Alpay Özalan

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Fehmi Alpay Özalan (born 29 May 1973), known mononymously as Alpay, is a Turkish former professional footballer, football manager and politician.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He last worked as the manager of Samsunspor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He played 90 international games for Turkey between 1995 and 2005, making him Turkey's seventh-most capped player of all time. This included performances at two European Championships and the 2002 World Cup, in which he was selected for the Team of the Tournament. Since 2018, he is a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Club career

Early career

His senior career started at Soma Linyitspor at TFF Third League.<ref name="Ozalan Profile Hurriyet">Template:Cite news</ref> His performances caught the eye of the biggest teams in Turkey.

In 1993, Özalan signed for Beşiktaş, one of the major Turkish clubs. Özalan set an undesirable record in the Süper Lig, earning three red cards in the space of six months. He played 148 matches for Beşiktaş, netting nine times. After six years at the club, a new deal could not be negotiated. His contract was initially bought by Siirt Jetpaspor, and he was then loaned to Fenerbahçe. In his sole season at Fenerbahçe, he played 26 matches, and found the net three times.

Aston Villa

After superlative performances for his country at Euro 2000, Özalan signed for English club Aston Villa. He enjoyed a good first season with Villa and became a fan favourite. His abilities caught the interest of Arsenal and Newcastle United.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His partnership with Olof Mellberg as central-defensive partners was cut short as Özalan injured his ankle which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He recovered just in time for the 2002 World Cup, in which he formed the core of an obstinate Turkish defensive unit. They finished third and he was named in the team of the tournament.

The biggest clubs in Europe took note of his performances in the Far East, including the likes of Barcelona and Internazionale.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor refused to sell him, which was the beginning of Özalan's downfall at Villa Park. Media reports and comments made by Taylor led to Özalan becoming a very unpopular figure at the club, missing much of the 2002–03 season. Their goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, defended Özalan in his article in the English newspaper, The Times.

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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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>{{#if:|

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Özalan returned to the Aston Villa 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. However Özalan went on to score the first goal of that game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In consequence to his earlier booing, Özalan's goal celebration served to mock the Aston Villa fans by placing his finger on his mouth. He was again dropped due to their angry reaction. The Turkish defender was then made public enemy number one in EnglandTemplate:Citation needed 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 him in full view of the referee. He followed that up by prodding a finger into Beckham's face as the players came off the pitch at half-time, sparking a tunnel brawl. Due to the angry reactions in England, his contract was terminated by Aston Villa on 23 October. Club chairman Doug Ellis declared:

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In light of recent events, it would have been difficult for Özalan to represent Aston Villa again and the player himself was aware that life in England had become increasingly difficult for him and his family. Therefore, both parties agreed that the best course of action was for the immediate termination of his contract which was due to expire in June 2004.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>{{#if:|

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Incheon United

Werder Bremen, Hamburger SV, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hertha Berlin and Bologna wanted to sign Özalan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the European transfer window was closed and he did not want to wait to play football again. He opted for a move to South Korean K-League side Incheon United's first foray into professional football in 2004. He became a South Korean citizen while he was playing there.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Urawa Red Diamonds

Özalan spent less than six months with the team before moving to the J1 League with Urawa Red Diamonds. In his first season with the club, 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.

1. FC Köln

In 2005, Özalan signed a one-year contract with the Bundesliga team 1. FC Köln.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This transfer ensured his place back into the national team. They were relegated, and Manchester City, Portsmouth, Celtic, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş were interested in signing him. Özalan stayed with the club, stating that his decision was influenced by his family's happiness in Germany.

International career

Özalan made 87 appearances for the Turkey national team, netting four times. Three of those goals were a hat-trick against Macedonia during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier. He was one of the best players for his country in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where the team reached an unprecedented third place in the tournament. Özalan also featured for Turkey in Euro 1996, Euro 2000 and the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. A very memorable moment in Özalan's career in complete contrast to his general fame was during Euro 1996 in the game between Croatia and Turkey. In a counterattack, he allowed Croatian Goran Vlaović to dribble the ball half the field without fouling him to stop the attack. In consequence, Vlaović scored the sole goal of the game and Turkey lost. Özalan 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 2–0. His final match was against Switzerland in the 2006 FIFA World Cup second leg play-off tie in Istanbul, conceding a second-minute penalty by handball, converted by Alexander Frei which resulted in Turkey's elimination despite a 4–2 victory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Özalan was involved in a brawl at the end of the game and was awarded a six-match ban by FIFA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politician

In the Parliamentary elections of 24 June 2018, he was elected a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey representing Izmir for the AKP.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to his own statement he was more excited the first day in parliament than when playing football before 85,000 people.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, he was involved in a brawl in the Turkish parliament where he was seen fighting against Özgür Özel, a politician of the Republican People's Party (CHP).<ref name=":0" />

During the Claw lock military operation against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), he demanded the cancellation of a concert of Aynur Dogan<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> in Istanbul, because he deemed her a supporter of the PKK.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2024, Özalan attacked and slapped Ahmet Şık, a member of parliament from the Workers' Party of Turkey, in parliament in Ankara during a debate on the imprisoned human rights lawyer Can Atalay. Şık fell, whereupon a brawl broke out involving several people.<ref> Financial Times: Three MPs injured as fight breaks out in Turkish parliament</ref>

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="Alpay Ozalan Stats (1)">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Alpay Ozalan Stats (2)">Template:Cite news</ref>
Club Season League CupTemplate:Refn ContinentalTemplate:Refn OtherTemplate:Refn Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Soma Linyitspor 1991–92 TFF Third League 19 2 0 0 — — 19 2
Altay 1992–93 1. LigTemplate:Refn 23 1 1 0 — — 24 1
Beşiktaş 1993–94 1. LigTemplate:Refn 11 0 4 1 2 0 2 0 19 1
1994–95 29 3 1 1 3 0 4 0 37 4
1995–96 31 2 3 0 2 0 2 0 38 2
1996–97 26 3 5 1 6 0 4 0 41 4
1997–18 26 1 6 2 7 0 3 0 42 3
1998–99<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> 27 0 7 1 4 0 2 0 40 1
Total 150 9 26 6 24 0 17 0 217 15
Siirt Jet-Pa Spor 1999–2000 TFF First League 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Fenerbahçe (loan) 1999–2000 1. LigTemplate:Refn 29 3 1 0 2 0 2 1 34 4
Aston Villa 2000–01<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> Premier League 33<ref name="PL Stats">Template:Cite news</ref> 0<ref name="PL Stats"/> 2 0 — 1 0 36 0
2001–02<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> 14<ref name="PL Stats"/> 0<ref name="PL Stats"/> 2 0 6 0 2 0 24 0
2002–03<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> 5<ref name="PL Stats"/> 0<ref name="PL Stats"/> 0 0 0 0 — 5 0
2003–04<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> 6<ref name="PL Stats"/> 1<ref name="PL Stats"/> 0 0 — — 6 1
Total 58 1 4 0 6 0 3 0 71 1
Incheon United 2004 K League 8 0 0 0 — — 8 0
Urawa Red Diamonds 2004<ref name="J1 Stats 2004">Template:Cite news</ref> J1 League 10 0 0 0 — 7<ref name="J1 Stats 2004"/> 0 17 0
2005<ref name="J1 Stats 2005">Template:Cite news</ref> 3 0 0 0 — 4<ref name="J1 Stats 2005"/> 0 7 0
Total 13 0 0 0 — 11 0 24 0
Köln 2005–06<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> Bundesliga 21 1 0 0 — — 21 1
2006–07<ref name="ReferenceA"/> 2. Bundesliga 27 0 2 0 — — 29 0
2007–08<ref name="ReferenceA"/> 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 48 1 2 0 — — 50 1
Career total 348 14 33 6 32 0 33 1 447 21

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International

Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="Ozalan International Stats (1)">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Ozalan International Stats (2) ">Template:Cite web</ref>
National team Year Apps Goals
Turkey 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

International goals

Scores and results list Turkey's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Özalan goal.
List of international goals scored by Alpay Özalan<ref name="Ozalan International Stats (1)"/><ref name="Ozalan International Stats (2)"/>
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 4 June 1995 Toronto, Canada Template:Fb 1–0 3–1 Friendly match
2 6 June 2001 Bursa, Turkey Template:Fb 1–2 3–3 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
3  2–2
4 3–3

Honours

Beşiktaş

Aston Villa

Urawa Red Diamonds

Turkey

Individual

Order

Footnotes

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A. Template:NoteIn 2001 Aston Villa were one of three co-winners of the Intertoto Cup with Paris Saint-Germain and Troyes AC. The club also won all of their 2008 Intertoto Cup rounds to be named joint-winners and progress to the UEFA Cup, the format was changed in 2006 to award the Intertoto Trophy to the side progressing furthest in the UEFA Cup, which was S.C. Braga.<ref name="2001 Intertoto Cup">Template:Cite news</ref>

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References

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