Hakan Çalhanoğlu

Hakan Çalhanoğlu

Çalhanoğlu with Turkey in 2016
Personal information
Full name Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Date of birth (1994-02-08) 8 February 1994
Place of birth Mannheim, Germany
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Bayer Leverkusen
Number 10
Youth career
0000–0000 1. FC Turanspor Mannheim
0000–2001 Polizei SC Mannheim
2001–2009 SV Waldhof Mannheim
2009–2011 Karlsruher SC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2011–2013 Karlsruher SC 50 (17)
2013–2014 Hamburger SV 32 (11)
2014– Bayer Leverkusen 62 (11)
National team‡
2010 Turkey U16 6 (1)
2010–2011 Turkey U17 11 (1)
2011–2013 Turkey U19 15 (5)
2012–2013 Turkey U20 8 (1)
2012– Turkey U21 2 (0)
2013– Turkey 16 (5)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 February 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2016

Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈhaːkan ˈt͡ʃaɫhanoːɫu], born 8 February 1994) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for German club Bayer Leverkusen and the Turkey national team. He is known for his ability of scoring from free kicks.[1] Çalhanoğlu is considered to be among the greatest dead-ball specialists, as well as one of the best young talents, in today's game.[2]

He began his career at Karlsruher SC in 2010 and moved to top-flight Hamburger SV two years later, spending another season back at his first club on loan. His performance in his first Bundesliga season earned him a €14.5 million transfer to Leverkusen in 2014.

Although born in Germany, Çalhanoğlu opted to represent his ancestral Turkey at international level, making his senior debut in 2013.[3]

Club career

Karlsruher SC

Born in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Çalhanoğlu began his career with Karlsruher SC in the 2. Bundesliga, although they were relegated to the 3. Liga at the end of his first season. He signed a four-year deal to join Hamburger SV in the 2012 summer transfer window, being loaned back for his first season.[4] In that season on loan, he helped the team win the league and return to the second tier.

Hamburg SV

Çalhanoğlu made his Hamburg and Bundesliga debut on 11 August 2013, as the team opened the season with a 3–3 away draw at Schalke 04. He started the match, and was replaced by Dennis Aogo after 74 minutes.[5] He scored his first goals for the club on the 31st, in a 4–0 home win over Eintracht Braunschweig; after replacing goalscorer Rafael van der Vaart in the 79th minute, he scored a minute later and then netted again with a free kick.[6]

On 5 February 2014, Çalhanoğlu signed a two-year extension to his Hamburg contract, to keep him at the club until 2018.[7] On 20 February, Hakan scored an outrageous 50-yard free kick, against Borussia Dortmund in a 3-0 win, which ended Hamburg's bad run. As he saw no defensive wall or teammates to pass, he struck a shot that swerved viciously to find the back of the net. A delighted Calhanoglu said afterwards: 'I hit the free-kick the same way I do in training all the time. I'm delighted that I pulled it off!'.[8] He was sent off for the first time in his career on 22 March, for his second booking in the 53rd minute of a 0–1 defeat away to VfB Stuttgart.[9]

In his only full season at Hamburg, Çalhanoğlu played in 32 of their 34 Bundesliga games and scored 11 league goals. The team however finished in 16th, and won a play-off against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on away goals to maintain their honour as the only team to feature in every season of the top flight.[10]

Bayer Leverkusen

Çalhanoğlu warming up with Leverkusen before a friendly in July 2014

Hamburg initially wanted Çalhanoğlu to only be sold to a foreign club, but their purchase of Pierre-Michel Lasogga from Hertha BSC made such an exception no longer financially viable.[11] On 4 July 2014, he left Hamburg for league rivals Bayer Leverkusen, signing a five-year contract[12] for a transfer fee of €14.5 million.[13] His transfer was controversial for him taking sick leave from Hamburg; he justified this by saying that he was stressed by aggression from fans, including vandalism of his car. He also criticised Hamburg's director Oliver Kreuzer, accusing him of betrayal.[14] The move was later criticised by Son Heung-min, as a response to Çalhanoğlu calling his former Leverkusen teammate's transfer to Tottenham Hotspur "badly advised".[15]

He made his debut for the club on 19 June, starting in a 3–2 away win at FC Copenhagen in the first leg of a UEFA Champions League qualification playoff.[16] Four days later he played his first league game for his new club, a 2–0 win away to Borussia Dortmund on the opening day of the new season.[17] On 27 August he scored his first Leverkusen goal, netting his team's second in a 4–0 win in the second leg of their European playoff.[18] He scored his first league goal for the club on 12 September, Leverkusen's second in a 3–3 home draw against Werder Bremen. It was the first game in any competition that season which they did not win.[19] Çalhanoğlu was nominated for the 2014 Golden Boy Award in October.[20]

On 25 February 2015, he scored the only goal as Leverkusen defeated Atlético Madrid in the last 16 first leg in the Champions League.[21] However, three weeks later in the second leg, he took their first attempt in a penalty shootout and had it saved by Jan Oblak, as Atlético went on to win.[22] On 2 May, Çalhanoğlu opened a 2–0 home win over newly crowned league champions Bayern Munich, with a free kick.[23]

He opened his second season at the club by scoring a penalty on 8 August in a 3–0 win at fourth-tier Sportfreunde Lotte in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.[24] Two weeks later, with a free kick, he scored the only goal of a league win at Hannover 96.[25] On 26 August, he opened a 3–0 win over Lazio as Bayer came back from a first-leg deficit to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.[26] In their first game of the group stage, Çalhanoğlu scored twice – including a penalty earned by a handball of his free kick – in a 4–1 home rout of BATE Borisov.[27]

International career

It's thanks to the Germans that I became a footballer. But playing for the Turkish national team is an honour. I want to be Turkey's Mesut Özil.

“
”

— Çalhanoğlu explaining his decision to represent Turkey to Milliyet.[28]

Although born in Germany, Çalhanoğlu opted to play for Turkey, qualifying for them through his family's origins in Trabzon.[4] He played for the country at youth international level, including the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup on home soil.[4] Turkey reached the last 16 before elimination by France. In their second group game on 28 June, Çalhanoğlu scored Turkey's equaliser in a 2–1 win over Australia at the Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium in his ancestral city.[29]

Çalhanoğlu playing for Turkey in 2016.

He made his senior debut on 6 September 2013 in a World Cup qualifier in Kayseri, replacing Gökhan Töre for the last eight minutes of a 5–0 win against Andorra in Fatih Terim's first match back in charge.[30] He made his first start on 25 May 2014 in a 2–1 friendly win against the Republic of Ireland at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, making way for Olcan Adın after 61 minutes.[31]

Çalhanoğlu was sharing a hotel room with national team defender Ömer Toprak in October 2013 after a World Cup qualifying defeat to the Netherlands, when Gökhan Töre and an unknown armed friend entered the room, and threatened both roommates at gunpoint, ostensibly due to Töre's ex-girlfriend dating a friend of Toprak.[32] The incident was hidden from Turkish media, but Çalhanoğlu revealed it to Germany's ZDF television channel.[32] Töre did not return to the national team until October 2014, when both Çalhanoğlu and Toprak were injured. The following month, with both players back to fitness and form, both were left out by Terim for a friendly against Brazil and a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Kazakhstan while Töre remained. Çalhanoğlu questioned his omission from the team, while Terim defended his own decision and said that Töre deserved to be forgiven.[32] In June 2015, Çalhanoğlu and Töre reconciled.[33]

On 31 March 2015, Çalhanoğlu scored his first international goal in a 2–1 friendly win away to Luxembourg, a 30-yard strike with three minutes remaining.[34] He scored two more in a 4–0 home friendly win over Bulgaria on 8 June, the latter being a free kick.[35] His first competitive goal came on 10 October, a cross which secured a 2–0 away win over the Czech Republic in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.[36]

Style of play

Çalhanoğlu has been likened to Mesut Özil, another German-born midfielder of Turkish ancestry.[37][38][1][39][40] He expressed a desire to be the equivalent of Özil in the Turkish national team.[28]

He is known for scoring from free kicks,[41] and models his set-piece technique on those of Cristiano Ronaldo and especially Juninho Pernambucano.[1] In December 2013, Talksport called him "a playmaker destined for the top", praising his dedication and passing ability.[1] Former England international Owen Hargreaves said on BT Sport in August 2015 that Çalhanoğlu's style of play would fit Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.[42]

Career statistics

Club

As of 30 April 2016.[43]
Club Season League Cup Other Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Karlsruher SC 2011–12 140 3—20 0—160 3
2012–13 3617 1230 2——3917 14
Total 5017 1530 220 0—5517 17
Hamburger SV 2013–14 3211 440 120 0—3811 5
Total 3211 440 120 0—3811 5
Bayer Leverkusen 2014–15 338 642 0—103 44713 10
2015–16 293 531 0—124 5448 10
Total 6211 1173 0—227 99121 20
Career total 14439 30143 340 0227 918449 42

International

As of 29 March 2016.[44]
Turkey
YearAppsGoals
201310
201440
2015104
201611
Total165

International goals

Scores and results list Turkey's goal tally first

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 31 March 2015 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 2–1 2–1 Friendly
2 8 June 2015 Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey  Bulgaria 1–04–0 Friendly
3 2–0
4 10 October 2015 Generali Arena, Prague, Czech Republic  Czech Republic 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying
5 29 March 2016 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria  Austria 1–1 2–1 Friendly

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mannion, Damian (11 December 2013). "Arsenal transfer news: the starlet being compared to Ozil". Talksport. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/six-england-stars-named-on-elite-list-of-footballs-best-young-talents-a6861061.html
  3. ↑ http://www.todayszaman.com/sports_hakan-calhanoglu-turkish-star-in-german-bundesliga_347750.html
  4. 1 2 3 "Calhanoglu: A great opportunity". FIFA.com. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Schalke make point". Sky Sports. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "No problems for Hamburg". Sky Sports. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Calhanoglu pens new Hamburg contract". Four Four Two. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "VIDEO: Hamburg's Calhanoglu scores outrageous 50-yard free-kick". Mail Online. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
  9. ↑ "Take it to the Maxim". Sky Sports News. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  10. ↑ Raish, Dave (18 May 2014). "Hamburg secure Bundesliga survival over Greuther Fürth in relegation playoff". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  11. ↑ Uersfeld, Stephen (4 July 2014). "Hakan Calhanoglu in Leverkusen move". ESPN. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Leverkusen complete Calhanoglu deal". Four Four Two. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Advantage Leverkusen as classy Calhanoglu cements status as rising star". Goal.com. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Calhanoglu: "Kreuzer ist mir in den Rücken gefallen"" [Çalhanoğlu: "Kreuzer stabbed me in the back"] (in German). T-Online. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  15. ↑ Uersfeld, Stephan (27 August 2015). "Son Heung-Min badly advised over Tottenham move - Hakan Calhanoglu". ESPN. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Leverkusen edge København in first-leg thriller". UEFA. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen: BVB rocked by record-breaker Bellarabi". Goal.com. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "Leverkusen coast through at FCK's expense". UEFA. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Bayer Leverkusen rue missed chances as Werder Bremen snatch late point". The Guardian. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  20. ↑ Richards, Alex (28 October 2014). "England pair Raheem Sterling and Calum Chambers join Adnan Januzaj in Golden Boy award nominations". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  21. ↑ Raynor, Dominic (25 February 2015). "Bayer Levkn 1-0 Atl Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  22. ↑ Smith, Jonathan (17 March 2015). "Atl Madrid 1-0 Bayer Levkn". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "Bayer Levkn 2-0 Bayern Mun". BBC Sport. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "Wolfsburg, Leverkusen, Schalke all win DFB-Pokal openers; Hoffenheim lose". ESPN. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  25. ↑ "Freistoß-König Calhanoglu lsst Leverkusen jubeln!" [Free-kick king Çalhanoğlu lets Leverkusen cheer!]. Bild (in German). 22 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "Champions League roundup: Bayer Leverkusen ease past Lazio". Associated Press. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  27. ↑ "Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 BATE Borisov: Big win for Bundesliga side". Sky Sports. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  28. 1 2 "Leverkusen - Calhanoglu à la conquête de l'Europe" [Leverkusen – Çalhanoğlu ready to conquer Europe] (in French). FIFA. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  29. ↑ "Australia - Turkey". FIFA. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "Terim enjoys Turkey return against Andorra". UEFA. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "International friendly: Turkey hold on for a 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin". Sky Sports. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  32. 1 2 3 Sarigul, Emre (16 November 2014). "How a love story and a firearm incident tore the Turkey team apart". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  33. ↑ Weber, Jens (24 June 2015). "Reports: Turkey's Gokhan Tore and Hakan Calhanoglu settle row". ESPN. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "International Friendly: Luxembourg 1 Turkey 2". Four Four Two. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  35. ↑ Bezants, Jack (8 June 2015). "Turkey 4-0 Bulgaria: Hakan Calhanoglu and Burak Yilamz at the double as hosts cruise to big victory ahead of Euro 2016 qualifier". Daily Mail. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  36. ↑ Raiman, Vojtěch (10 October 2015). "Turkey crash Czech party to reclaim third place". UEFA. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  37. ↑ Vélez García, Raquel (14 May 2014). "Chelsea Suffer Blow in 'New Mesut Ozil' Pursuit - Report". International Business Times. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  38. ↑ Doyle, Mark (29 December 2013). "'Calhanoglu is the new Ozil' - Schafer". Goal.com. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  39. ↑ Mokbel, Sami (1 May 2014). "Jose Mourinho wants £7.5m Hamburg midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu at Chelsea". Daily Mail. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  40. ↑ Jefferson, Ben (9 December 2013). "Arsenal and Liverpool in battle for 'new Mesut Ozil' Hakan Calhanoglu". Daily Express. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  41. ↑ Tweedale, Alistair (14 April 2015). "Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick goals are rare, show WhoScored.com stats". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Hakan Çalhanoğlu için önemli açıklama! "Liverpool ve Tottenham..."" [Important information for Hakan Çalhanoğlu ! "Liverpool and Tottenham..."] (in Turkish). Eurosport. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  43. ↑ "Hakan Çalhanoğlu". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  44. ↑ "Hakan Çalhanoğlu". European Football. Retrieved 16 April 2015.

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