Deniz Naki

Deniz Naki

Naki in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth	9 July 1989
Place of birth	Düren, West Germany
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team	Amed SK
Youth career
2001–2003	FC Düren 77
2003–2005	FC Düren-Niederau
2005–2007	Bayer Leverkusen
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2007–2009	Bayer Leverkusen II	36	(7)
2009	→ Rot Weiss Ahlen (loan)	11	(4)
2009–2012	FC St. Pauli	71	(12)
2012–2013	SC Paderborn 07	23	(2)
2013–2014	Gençlerbirliği	21	(0)
2015–	Amedspor	12	(1)
National team^‡
2007–2008	Germany U19	15	(9)
2008–2009	Germany U20	6	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 November 2014. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 April 2009

Deniz Naki (born 9 July 1989) is a German footballer who is currently playing for Amed SK.^[1][2]

Club career

Naki began his football career at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, but could never make it past its reserves.

On 2 February 2009, he was loaned to Rot Weiss Ahlen, playing eleven games and scoring four goals in his short spell. On 8 February, he made his professional debut in the second division, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute for Marco Reus in a match against FC Augsburg.^[3]

On 25 June 2009, Naki left Bayer Leverkusen and signed a three-year contract with FC St. Pauli at the Millerntor-Stadion. He caused controversy on 2 November when, after scoring his team's second goal away at rivals FC Hansa Rostock (2–0 win), he celebrated with a 'cut-throat' gesture towards the opposing fans.^[4] He helped with seven league goals as St. Pauli returned to the top level.

Following an unsuccessful trial at Nottingham Forest, Naki completed a move to SC Paderborn 07, signing a two-year contract with the 2. Bundesliga side in the summer of 2012.

On November 5, Naki decided to leave Gençlerbirliği after an alleged racist attack.^[5][6] Naki said he was attacked on the street in the Turkish capital by three men shouting racist abuse and challenging him over his support for the Syrian-Kurdish town of Kobane, which is battling a siege by Islamic State (ISIS).^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

In February 2016 Naki was suspended for 12 games and received a large fine after expressing his wish for peace in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict.^[11]

International career

As a member of the Germany U-19 team, Naki represented the nation at the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, played in the Czech Republic.

Club

As of 30 May 2015.

Club	Season	League		Cup		Other		Continental		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gençlerbirliği	2013–14	16	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	19	1
	2014–15	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	Total	21	0	4	1	0	0	0	0	25	1
Amedspor	2015–16	12	1	7	2	0	0	0	0	19	3
	Total	12	1	7	2	0	0	0	0	19	3
Career total		33	1	11	3	0	0	0	0	44	4

References

1. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-eu-29924670
2. http://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2014/11/141105_deniz_naki_rop
3. "Tolles Solo von Großkreutz" [Nice solo by Großkreutz] (in German). kicker. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
4. "Cut-Throat: Deniz Naki (St. Pauli) provokes Rostock fans with an unsavoury gesture". 101 Great Goals. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
5. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/05/deniz-naki-turkey-genclerbirligi-racist-attack
6. http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/deniz-naki/ist-froh-wieder-in-deutschland-zu-sein-38431746.bild.html
7. http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/06112014
8. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/05/deniz-naki-turkey-genclerbirligi-racist-attack
9. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-eu-29924670
10. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/alevi-german-turkish-footballer-decides-to-leave-turkey-after-attack.aspx?pageID=238&nID=73890&NewsCatID=361
11. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/05/turkish-player-12-match-ban-ideological-propaganda

External links

• Deniz Naki – UEFA competition record
• Deniz Naki at fussballdaten.de (German)