Okan Buruk

Okan Buruk

Personal information
Full name	Okan Buruk
Date of birth	October 19, 1973 (1973-10-19) (age 38)
Place of birth	Istanbul, Turkey
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
1987–1991	Galatasaray
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1991–2001	Galatasaray	189	(33)
2001–2004	Internazionale	25	(2)
2004–2006	Beşiktaş	43	(1)
2006–2008	Galatasaray	19	(2)
2008–2010	İstanbul B.B.	28	(0)
Total		304	(38)
National team
1989–1990	Turkey U-16	5	(0)
1990–1992	Turkey U-18	28	(4)
1992–1995	Turkey U-21	13	(1)
1992–2010	Turkey	56	(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Okan Buruk (born 19 October 1973) is a Turkish former international footballer who played in the midfielder position. He played for Galatasaray, Internazionale, Beşiktaş, and İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. He also won 56 caps with the Turkey national football team.

Career

Buruk played for Turkish giants Galatasaray and helped them win a UEFA Cup, Super Cup and many Turkish titles during his 10 year stay (1991–2001). In 1992, his leg was broken in a game against Trabzonspor, and he had a year long hiatus. During his tenure at Galatasaray, he was best known for his incredible pace, determination, high work rate and long range shots on goal.

This talent was not missed by top European clubs and in 2001, he was signed by Italian Giants Internazionale and stayed on for 3 years. He was then signed by Beşiktaş and returned to Turkey. At the start of the 2006/2007 season Okan signed for Galatasaray, rejoining his old club. Okan has been having trouble to play first-team game since he is back to Turkey from Italy. Okan scored his first goal after returning to Galatasaray against Liverpool in Champions League first round closing match with a spectacular long range shot. That goal secured Galatasaray's only victory in their Champions League season but, not quite enough to keep them alive in European football for 2007 winter.

He was signed by İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor for 2 years on July 3, 2008 after his contract expired with Galatasaray.

Personal life

He got married to former Miss Turkey and top model Nihan Akkuş on July 3, 2007.

Honours

• Galatasaray
  • UEFA Super Cup: 1 (2000)
  • UEFA Cup: 1 (2000)
  • Turkish League: 7 (1992–93, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999-00, 2007–08)

• Turkey
  • UEFA Euro 2000 Quarter-Finalist
  • FIFA World Cup 2002: 3rd place

Personal

2000 UEFA Super Cup "Man of the match"

Career statistics

Club

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Galatasaray	1991–92	1	2	-	-	-	-	1	2
	1992–93	15	0	-	-	-	-	15	0
	1993–94	2	0	-	-	-	-	2	0
	1994–95	20	0	-	-	-	-	20	0
	1995–96	28	1	-	-	-	-	28	1
	1996–97	16	3	-	-	-	-	16	3
	1997–98	24	3	-	-	-	-	24	3
	1998–99	28	11	-	-	-	-	28	11
	1999–00	28	8	-	-	-	-	28	8
	2000–01	26	2	-	-	-	-	26	2
	Total	188	30	0	0	0	0	188	30
Internazionale	2001–02	7	0	-	-	-	-	7	0
	2002–03	15	2	-	-	-	-	15	2
	2003–04	3	0	-	-	-	-	3	0
	Total	25	2	0	0	0	0	25	2
Beşiktaş	2004–05	22	0	-	-	-	-	22	0
	2005–06	21	1	-	-	-	-	21	1
	Total	43	1	0	0	0	0	43	1
Galatasaray	2006–07	15	1	-	-	-	-	15	1
	2007–08	4	1	-	-	-	-	4	1
	Total	19	2	0	0	0	0	19	2
İstanbul BB	2008–09	17	0	-	-	-	-	17	0
	2009–10	11	0	-	-	-	-	11	0
	Total	28	0	0	0	0	0	28	0
Career total		303	35	0	0	0	0	303	35

International

National team	Year	Apps	Goals	Assists
Turkey	1992	1	0	-
	1998	3	0	-
	1999	5	0	-
	2000	8	2	-
	2001	9	2	-
	2002	7	2	-
	2003	9	1	-
	2004	9	0	-
	2005	4	1	-
	2010	1	0	-
Total		56	8	-

External links

• Okan Buruk at National-Football-Teams.com
• Profile at TFF.org
• Profile at transfermarkt.de

Persondata
Name	Buruk, Okan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1973-10-19
Place of birth	Istanbul, Turkey
Date of death
Place of death