The soccer world has been blessed with many stars and personalities over the ages. These players have shown extreme skill, passion, and determination relative to the basic talent others showed in their time. Today, we will look at the Turkish players who stole the show in the German Bundesliga.
One factor that makes soccer a unique sport is that it celebrates the efforts of its heroes’ past, irrespective of the players making waves in the present. This encourages a culture of appreciation and ensures the names in the halls of fame are never wiped out.
This article brings Bundesliga icons of Turkish descent to light. You’ll be enlightened and entertained. Stick to the end!
Remarkable Turkish stars who made waves in the Bundesliga
When talking about top European leagues, you have to mention the Bundesliga. The league has gone through many phases to become renowned and appreciated worldwide.
In this section, we will talk about top Turkish stars who have contributed their skill to the league’s reputation. We will provide you with well-researched info about them here, but you can still check out soccer match highlights to see how exceptional they were. Some of these players include:
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Hakan Çalhanoğlu was a unique player who quickly left a huge mark on the Bundesliga. He spent just four years in th league, from 2013 to 2017. He started by paying for Hamburg; however, Bayer Leverkusen offered a better deal after a season that made him move to their side.
He played as a Central Midfielder and was a threat to every defender and keeper in the league. During his time at Leverkusen, his extremely exceptional performance launched him into the limelight. He was as skilled with precise passes as he was with taking set pieces. An evergreen goal of his against Dortmund, which found the back of the net from over 40 yards away, is still regarded as a remarkable goal.
During his time in the Bundesliga, Hakan featured in over 110 matches and netted 28 goals. Afterward, he moved to AC Milan.
- Nuri Şahin
This brilliant central midfielder was a sensation from the beginning of his campaign in the Bundesliga. He moved to Borrusia Dortmund during the 2005/2006 season and was the youngest player ever to debut in the league. He also earned the title of the youngest player ever to score a goal a few months later.
He continued to rise in skill and won the league during the 2010/2011 season. His performance was so awe-inspiring that year that he was awarded the Player of The Season. After a series of moves to La Liga and the Premier League, Nuri returned home to Dortmund to continue what he had started. However, that didn’t last long, as he soon moved to Werder Bremen, where he completed his Bundesliga days. He appeared in 259 games and scored 22 goals.
- Yıldıray Baştürk
Yildiray can, indeed, be considered a Bundesliga giant because he spent most of his balling career there. He played the important role of an attacking midfielder and was expected always to be available to make great goals scoring chances for his team. He displayed proficiency in this capacity and any others.
In his campaign in the Bundesliga, Baştürk played across several clubs in the league, establishing his experience. He started at Bochum, where he spent four years; another three years followed at Bayer Leverkusen, three at Hertha Berlin, and the last three at VfB Stuttgart. He often came close to winning the league with the clubs but could not do that. His closest opportunity was a treble campaign with Bayer Leverkusen, which turned sour.
During his time in the league, he appeared 249 times and found the back of the net 32 times. There is no medal to his name, but he had a groundbreaking performance that can not be forgotten.
- Halil Altıntop
Halil was one of the rather amazing and destructive twins who rocked the Bundesliga. He played as a forward and was known for his explosive charges when he got hold of the ball. Halil moved to the Bundesliga when Kaiserslautern signed him in 2003 and played a pivotal role in keeping the team in the first division despite their position in the relegation zone. He would end up amassing 20 goals in 34 appearances in later years.
From there, he moved to Schalke, where he played with his brother on the same team for a year. Halil spent four exceptional years in Schalke before moving to Frankfurt in 2010. He spent a few years abroad before returning to Augsburg, where he ended his career as a player. He was always feared for his reliability and the havoc he could bring on any team.
During his run in the Bundesliga, Halil had 351 appearances, among the top 10 highest ever, and scored 67 goals. He continues to cater to the future talents of the Bundesliga with his position as coach in the Bayern Munich Academy.
- Hamit Altıntop
Although less prolific than his twin brother, Hamit Altintop was also one of the best contributors to the Bundesliga from Turkey. He was much more versatile than this team, which was evident from the beginning of their soccer journey. He moved to Schalke the same year his brother joined Kaiserslautern. His performance there attracted the sharp eyes of Bayern scouters.
In Bayern, he had the best run of his career, winning two Bundesliga Cups and DFBs, among several other trophies. In his last season at Bayer Munich, he almost clinched the UEFA Champions League trophy; afterward, he moved to Real Madrid. After six years in La Liga, he returned to Darmstadt. During his campaign, the midfielder had 192 appearances and 15 goals in the Bundesliga.
- Erdal Keser
Erdal is another Turkish legend who had a renowned run in the Bundesliga. Although, unlike the rest, he is less prominent because he spent much of his career oscillating between German and Turkish football leagues. His first league appearance was on a free transfer from the SSV Hagen youth club in 1980.
He spent a year in Dortmund before moving to Galatasaray. His skill with the ball was unique, enhancing his role as an attacking forward. As earlier stated, his dominance was diluted due to continuous transfer back and forth between Galatasaray. In his run, he had 106 appearances and 27 goals.
Turkey’s Top Icons in the Bundesliga
The article above shows how much of an impact footballers from Turkey have had on the history of the Bundesliga. From the skillful prowess of Nuri Şahin to the astonishing long shots of Hakan Çalhanoğlu and the endless goals from Halil Altinto, these players showed unfettered dominance. This prestige had laid room for the inclusivity and acceptance of more and more players of Turkish descent into the league.
Football is an ever-exciting game that has moved crowds for generations and will continue to do so for eons to come. You want to keep up with your best teams across European soccer leagues to remain in the loop of events and fixtures.