Aytek Genc
Encyclopedia
Aytek Genc (born 3 February 1966) is a former Turkish Australian football (soccer)
player and was the coach of the Sydney Olympic FC
in the NSW Premier League. Considered one of the most technically gifted players in the NSL, he featured in over 350 professional games over a career period of 15 years. Genç won 3 official caps for the Australia
n football (soccer)
team and spent five years of his playing career in Malaysia with Johor FC
.
, Turkey
. He came to Australia as a child. Aytek Genc played his junior footall in Sydney's Granville, Nepean and Southern Districts. At the age of 16 (1983) Genc was chosen for the Australia
n U16 Indoor Soocer team which toured the United States
. Genc's first professional contract was in 1984 with the Bankstown Soccer Club
in the NSW Premier League. In 1985, Genc played for the Marconi
under 19 team and made his National Soccer League
debut in the final game of the season. Between 1986 and 1989 Genç played for the Penrith Uruguay club in the NSW Premier League
and played his first full season in the Australian NSL. Genc became a favourite of the Parramatta fans and was known for his speed and skill on the ball. Genc came to the attention of the then National Team coach Eddie Thomson
who handed Genc his first cap in the Trans-Tasman Series against New Zealand. Genc went onto earn 3 caps for Australia
his last in 1997 under Terry Venables
. He played in a friendly match for Australia
against the great AC Milan team of the early '90s.
Aytek Genc was offered playing opportunities with Turkish club Trabzonspor
and with Korean side Posco Atoms, however both opportunities fell through due inopportune injury and negotiation problems. In 1994 Genc moved to Malaysian side Johor FC
and played five seasons in Malaysia where he became a legend with the Johor fans. During those years Genc came back to Australia
in the Malaysian off season to play for the Sydney United
team coached by Branko Culina
, and was a member of the 1997 side. This team was considered one of the greatest NSL sides ever. In 1999 Genc finally returned to Australia
finish his playing career and captained NSL
side Sydney United
until his retirement in 2002.
His return to Blacktown from Sydney FC & Sydney Olympic was successful; he led the team to the NSW Premier League title, while also coaching the Oakhill College first XI.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and was the coach of the Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic Football Club is an Australian football club that plays in the NSW Premier League. It competed in the National Soccer League from 1977 until the league's demise in 2004, having won the championship in 1989–90, 2001–02, the League Cup in 1980, the minor premiership in 2002–03 and the...
in the NSW Premier League. Considered one of the most technically gifted players in the NSL, he featured in over 350 professional games over a career period of 15 years. Genç won 3 official caps for the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team and spent five years of his playing career in Malaysia with Johor FC
Johor FC
Johor Football Club is a Malaysian football club based in Pasir Gudang, Johor. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League...
.
Early career
Aytek Genc was born in AnkaraAnkara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. He came to Australia as a child. Aytek Genc played his junior footall in Sydney's Granville, Nepean and Southern Districts. At the age of 16 (1983) Genc was chosen for the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n U16 Indoor Soocer team which toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Genc's first professional contract was in 1984 with the Bankstown Soccer Club
Bankstown City Lions
Bankstown City Lions is an Australian football club from the Sydney suburb of Sefton in New South Wales, Australia...
in the NSW Premier League. In 1985, Genc played for the Marconi
Marconi Stallions
The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian football club located in Sydney, Australia. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne FC and Sydney City SC...
under 19 team and made his National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
debut in the final game of the season. Between 1986 and 1989 Genç played for the Penrith Uruguay club in the NSW Premier League
National League and overseas career
At age 22 Genc joined Parramatta Eagles then coached by Raul BlancoRaul Blanco
Raul Blanco is an Argentine-born Australia Association football coach. He is well known for coaching the Socceroos from March 1998 to June 1999. He was also coaching the Olyroos at the same time, and coached them during the 2000 Summer Olympics...
and played his first full season in the Australian NSL. Genc became a favourite of the Parramatta fans and was known for his speed and skill on the ball. Genc came to the attention of the then National Team coach Eddie Thomson
Eddie Thomson
Eddie Thomson was a Scottish football player and coach.-Career:Born in Rosewell, Scotland, he played 162 games for Heart of Midlothian F.C. from 1966 to 1973, before moving to Aberdeen F.C. and playing a further 91 games with them...
who handed Genc his first cap in the Trans-Tasman Series against New Zealand. Genc went onto earn 3 caps for Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
his last in 1997 under Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
. He played in a friendly match for Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
against the great AC Milan team of the early '90s.
Aytek Genc was offered playing opportunities with Turkish club Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
and with Korean side Posco Atoms, however both opportunities fell through due inopportune injury and negotiation problems. In 1994 Genc moved to Malaysian side Johor FC
Johor FC
Johor Football Club is a Malaysian football club based in Pasir Gudang, Johor. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League...
and played five seasons in Malaysia where he became a legend with the Johor fans. During those years Genc came back to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the Malaysian off season to play for the Sydney United
Sydney United
Sydney United Football Club are an Australian football club from Sydney, Australia, established in 1957 by Croatian Australians in the area...
team coached by Branko Culina
Branko Culina
Branko Čulina is a football coach and former player. He is currently without a club after being sacked by Newcastle Jets.-Club career:...
, and was a member of the 1997 side. This team was considered one of the greatest NSL sides ever. In 1999 Genc finally returned to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
finish his playing career and captained NSL
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
side Sydney United
Sydney United
Sydney United Football Club are an Australian football club from Sydney, Australia, established in 1957 by Croatian Australians in the area...
until his retirement in 2002.
Playing/coaching honours and achievements
- Australian Under 16 Indoor Soccer Representative 1983
- NSW Representative 1991, 1993
- Australian National Team (3 Caps)
- Winner NSL Cup with Parramatta Eagles
- NSL Minor Premiership and Grand Final Runner-up with Sydney United
- Winner NSW Premier League Premiership with Blacktown City Demons (Coach-2006)
- Winner NSW Continental Tyres Cup (Coach-2006)
- Winner NSW Premier League Premiership and Grand Final with Blacktown City Demons (Coach-2007)
- Head Coach 1st XI Football Oakhill College 2010
Coaching career
Triple Championship Winning Coach in the NSW Premier League in 2006, 2007 and 2010. Assistant Coach of Sydney FC in 2009.His return to Blacktown from Sydney FC & Sydney Olympic was successful; he led the team to the NSW Premier League title, while also coaching the Oakhill College first XI.