Alpay Özalan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010)
Alpay Özalan
Alpay.jpg
Alpay during a training session with Köln from 2006.
Personal information
Full name Alpay Fehmi Özalan
Date of birth 29 May 1973 (1973-05-29) (age 38)
Place of birth İzmir, Turkey
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Center back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1992–1993 Altay 23 (1)
1993–1999 Beşiktaş 148 (9)
1999–2000 Fenerbahçe 29 (3)
2000–2003 Aston Villa 57 (1)
2003–2004 Incheon United 8 (0)
2004–2005 Urawa Red Diamonds 13 (0)
2005–2008 1. FC Köln 48 (1)
Total 326 (15)
National team
1992–1994 Turkey U-21 19 (0)
1993 Turkey Olympic 4 (0)
1995–2005 Turkey 87 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Alpay Fehmi Özalan (born 29 May 1973) is a former Turkish footballer.

Alpay is currently a member of the management committee of Siirtspor.[1]

Contents

[edit] Playing style

Alpay is a tall, tough tackling defender, who is more often used as a man marker. He was a superb organiser, and very dominant in the air.

[edit] Club career

[edit] Turkey

Alpay began his career at Altay SK. His performances caught the eyes of the biggest teams in Turkey.

In 1993, Alpay signed for Turkish giants Beşiktaş JK. Alpay set a record in the Turkcell Süper Lig, earning three red cards in the space of six months. He played 148 matches for Besiktas, netting nine times. After six years at Beşiktaş JK, a new deal could not be negotiated. His contact was initially bought by Siirt Jetpaspor, and he was then loaned to Fenerbahce SK. In his sole season at Fenerbahce SK, he played 26 matches, and found the net three times.

[edit] Aston Villa FC

After superlative performances for his country at Euro 2000, Alpay signed for English club Aston Villa FC. Alpay enjoyed a good first season with Aston Villa FC, becoming a fan favourite of the club. His abilities caught the interest of Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC.[2] The arrival of Olof Mellberg saw Alpay and the Swedish international produce one of the most talented central-defensive partnerships in Europe. The partnership was cut short as Alpay injured his ankle which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Alpay recovered just in time for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Alpay graced the World Cup finals with his strength, determination and exceptional tackling, forming the core of an obstinate Turkish defensive unit. Turkey finished third and Alpay was elected into Team of the Tournament.

The biggest clubs in Europe took note of his glorious performances in the Far East, including the likes of FC Barcelona and Internazionale.[3][4] Aston Villa FC manager Graham Taylor refused to sell him, which was the beginning of Alpay's downfall at Villa Park. Media reports and comments made by Graham Taylor led to Alpay becoming a very unpopular figure at the club, missing much of the 2002–03 season. Legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel defended Alpay in his article in the English newspaper, The Times.

“ What happened after the World Cup, when he was frozen out by Graham Taylor, was sad. There are a lot of politics at Villa, and the way Alpay was portrayed as a money-grabber was nothing like the guy that I know. Taylor is just not keen on players with a bigger profile than himself.[5] ” 
Alpay returned to the Aston Villa FC team for the beginning of the 2003–04 season. In his first home game against Charlton Athletic, he was booed when walking on to the pitch by his own fans. Alpay scored the first goal of that game.[6] In consequence to his earlier booing, Alpay's goal celebration served to mock the Aston Villa FC fans by placing his finger on his mouth. He was again dropped due to the angry reaction of the Aston Villa FC fans. The Turkish defender was then made public enemy number one in England in late 2003 after a run-in with David Beckham during the Euro 2004 qualifier in Istanbul. He first confronted the England skipper after his first-half penalty miss, glowering over him and rubbing heads with the Real Madrid star in full view of the referee. He followed that up by prodding a finger into David Beckham's face as the players ran off the pitch at half-time, sparking a tunnel brawl. Due to the angry reactions in England, Alpay's contract was terminated by Aston Villa FC.

[edit] Incheon United

SV Werder Bremen, Hamburger SV, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hertha Berlin, Bologna FC wanted to sign the fiery Turk.[7] However, the European transfer window was closed and Alpay did not want to wait to play football again. He opted a move to K-League side Incheon United's first foray into professional football in 2004.

[edit] Urawa Red Diamonds

Alpay spent less than six months with the team before moving to the J. League with Urawa Red Diamonds. In his first season with the Urawa Red Diamonds, he was honoured with the best defender of the year award. The following season with the club proved to be a catastrophe. Alpay received three red cards in seven matches. The Japanese club annulled his contract due to these disciplinary problems.

[edit] 1. FC Köln

In 2005, Alpay signed a one-year-contract with the German Bundesliga team 1. FC Köln. This transfer insured his place back into the national team. 1. FC Köln were relegated, and Manchester City FC, Portsmouth FC, Celtic FC, Galatasaray SK and Beşiktaş JK were interested in signing the forgotten talent. Alpay remained loyal to 1. FC Köln, stating that his decision was influenced by his family's happiness in Germany. After continuous controversies, Alpay was left out of the squad infinitely until his contract expired at the end of the 2007–08 season.

[edit] International

Alpay made 87 appearances for the Turkish national team, netting four times. Three of those goals was a hat-trick against Macedonia during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Alpay featured for Turkey in Euro 1996, Euro 2000, 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. A very memorable moment in Alpay's career in complete contrast to his general fame was during Euro 96 in the game between Croatia and Turkey. In a counter attack, he allowed Croatian Goran Vlaovic to dribble the ball half the field without fouling him to stop the attack. In consequence, Vlaovic scored the single goal of the game and Turkey lost. Alpay was awarded with a fair-play award due to his action. On 24 June 2000, he was sent off during the first half of the Euro 2000 quarter-final against Portugal, which his country lost by a score of 0:2. His final match was against Switzerland in the 2006 FIFA World Cup second leg play-off tie in Istanbul, which resulted in Turkey's elimination despite a 4–2 victory. Alpay was involved in a brawl at the end of the game and was awarded a six match ban by FIFA.

[edit] Club career statistics

[8]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Turkey League Fortis Turkey Cup League Cup Total
1992/93 Altay First League 23 1 23 1
1993/94 Beşiktaş First League 10 0 10 0
1994/95 29 3 29 3
1995/96 31 2 31 2
1996/97 25 3 25 3
1997/98 26 1 26 1
1998/99 27 0 27 0
1999/00 Fenerbahçe First League 29 3 29 3
England League FA Cup League Cup Total
2000/01 Aston Villa Premier League 33 0 33 0
2001/02 14 0 14 0
2002/03 5 0 5 0
2003/04 5 1 5 1
Korea Republic League Korean FA Cup K-League Cup Total
2004 Incheon United K-League 8 0 8 0
Japan League Emperor's Cup J. League Cup Total
2004 Urawa Red Diamonds J. League 1 10 0 3 0 5 0 18 0
2005 3 0 0 0 9 0 12 0
Germany League DFB-Pokal DFB Ligapokal Total
2005/06 Köln Bundesliga 21 1 21 1
2006/07 2. Bundesliga 27 0 27 0
Country Turkey 200 13 200 13
England 65 1 65 1
Korea Republic 8 0 8 0
Japan 13 0 3 0 14 0 30 0
Germany 48 1 48 1
Total 334 15 3 0 14 0 351 15

[edit] International career statistics

[9]

Turkey national team
Year Apps Goals
1995 15 1
1996 13 0
1997 5 0
1998 5 0
1999 7 0
2000 5 0
2001 11 3
2002 11 0
2003 12 0
2004 0 0
2005 6 0
Total 90 4

[edit] International goals

Results list Turkey's goal tally first.
Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
June 4, 1995 Toronto  Canada 1 goal 3–1 Friendly match
June 6, 2001 Bursa  Macedonia 3 goals 3–3 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

[edit] Honours

[edit] Beşiktaş

[edit] Urawa Red Diamonds

[edit] Individual

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fadıl "Akgündüz ve Alpay'dan Siirtspor atağı...". http://www.milliyet.com.tr/Spor/SonDakika.aspx?aType=SonDakika&ArticleID=1106851&Date=15.06.2009&b=Fadil%20Akgunduz%20ve%20Alpaydan%20Siirtspor%20atagi...&KategoriID=14&ver=90 Fadıl. 
  2. ^ "Defender Alpay may leave Villa". Hurriyet. 7 June 2001. http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-522343. 
  3. ^ "Inter keep tabs on Alpay". Sky Sports. 2002. http://origin.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2241801,00.html. 
  4. ^ "Alpay hints at new club on Monday". Sky Sports. 2002. http://origin.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2240654,00.html. 
  5. ^ "Basturk is the class act for a nation with point to prove at the Stadium of Light". London: The Times Online. 30 March 2003. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article1124639.ece. 
  6. ^ "Villa edge past Charlton". BBC. 20 September 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3084352.stm. Retrieved 24 October 2009. 
  7. ^ "Alpay due for Bologna talks". Sky Sports. 2003. http://origin.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11888_2280204,00.html. 
  8. ^ http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=6974
  9. ^ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/alpay-intl.html

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alpay_%C3%96zalan&oldid=474221177"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages