With next weekend's international coming up, TheFA.com profiles some of Turkish
With next weekend's international coming up, TheFA.com profiles some of Turkish players that Sven's men will be up against...
Hakan Sükür's illustrious career started at his home town club, Sakaryaspor where he made his first appearance as a slim, somewhat fragile 16-year-old.
By the summer of 1990, Sükür had made such a positive impression that Bursaspor stepped in to snap up the 18-year old. His stay at Bursaspor, who play at the famous Ataturk Stadium, was successful as he struck eleven goals in 54 League matches in two seasons. In 1992, Instanbul-giants Galatasaray signed the player and it would be at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium that Sukur would flourish.
In his first season, 1992/93, Sukur struck nineteen goals helping Galatasaray win the league title for the first time in five years. Throughout the season, Sükür showcased his enormous talent and his clinical efficiency infront of goal.
A move to Serie A side Torino in May 1995 never really worked as Sükür didn't settle into the Italian way of life, scoring just once in five games. So when Galatasaray offered bring him back to Instanbul in November 1995, he accepted with alacrity.
Back in Turkey, Sükür started to score goals for fun and in 1996/97 set a new Turkish League record bu finding the back of the net a remarkable 38 times in 32 games. That was followed by another 30-plus haul the following season as Galatasaray won the first two of what would be a run of four consecutive championships.
In 2000 Sükür, now 28, scored six times as he played a key role in the Galatasaray team that became the first Turkish side to ever win a European honour. In the UEFA Cup Final, played in Copenhagen, they beat Arsenal on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Sükür move to Internazionale soon after that win to try out Serie A for a second time. However, spells at both the Milan club and Parma did not go according to plan and, after a brief spell with Blackburn Rovers last term, Sükür returned to where he is happiest - Galatasaray.
by James Wright
Hakan Sukur
Nationality: Turkish
Place of Birth: Adapazari, Turkey
Date of Birth: 01 September 1971
Weight: 12 08
Height: 6' 02''
Club: Galatasaray
Position: Striker
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