözoglu and Lefter Kücükandonyadis.
Check out our piece on the best players to have played for Italy, the Greatest Swiss players of all time, and also the best Welsh players to wear the red shirt.
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