Tugay Kerimoğlu

Football player infobox
playername = Tugay


fullname = Tugay Kerimoğlu
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1970|8|24
cityofbirth = Trabzon
countryofbirth = Turkey
height = height|ft=5|in=9
currentclub = Blackburn Rovers
clubnumber = 5
position = Midfielder
years = 1987–2000
2000–2001
2001–
clubs = Galatasaray
Rangers
Blackburn Rovers
caps(goals) = 236 (34)
042 0(4)
209 (10)
nationalyears = 1990–2007
nationalteam = Turkey
nationalcaps(goals) = 094 0(2)
pcupdate = 09:57, 5 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 13:05, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

Tugay Kerimoğlu (born August 24, 1970 in Trabzon) is a Turkish footballer who has been playing for Blackburn Rovers since 2001. His main role is central midfielder, he also is competent on attacking midfielder and anchor positions.

Career

Galatasaray

He played for Galatasaray from 1987 to 2000, where he won the Turkish League six times (1993, 1994, 1997, 1998 and 1999) and the Turkey Cup four times (1991, 1993, 1996 and 1999).

Rangers

He had signed for Scottish club Rangers in January 2000 mid season transfer window, and joined Blackburn Rovers for the 2001-02 season. [http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=600017 Blackburn To Open Contract Talks With Tugay] ]

Blackburn Rovers

His debut for Rovers was as a substitute against Sunderland. His first goal came on 14 October 2001 in a 7–1 home thrashing against West Ham United in which he scored with a trademark effort from outside the box, lobbing the keeper. Tugay immediately became a fans favourite at Blackburn, where he has been an integral part of the club's success on the field since his first season. Unfortunately he missed Blackburn's League Cup final win in 2002 through suspension.

Tugay was named Blackburn's Player of the Year in the 2003-04 campaign. With a good start to the UEFA Cup 2006-07 campaign, Tugay commented after a 3-0 win over their UEFA opponents FC Basel, that he would like to renew his contract with Rovers, and would continue playing until he is 40 if he could do so.

On February 2008, coach Mark Hughes had declared that he was willing to extend Tugay's contract in the upcoming weeks. [tr icon [http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2008/02/26/son/sonspo45.asp?prm=1634 New contract with Tugay] ]

In May 2008, Tugay won the clubs "goal of the season" award for his strike against Reading in October 2007.On May 20, he put pen to paper on a year long extension to his contract. [ [http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~1316138,00.html Tugay pens new deal] ] The deal, believed to be a Pay-As-You-Play deal, will include branching off into coaching in the coming year.Fact|date=May 2008

National team

Tugay also appeared for his country many times, including the Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but retired in 2003 after Turkey failed to qualify for Euro 2004.

His next and final cap for Turkey was on 5 June 2007 in a friendly against Brazil in Dortmund, Germany. He wore number 94 to commemorate his 94 caps for his country.

Playing style

Tugay essentially plays in the midfield position, either as a defensive midfielder or a playmaker. He is well known for his accurate long passes and thunderbolt shots. Although his attacking instincts have not been prevalent in recent times, Tugay's energetic performances have earned him renewed contracts over the past two seasons.

Career statistics

Personal life

Tugay generally keeps himself out of the media spotlight, and even with very good English and an apparent good sense of humour, he rarely makes an interview, even to his club's very own radio station, Radio Rovers. Tugay is married to Etkin Kerimoğlu, a former Galatasaray and Turkish international basketball player. He has two children, named Berke and Melissa.

Honours

flagicon|TUR Galatasaray
* Turkcell Super League - 1988, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999
* Turkish Cup - 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999

flagicon|SCO Rangers
* Scottish Premier League - 2000
* Scottish Cup - 2000

flagicon|ENG Blackburn Rovers
* Football League Cup - 2002

flagicon|TUR Turkey
* UEFA Euro 2000 Quarter-Finalist
* FIFA World Cup 2002: "'3rd place"

References

External links

*http://www.tugaykerimoglu.info
*FIFA player|95146
*soccerbase|id=13210|name=Tugay Kerimoğlu
*en icon [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player?id=7798&cc=5901 ESPN profile]