Rüştü Reçber

Rüştü Reçber ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; born 10 May 1973) is a Turkish former professional footballer and a current sports executive.<ref name="SportsExecutive">Template:Cite news</ref> During his professional career, he played as a goalkeeper for Antalyaspor, Fenerbahçe, Barcelona and Beşiktaş.

Rüştü was part of the Turkey national squad that reached the semi-finals at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. At the former, where Turkey finished third, his performances saw him selected for the tournament's all-star team. He is Turkey's record appearance holder, having earned 120 caps.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He made his debut against Iceland in 1994 and his final appearance came against Finland in 2012.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Rüştü was named the best goalkeeper in European competitions in 2002, selected for the 2002 UEFA Team of the Year by public vote.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2004, he was selected to FIFA 100 by Pelé as one of the 125 best living footballers in the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Club career

1985–2003: early years and Fenerbahçe

Born in Korkuteli, Rüştü began his career at nearby Antalyaspor, having converted from a forward to a goalkeeper. Early in his career, he missed out on moves to two of the Istanbul-based Big Three of Turkish football: he rejected Galatasaray at the age of 17 because coach Mustafa Denizli wanted him to start off at the youth team, and in 1993 a move to Beşiktaş fell through when he was seriously injured in a car crash.<ref name=trust/>

After debuting for Turkey under-21, Rüştü was told by national manager Fatih Terim in 1992 that he would become the greatest goalkeeper in the nation's history.<ref name=trust/> In 1993, he joined the last remaining of the Big Three, Fenerbahçe, spending his first season back on loan at Antalyaspor. He gained his big break in October 1994, when club and national starting goalkeeper Engin İpekoğlu injured his foot against Kayserispor; he debuted against Petrol Ofisi and went on to make 240 appearances in his first spell, also becoming captain and winning the Süper Lig twice.<ref name=trust/>

2003–2004: Barcelona

In July 2003, Rüştü was very close to signing for Arsenal, but he had a dispute with manager Arsène Wenger who he felt insulted his fitness. Instead, he joined La Liga club Barcelona.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After manager Frank Rijkaard chose to play Víctor Valdés in the first two league matches because Rüştü's Spanish was still very weak. Rüştü was upset by this, saying "It is not normal for a goalkeeper of my history and caliber to be left out because I don't speak Spanish."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Rüştü made his debut on 15 October 2003 in the UEFA Cup first round second leg at home to Slovakia's MŠK Púchov, an 8–0 win.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He totalled only seven games – four in the league, of which the first was a 3–1 win at Espanyol in the Derbi barceloní on 13 December.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2004–2012: return to Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş

Rüştü (in orange) in action for Beşiktaş against Trabzonspor in March 2008

Having played just four league games (seven overall), Rüştü was loaned back to Fenerbahçe on 27 August 2004 for the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 28 July 2005, this was extended for another year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In his combined two spells, Rüştü is the Fenerbahçe goalkeeper with second-most appearances, with 294 games, following Volkan Demirel.<ref name="T24comtrRecord">Template:Cite news</ref>

After winning the league title for a third time with Fenerbahçe in 2006–07, Rüştü moved to city rivals Beşiktaş on a three-year deal, along with teammate Mehmet Yozgatlı.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Rüştü won the league with his new team in 2008–09. He also won 2010–11 Turkish Cup where he played all 120 minutes, including penalties, as the club won the tournament.

International career

2002 FIFA World Cup

Reçber (top left) played in all of Turkey's fixtures at the 2002 World Cup, and conceded 6 goals in 7 games

Turkey finished third in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Rüştü was one of two goalkeepers in the 16-man Team of the Tournament, alongside Germany's Oliver Kahn.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 26 March 2005, captain Rüştü earned his 100th cap in a 2–0 home win over Albania in 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification.<ref name=trust>Template:Cite news</ref>

Euro 2008

With first choice goalkeeper Volkan Demirel suspended, Rüştü started the UEFA Euro 2008 quarter-final match against Croatia. A questionable foray from his goalmouth allowed Croatia to score the match's first goal with a minute remaining in extra time. Rüştü immediately made amends for his mistake though, assisting on Semih Şentürk's injury time goal in the 122nd minute. In the ensuing penalty shootout, he faced four kicks, saving the last one from Mladen Petrić to secure Turkey's victory in the shootout and enabling Turkey to progress to the Euro semi-finals for the first time ever.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the aftermath of the 3–2 semi-final loss to Germany, a game in which he was captain, he announced his retirement from the national team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, he was since called up against Spain for a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. He was called up for the last time for Turkey in a game against Finland on 26 May 2012, the last of his 120 caps.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Style of play

Rüştü was renowned as a gifted shot-stopper,<ref name="2002BBCSportsProfile"/><ref name="Shotstopper">Template:Cite news</ref> possessed an excellent positional sense.<ref name="2002BBCSportsProfile">Template:Cite news</ref> Using his height, he was also able to come up for high balls.<ref name="2002BBCSportsProfile"/> He also possessed strong reflexes<ref name="Reflexes1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Reflexes3">Template:Cite news</ref> and good deflecting ability.<ref name="Reflexes1"/><ref name="DeflectingAbility">Template:Cite news</ref> Known as a penalty stopper, his shoot-out performance against Croatia in the UEFA Euro 2008 quarter-finals was described as heroic by UEFA in 2015.<ref name="UEFAListings">Template:Cite news</ref> He was featured in a UEFA Training Ground series video under the title of Rüştü's Turkish Delight, in which he was described as a Master of Penalties.<ref group="Video">Template:Cite video</ref> He was an eccentric goalkeeper,<ref name="Turkey trust in Rüstü"/> who also stood out for his charismatic personality.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Physically, he was recognisable for his long hair and anti-glare paint under his eyes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was also adept at taking goal kicks and clearing backpasses.<ref name="Turkey trust in Rüstü">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Rüştü is married to Işıl Reçber (née: Kepe)<ref name="IsilRecber">Template:Cite news</ref> and the couple have a son and a daughter.<ref name="Marriage">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The couple first met in period when Rüştü just signed for Fenerbahçe from Antalyaspor, in 1994.<ref name="Marriage"/> Rüştü used to be a Galatasaray supporter in his childhood.<ref name="Childhood">Template:Cite news</ref> His son, Burak, born in 2007,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> plays football at Galatasaray academy.<ref name="BurakRecber">Template:Cite news</ref>

In March 2020, Reçber tested positive for COVID-19 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. He was admitted to hospital for care where he was put under isolation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was discharged in April.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

Club

Reçber (left) in 2005

citation

CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Template:NFT player</ref>
Club	Season	League			Cup		EuropeTemplate:Efn		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Burdurgücü	1990–91	3. Lig	1	0	—		—		1	0
Antalyaspor	1991–92	2. Lig	—		—		—		—
	1992–93	2. Lig	1	0	—		—		1	0
	1993–94	2. Lig	33	0	—		—		33	0
	Total		34	0	—		—		34	0
Fenerbahçe	1994–95<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi">Template:Cite news</ref>	1. LigTemplate:Efn	9	0	2	0	—		11	0
	1995–96<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	1. Lig	29	0	6	0	4	0	39	0
	1996–97<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	1. Lig	27	0	2	0	8	0	37	0
	1997–98<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	1. Lig	33	0	5	0	2	0	40	0
	1998–99<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	1. Lig	30	0	—		4	0	34	0
	1999–00<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	1. Lig	25	0	1	0	2	0	28	0
	2000–01<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	1. Lig	33	0	5	0	—		38	0
	2001–02<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	[[Süper Lig|Süper LigTemplate:Efn]]	30	0	1	0	8	0	39	0
	2002–03<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	Süper Lig	24	0	—		6	0	30	0
	Total		240	0	22	0	34	0	296	0
Barcelona	2003–04<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	La Liga	4	0	—		3	0	7	0
Fenerbahçe (loan)	2004–05<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	Süper Lig	29	0	4	0	8	0	41	0
	2005–06<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	Süper Lig	17	0	2	0	—		19	0
	Total		46	0	6	0	8	0	60	0
Fenerbahçe	2006–07<ref name="Rustu_Recber'in_Performansi"/>	Süper Lig	8	0	—		7	0	15	0
Beşiktaş	2007–08	Süper Lig	22	0	2	0	3	0	27	0
	2008–09	Süper Lig	29	0	1	0	3	0	33	0
	2009–10	Süper Lig	25	0	1	0	4	0	30	0
	2010–11	Süper Lig	11	0	4	0	1	0	16	0
	2011–12	Süper Lig	12	0	1	0	5	0	18	0
	Total		99	0	9	0	16	0	124	0
Career total			432	0	37	0	68	0	537	0

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=RSSSFIntCaps>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=FIFAcomIntCaps>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name = "eu-football.info_Stats">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web }}</ref>
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Turkey	1994	2	0
	1995	10	0
	1996	10	0
	1997	7	0
	1998	5	0
	1999	7	0
	2000	9	0
	2001	10	0
	2002	13	0
	2003	13	0
	2004	12	0
	2005	4	0
	2006	10	0
	2007	2	0
	2008	3	0
	2009	1	0
	2010	0	0
	2011	0	0
	2012	1	0
Total		120	0

Honours

Barcelona

• Copa Catalunya: 2003–04

Fenerbahçe

• Süper Lig: 1995–96, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2006–07
• Atatürk Cup: 1998

Beşiktaş

• Süper Lig: 2008–09
• Turkish Cup: 2008–09, 2010–11

Turkey

• FIFA World Cup third place: 2002<ref name="WC 2002 Bronze (1)">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="WC 2002 Bronze (2)">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="WC 2002 Bronze (3)">Template:Cite news</ref>
• UEFA European Championship bronze medalist: 2008<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2003<ref name="CC 2003 Bronze (1)">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="CC 2003 Bronze (2)">Template:Cite news</ref>

Individual

• Turkish Footballer of the Year: 2001
• FIFA World Cup All Star Team: 2002<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2002<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 2002: 3rd<ref name="IFFHSListings">Template:Cite news</ref>
• IFFHS Best Goalkeeper of the 21st Century: 23rd<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• FIFA 100<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Order

• Turkish State Medal of Distinguished Service<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

References

Citations

Video References

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:FIFA player
• Template:TFF player
• Template:Mackolik player