Sergen Yalçın

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Sergen Yalçın
Yalçın in 2021
Personal information
Full name Ali Rıza Sergen Yalçın[1]
Date of birth (1972-11-05) 5 November 1972 (age 51)
Place of birth Istanbul, Turkey
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Antalyaspor (head coach)
Youth career
1982–1991 Beşiktaş
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1997 Beşiktaş 158 (46)
1997–1999
İstanbulspor
40 (15)
1999–2002 Siirt Jet-Pa Spor 0 (0)
1999–2000Fenerbahçe (loan) 24 (8)
2000Galatasaray (loan) 21 (6)
2000–2001Trabzonspor (loan) 21 (1)
2001–2002Galatasaray (loan) 18 (7)
2002–2006 Beşiktaş 100 (30)
2006–2007
Etimesgut Şekerspor
23 (13)
2007–2008 Eskişehirspor 21 (6)
Total 426 (132)
International career
1989 Turkey U-16 2 (0)
1990 Turkey U-18 2 (0)
1992–1993 Turkey U-21 12 (5)
1994–2003 Turkey 41 (5)
Managerial career
2008–2009 Beşiktaş (U15)
2009–2010
Beşiktaş U21
2013–2014 Gaziantepspor
2014–2015 Sivasspor
2016 Gaziantepspor
2017 Kayserispor
2017 Eskişehirspor
2018 Konyaspor
2018–2019 Alanyaspor
2019–2020 Yeni Malatyaspor
2020–2021 Beşiktaş
2023– Antalyaspor
Medal record
Representing  Turkey
Men's football
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place 1993
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ali Rıza Sergen Yalçın (born 5 November 1972), known as Sergen Yalçın, is a Turkish football commentator, coach and former international midfielder who's the head coach of Süper Lig club Antalyaspor.

Yalçın is one of nine players to play for each of the Big Three clubs of Istanbul,[2] and one of only two players who have played for these three clubs as well as Trabzonspor along with Burak Yılmaz.[3][4]

Childhood and early years

Ali Rıza Sergen Yalçın opened his eyes to the world as the first child of Günsel-Özer Yalçın couple in Kilyos town of Istanbul on November 5, 1972. Two more brothers, first Gürsoy and then Volkan, were born after him. He met football before he went to school on the beaches of Kilyos. Like Sergen, father Özer Yalçın was a footballer and he soon realized his son's interest in football and his special talent at the age of children. Taking to Beşiktaş for the auditions, Özer Yalçın entrusts the little Sergen to the palms of Serpil Hamdi Tuzun. However, Özer Yalçın, who was working at the hotel at that time, took Sergen to training. Later, little Sergen, who started secondary school, starts to go and come on his own.[5]

Club career

"Talents like Sergen come to the Earth only once in 100 years."

—Beşiktaş's former coach English Gordon Milne, 1994.[6]

Sergen began at

Beşiktaş JK in 1991, and quickly became renowned for his skill and creativity. His first spell at the club saw him score 46 goals in 158 games – no mean feat for a midfielder. However, it was known that Sergen lacked professionalism. After a 4–1 defeat to Samsunspor
, he was publicly criticised by the Beşiktaş deputy president due to his careless lifestyle. Sergen responded to the club official by insulting him.

If he doesn't leave the board, from tomorrow I will not turn out for training or for matches. Let him wear the No 10 shirt and play in the Beşiktaş midfield.[7]

Subsequently, Beşiktaş imposed a club-record fine of over £150,000. He was later forgiven after apologising but the fine stayed. Sergen then demanded a new and improved contract which was denied by the board.

As expected, Sergen departed from the club and became Turkey's record signing when he moved to

Fenerbahçe
, which involved him wearing a personalised shirt promoting the company.

Under the coaching firstly from

Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund.[10][11]

Despite heavy speculation, he finished the season at arch-rivals

UEFA Cup campaign, and as Galatasaray made the trip to Leeds for the second tie of the semi-final, Sergen was instructed to report to training in Istanbul. But instead of continuing his training in Istanbul, he took a little trip of his own to Northern Cyprus. While casinos were banned on the Turkish mainland, they remained open in Northern Cyprus which attracted quite a lot of gambling trade from Turkey. It attracted Sergen for precisely that reason and he spent much of his brief stay there in a casino. When he returned to Istanbul, he told manager Fatih Terim
he was tired from the journey and asked if he could skip a training session. Terim is a fearsome disciplinarian and the reaction was predictably explosive. Sergen skipped title celebrations after the Galatasaray board made it clear they would not have him back next season.

After

Newcastle United,[12] manager Bobby Robson being a long-time admirer.[13] The deal fell through and he instead moved to Trabzonspor
and became the first player to have represented the big four clubs in Turkey. Sergen had never yet played for a club outside Istanbul and it was believed that removing him from the distractions of the big city would do good for his appalling disciplinary record. Ironically, it was the most unsuccessful season of his career. At the season's end, Trabzonspor did not wish to extend his loan deal.

Fatih Terim gave up on him at Galatasaray. Zdenek Zeman could not work with him at Fenerbahçe. He publicly criticised former national coach

Euro 2000. British coach Gordon Milne
worked with him at Beşiktaş and he too despaired of trying to get Sergen – and his magical left foot to the training ground on time. It was thought to be the end of Sergen Yalcin, the great enfant terrible of Turkish football.

Ahead of the 2001–2002 season, Galatasaray manager Mircea Lucescu took a gamble and signed Sergen on loan (still from Siirt-Jet). He cast Sergen as the natural successor to Gheorghe Hagi.

This is his last chance and he is well aware of this. I wanted Sergen and I know he will truly show me who Sergen Yalçın is. His talent is obvious and now he will finally be seen on the international stage. He will be born again.[15]

The move was rewarded as Sergen repaid his manager's faith by starring in the UEFA Champions League with 2 goals and 2 assists as Galatasaray progressed to the second group stage. Unfortunately, Sergen tore his knee ligaments and would miss the rest of the season. He was told to lose weight or never play football again. After elimination from the UEFA Champions League, Lucescu remained insistent that if Sergen had remained fit, Galatasaray would have gone on to win the tournament. Galatasaray did still go on to win the league title.
Centenary Champion Squad Beşiktaş J.K., 2003

In the 2002–2003 season, after years of wandering, Sergen returned home to Beşiktaş. Sergen was signed on a permanent deal by Lucescu, who had also moved to Beşiktaş. Under the tutelage of Lucescu, some whispered that, perhaps, the talent had been tamed. Sergen was finally maturing to fulfill some of his long-lost potential. Beşiktaş won the league, with Sergen the key instigator. The 2003–2004 season would see Beşiktaş' re-entry to the Champions League where Sergen was to feature in arguably the most memorable match of his career.

Chelsea FC, spending £112m on quality transfers. Chelsea's 'invincibles' were undefeated under the Abramovich-era ahead of the match with Beşiktaş, which was played at Stamford Bridge
. With the odds stacked against them, Beşiktaş shocked the footballing world by winning 0–2, both goals courtesy of Sergen. Beşiktaş were eliminated in the group stage, but Sergen once again proved his class by scoring 2 goals and providing 3 assists in the six matches. He continued playing in Beşiktaş for another two years, becoming a fan-favourite of the club.

"I had the chance to play with him. When you touch the ball, you realize how special it is."

—Beşiktaş's former footballer John Carew, 2005[14]

Before the 2006–2007 season, manager

Etimesgut Şekerspor in the TFF Second League, before moving to Eskişehirspor of the TFF First League
, retiring at the end of 2007–08 as his team achieved promotion to the top flight.

When Sergen was asked why he never moved to Europe, he simply replied, "If I was 20 again, I would leave Turkey within 3 days."[16]

Beşiktaş J.K.

Coming through the

Newcastle United coach Bobby Robson was a fan of Sergen Yalçın.[22] In his album "On the Bosphorus" by jazz musician Önder Focan, he was inspired by producing "Negres" (reverse Sergen).[23]

Returned to Beşiktaş in 2002.

2003-04 season, with the Beşiktaş shirt, he got close to the penalty bow against Çaykur Rizespor with the ball he won from the back of the middle field and completed with a scoring goal with İlhan Mansız, he won the "Goal of the Year" award.[31] He came to Besiktas in 2002 and left in 2006.[32] He became one of the rare midfielder players, who exceeded 100 goals in the league. From the British press, in September 2017 These Football Times published an article entitled "Sergen Yalçın: The man who could have been the world's best."[21][33] On December 9, 2021, Beşiktaş announced that Sergen Yalçın had left the team.[34] He became the first name to become a champion in the Süper Lig as a football player and coach in Beşiktaş.[35]

International career

Sergen played on the

Turkey national under-23 football team at the 1993 Mediterranean Games, which they won by defeating France U21s in the semifinal and Algeria U23s in the final.[36]

Sergen made his senior debut in a friendly game against F.Y.R. Macedonia in 1994. He would represent his nation in

2000, but injury prevented him from featuring at the FIFA World Cup in 2002. Sergen scored a total of 5 goals in 37 matches for the Turkey national team
.

Euro 1996

West Ham United. Sergen's refusal to move was made by the fact the clubs in pursuit were not bigger than Beşiktaş.[37]

FIFA World Cup 1998

Sergen was fairly inactive in the national team during this period. In the opening round of

World Cup qualification, Sergen came on as a second-half substitute against Belgium. Sergen went from hero to villain in the space of five minutes by contriving to get himself sent off after initially scoring a splendid half-volley on the edge of the box. Turkey went on to lose the match 2–1 at Brussels. Manager Mustafa Denizli
saw Sergen as a liability and did not select him for the next 13 months. Sergen's only other match during qualification was the 5–0 victory at San Marino, and Sergen was hugely disappointing. Turkey failed to make the finals.

Euro 2000

To his detractors, Sergen was a luxury item in a team which could ill afford luxuries. Those who had a fondness for decrying Sergen's abilities have suggested that, when playing at the highest level, he glitters rather than shines. So when Sergen was given a second chance, many lashed out at Denizli's decision to select him. Having finally accepted that he was the linchpin of his national side, Sergen dedicated himself to banish bitter memories of his past.

"If he had never been born in Turkey, currently we have a 2nd

Maradona
would have is talking about."

—German sports magazine

Kicker[38]

The opening match saw Sergen give a man of the match performance in a 3–0 victory over Northern Ireland, followed by a 1–0 victory against European champions Germany, but then shamefully defeated 1–3 to Finland. The next match against Moldova, Sergen was the maestro for the Turkish side, with his spectacular dribbling runs, shots at goal and his clairvoyant passes creating scoring chances for his teammates. It was from his corner kick that Turkey opened the scoring, and four minutes into injury time when Sergen took the stage, displacing the lead-footed Moldovan defenders one by one before slotting in a cracker from the edge of the area to give Turkey a 2–0 victory. Sergen also made history because his goal was the 400th scored in the history of the Turkey national team. Prior to the next match, Turkey had never defeated Finland in any official match since 1924. Outpaced and outplayed for 15 minutes, Turkey trailed 2–0 before Sergen intervened. The man of the match was involved in three goals as Turkey turned around a two-goal deficit to defeat Finland 2–4. Turkey gained five points from their final three matches to finish group runners-up. The final game with Germany ended 0–0, but is seen as one of the greatest individual displays in the history of the Turkey national team, as Sergen "pulled all the strings", according to the German manager

Euro 2000. The Irish entered the match as favorites mainly due to their influential skipper, Roy Keane. In the first leg, Ireland could only do with a 1–1 draw in Dublin. Eamonn Sweeney of the Irish Examiner
wrote the match report.

Sergen Yalcin may play Fenerbahçe, but his midfield display was an unscheduled replacement for the top of the bill showing we’d been expecting from the Manchester United man. At times, Keane looked like someone who arrived at the podium to pick up an MTV award only to see someone else making off with it. Yalcin, without ever moving faster than a jogger, was always one step ahead, showing the ball to Keane like a matador brandishing a cape and then whisking it away as his dangerous foe arrived. The Turkish midfielder's technical brilliance, was merely one of the intriguing factors about his team's oddly diverse performance. Paradoxically, you could see how they defeated Germany, but also how Finland had upset them at home.[39]

The second leg ended 0–0, which was enough for Turkey to qualify through the away-goals rule. In the first 20 minutes of the second half alone, Sergen set up four clear scoring chances as he produced another man of the match performance.

Turkey opened their Euro 2000 campaign with a controversial 2–1 defeat to Italy. The Guardian writer Ian Ross recalled the game.

"Nobody told me about Sergen. It is really, really difficult to find great footballers like him."

—Czech-Italian coach Zdeněk Zeman 1999.[38]

The bizarre interpretation of the shoulder-charge ruling by the Scottish referee Hugh Dallas may have presented Italy with the penalty that pushed Turkey to defeat in their opening Group B fixture, but Sergen's contribution was immense, an intoxicating cocktail of neatly threaded through-balls and passes so visionary they might have been delivered by Mystic Meg.[40]

It was his assist from a nicely flighted free-kick from which Turkey scored. Surprisingly, Sergen then came on as a substitute in their 0–0 draw with Sweden, and he didn't feature at all during the 2–0 victory over Belgium. In the quarter-finals, Sergen came on in the final few minutes as Turkey were defeated by Portugal. Sergen heavily criticised Denizli for not starting him in all of the matches, "He's got problems, he's not all there in the head. Don't ask me why I didn't play, ask him."[41]

FIFA World Cup 2002

Sergen missed most of 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification due to his dismal performances at club level. His transfer to Galatasaray and performances in the UEFA Champions League allowed him back into the team and he featured in the 5–0 thrashing of Austria to qualify for the World Cup. Tragically though Sergen had injured himself prior to the tournament and did not feature.

Euro 2004

"The technical capacity at Sergen is more than enough for him to play in one of the best teams in Europe."

—Former president of UEFA Lennart Johansson.[42]

Sergen again wasn't involved in most of the

Euro 2004
qualification campaign, but due to his memorable performance against Chelsea, he was selected for the crucial final qualifying match against England. It was his final match for Turkey, which ended 0–0. Due to injury, he did not feature in the play-off ties against Latvia as Turkey were defeated.

Managerial career

He has signed a contract with Gaziantepspor for one and a half year after former manager. In 2021 Sergen returned to Besiktas as manager. He secured the Turkish Premier League title for Besiktas,completing his career first wins at the club.[43]

Career statistics

"Sergen is one of the classy football players I really watch. I will come to Istanbul to watch."

—Chelsea Club owner Roman Abramovich, 2003[44]

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Turkish Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Beşiktaş 1991–92 1.Lig 15 2 2 0 1 0 18 2
1992–93 1.Lig 23 8 5 0 1 0 29 8
1993–94 1.Lig 20 6 3 1 4 1 27 8
1994–95 1.Lig 27 8 2 0 3 0 32 8
1995–96 1.Lig 24 10 3 1 2 0 29 11
1996–97 1.Lig 29 9 5 1 4 0 38 10
İstanbulspor 1997–98 1.Lig 28 10 4 1 5 2 37 13
1998–99 1.Lig 8 4 2 1 10 5
Fenerbahçe (loan) 1998–99 1.Lig 15 7 15 7
1999–2000 1.Lig 9 1 2 0 11 1
Galatasaray (loan) 1999–2000 1.Lig 18 4 3 2 21 6
Trabzonspor (loan) 2000–01 1.Lig 21 1 21 1
Galatasaray (loan) 2001–02 Süper Lig 18 7 9 2 27 9
Beşiktaş 2002–03 Süper Lig 28 11 1 0 9 1 38 12
2003–04 Süper Lig 24 8 1 0 8 2 33 10
2004–05 Süper Lig 22 3 5 0 27 3
2005–06 Süper Lig 18 6 6 2 5 0 29 8
Etimesgut Şekerspor
2006–07 Lig B 22 13 1 0 23 13
Eskişehirspor 2007–08 TFF First League 21 6 21 6
Total 390 124 36 8 60 9 486 141

International

Scores and results list Turkey's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Yalçın goal.
List of international goals scored by Sergen Yalçın
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 October 1994 Istanbul, Turkey  Iceland 5–0 5–0
UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
2 29 March 1995 Istanbul, Turkey  Sweden 2–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
3 7 June 1995 Montreal, Canada  Canada 1–0 3–0
Friendly
4 31 August 1996 Brussels, Belgium  Belgium 1–2 1–2 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 27 March 1999 Istanbul, Turkey  Moldova 2–0 2–0
UEFA Euro 2000 qualification

Managerial statistics

As of 21 April 2024
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Gaziantepspor 2013 2014 16 8 3 5 050.00
Sivasspor 2014 2015 39 14 12 13 035.90
Gaziantepspor 2016 2016 4 1 1 2 025.00
Kayserispor 2017 2017 17 5 5 7 029.41
Eskişehirspor 2017 2017 6 0 3 3 000.00
Konyaspor 2018 2018 10 4 3 3 040.00
Alanyaspor 2019 2019 27 9 9 9 033.33
Yeni Malatyaspor 2019 2019 24 9 8 7 037.50
Beşiktaş 2020 2021 83 46 13 24 055.42
Antalyaspor 2023 Present 18 6 6 6 033.33
Total 244 102 63 79 041.80

Honours

Player

Beşiktaş

Galatasaray

Turkey U-21

Manager

Beşiktaş

Individual

Player
Manager
  • Coach of the team that scored 5 goals in the first half of a match in the Süper Lig in Beşiktaş history.
  • He became the first name to become a champion in the Süper Lig as a football player and coach in Beşiktaş.[35]
  • Coach of the team that scored the most goals in the Süper Lig in the history of Beşiktaş. (89 goal)

References

  1. ^ "Ali̇ Riza Sergen Yalçin". Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  2. 90min.com. Archived from the original
    on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. Anadolu News Agency (in Turkish). Hürriyet. 15 August 2019. Archived from the original
    on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  4. TRT Spor. p. 15 August 2019. Archived from the original
    on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  5. ^ "İşte 'Müthiş solak'ın hikayesi... - Futbol".
  6. ^ a b c d "Sergen Yalçın İçin Söylenmiş En Güzel 10 Söz:9-lothar-matthaus-bizi-utandirdi". 90min.com. June 3, 2014.
  7. ^ Metcalf, Rupert (28 March 1997). "Football: around the world". The Independent. London. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Sergen karar bekliyor". Aksam Newspaper. 19 January 1999.
  9. ^ "Contents". Turkish Press Review. 15 January 1999. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  10. ^ "Fenerbahce loses its patience with Sergen". Hurriyet. 9 December 1999. Archived from the original on 5 March 2009.
  11. ^ "Sergen Yalçın'dan şok açıklamalar". Milliyet. 21 September 2008. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
  12. ^ Thomas, Russell (19 July 2000). "Sergen turns to the mouth of the Tyne". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  13. ^ "Turkey's whild child grows up". The Guardian. London. 15 June 2000. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  14. ^ a b c d "Sergen Yalçın hakkında unutulmaz sözler! | Foto Galeri - Foto Spor". Fotospor.com. November 6, 2012.
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  16. ^ "20 yaşında olsam 3 gün durmazdım". ensonhaber. 16 May 2008.
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  18. ^ "'Sergen'i 15 saniye izledim' - Futbol". karakartal.com.
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  20. ^ "1991-92 Sezonu Şampiyonluğumuz". bjk.com.tr.
  21. ^ a b "Sergen Yalçın'ı Hatırlamak". Socrates Dergi. September 28, 2017. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  22. ^ "Sergen, İngiliz The Guardian'da". arsiv.ntv.com.tr.
  23. ^ "Sergen Yalçın / Beşiktaş". Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  24. ^ "Sergen Yalçın 13 yıl sonra Beşiktaşa döndü". Fanatik. 29 January 2020.
  25. ^ "TARİHTE BUGÜN | Sergen attı, şampiyonluk geldi". Ajans Beşiktaş. May 25, 2017.
  26. ^ "100 Yılın 11'i Açıklandı". bjk.com.tr.
  27. ^ "Oscarlar Kartal'a! - Futbol". karakartal.com.
  28. ^ "Devler Ligi'nde Sergen damgası". arsiv.ntv.com.tr.
  29. ^ "Chelsea'yi yıkan tek Türk takımı". Haber7.
  30. ^ "İşte Şampiyonlar Ligi'nin unutulmaz maçları!".
  31. ^ "Sergen Yalçın / Beşiktaş". arsiv.ntv.com.tr.
  32. ^ "Sergen Yalçın Beşiktaş'a 14 yıl sonra geri döndü! - Sayfa 7". CNN Türk. 28 January 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Sergen Yalçın: the man who could've been the world's best". September 19, 2017.
  34. ^ "Arşivlenmiş kopya". Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  35. ^ a b "Sergen Yalçın'dan çok özel bir başarı | Goal.com".
  36. ^ "Türkiye Milli Olimpiyat Komitesi". www.olimpiyatkomitesi.org.tr.
  37. ^ "Kazım'ı bilmem ama Arda'yı kurtarmak için hala şans var". Zaman. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  38. ^ a b c "Efsane Futbolcu Sergen Yalçın İçin Söylenmiş Sözler | Forneo Dijital Dergi". November 9, 2017.
  39. ^ "Lady Luck Ignores McCarthey". Irish Examiner. 15 November 1999.
  40. ^ "Turkey's Wild Child Grows Up". The Guardian. London. 15 June 2000. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  41. ^ "Denizli kafadan sakat". Sabah Newspaper. 25 June 2000.
  42. ^ "Bu sözler Sergen için... - Futbol Sporx Ekstra - Sayfa 6 Sporx Galeri". Sporx.
  43. ^ "Besiktas win title on goal difference". BBC Sport.
  44. ^ "Sergen Yalçın hakkında unutulmaz sözler! | Foto Galeri - Foto Spor". Fotospor.com. November 6, 2012.
  45. ^ "Sergen Yalçın'a büyük ödül". www.hurriyet.com.tr. 29 December 2003.

External links