This text about Hakan Sükür was written by Adem Dogan who is a member of Galatasarays fan club Ultraslan. Without a shadow of doubt Hakan Sükür is Turkeys best and most famous footballer of all time. All records in Turkish football belong to him. For in
This text about Hakan Sükür was written by Adem Dogan who is a member of Galatasarays fan club Ultraslan. Without a shadow of doubt Hakan Sükür is Turkeys best and most famous footballer of all time. All records in Turkish football belong to him. For instance he is the highest scoring player for the national team. Popularly he is called either the bull from the Bosphorus or kral (the king).
His career started in his hometown Sakarya near Istanbul. As a youth he came to the First Division club Bursaspor and soon his name was on everybodys lips. It didnt take long before he signed for Turkeys biggest club Galatasaray.
With top players, like the Rumanians Gheorge Hagi and Gheorge Popescu as well as the Brazilian goalkeeper Taffaral, Galatasaray became Turkish champions four times in a row from 1996 to 2000. These golden days culminated in Copenhagen with a victory in the UEFA Cup final when Arsenal was beaten after extra time and a penalty shoot out.
The highlight of Hakan Sükürs career with the national team came at the 2002 World Championship in Japan/Korea where Turkey, after a splendid performance, won the bronze medal. Also in the third place playoff against South Korea, he scored a goal after only 10 seconds. This went into the record books as the fastest goal ever scored in the world championships.
After playing in Europe for a few years he is now back at Galatasaray, the club he sees as his own. Many spectators hope and expect that he will remain a part of the club after his playing career ends.