Fatih Akyel
Encyclopedia
Fatih Akyel is a Turkish
international
footballer. He played as a defender
for clubs such as Galatasaray
and Fenerbahçe during his 15-year career. He was capped by the Turkey national football team
64 times from 1997 to 2004, and also won a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 1997 Mediterranean Games
.
, Akyel began his professional career with local club Galatasaray
. He signed his first professional contract with the club on 31 July 1995. However, he did not make any appearances for the team, and was transferred to Bakırköyspor
the following season. Akyel made 29 appearances for the club, and earned his first cap for the Turkey national under-21 football team
. At the end of the season, he returned to Galatasaray. He played for the club for four years, winning three Süper Lig titles and three Turkish Cup titles. He was also a part of the team that won the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup and 2000 UEFA Super Cup
, assisting Mário Jardel
's game winner against Real Madrid
.
RCD Mallorca
transferred Aykel at the beginning of the 2001–02 season, but he made a quick return to Turkey
, signing for Fenerbahçe on 4 December 2001 after five appearances for the Spanish
club. With Fenerbahçe, he won another Süper Lig title in 2003–04. Aykel made 70 appearances for the club before his contract was terminated on 8 November 2004. He signed with German
club VfL Bochum
in 2005, making one appearance. PAOK signed him the following season, where he made 16 appearances before returning to Turkey at the winter break, this time to Trabzonspor
. He spent one season with the Black Sea
club before being transferred to Gençlerbirliği
on 1 February 2007. However, he did not make any appearances for the club.
Akyel later signed for MKE Ankaragücü on 2 July 2007, but quickly left the club, signing for Kasımpaşa
on 3 September 2007. He spent three years with the club, with the last year on loan at Kocaelispor
. On 27 January 2010, Akyel signed with KFC Uerdingen 05
. However, two days later he announced via SMS
that he would not join the club. Akyel last played for Tepecikspor, making one appearance for the club before he was arrested in March 2010 on allegations of match-fixing in 2007 and 2008.
in 1996, where he won one cap. He participated in the 1997 Mediterranean Games
, starting all five matches on route to winning a silver medal. In seven years, Akyel won 64 caps for the Turkey national football team
. He was a part of the Turkey squad that finished in third place at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
. He was also a part of the Turkey squad that qualified for the knockout stages of UEFA Euro 2000, and the squad that finished third at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
international
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
footballer. He played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for clubs such as Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
and Fenerbahçe during his 15-year career. He was capped by the Turkey national football team
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
64 times from 1997 to 2004, and also won a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 1997 Mediterranean Games
1997 Mediterranean Games
The 13th edition of the Mediterranean Games were held in Bari, Italy from the 13th to the 25th of June 1997. Twenty one nations competed in 27 different sporting events.- Medal table :- External link and reference :* -See also:***...
.
Club career
Born in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Akyel began his professional career with local club Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
. He signed his first professional contract with the club on 31 July 1995. However, he did not make any appearances for the team, and was transferred to Bakırköyspor
Bakirköyspor
Bakırköyspor is a Turkish sports club from Bakırköy, Istanbul. The club was founded in 1949. The colours of Bakırköyspor are green-black. Football team of Bakırköyspor played in Turkish Super League for 3 years, but after several unsuccessful seasons, Bakırköyspor was relegated to amateur league in...
the following season. Akyel made 29 appearances for the club, and earned his first cap for the Turkey national under-21 football team
Turkey national under-21 football team
Turkey's national Under-21 football team , also known as Turkey Under-21s or Turkey U-21s, is the Under-21 years of age team of the Turkey national football team.-History:...
. At the end of the season, he returned to Galatasaray. He played for the club for four years, winning three Süper Lig titles and three Turkish Cup titles. He was also a part of the team that won the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup and 2000 UEFA Super Cup
2000 UEFA Super Cup
The 2000 UEFA Super Cup was a football match played on 25 August 2000 between Real Madrid of Spain and Galatasaray of Turkey. Real Madrid qualified by beating Valencia in the 2000 UEFA Champions League Final, while Galatasaray had made it to the Super Cup after beating Arsenal in the 2000 UEFA Cup...
, assisting Mário Jardel
Mário Jardel
Mário Jardel de Almeida Ribeiro is a former Brazilian professional footballer.Jardel was most noted for his positioning on the field and "being at the right place, at the right time"...
's game winner against Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
.
RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
transferred Aykel at the beginning of the 2001–02 season, but he made a quick return to 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...
, signing for Fenerbahçe on 4 December 2001 after five appearances for the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club. With Fenerbahçe, he won another Süper Lig title in 2003–04. Aykel made 70 appearances for the club before his contract was terminated on 8 November 2004. He signed with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
club VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum
Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as simply VfL Bochum, is a German association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Founding to World War II:...
in 2005, making one appearance. PAOK signed him the following season, where he made 16 appearances before returning to Turkey at the winter break, this time to 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...
. He spent one season with the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
club before being transferred to Gençlerbirliği
Gençlerbirligi
Gençlerbirliği Spor Kulübü is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Ankara, which is the capital of Turkey. Formed in 1923, Gençlerbirliği are nicknamed Ankara Rüzgârı . The club colours are black and red. They play their home matches at Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium.Domestically,...
on 1 February 2007. However, he did not make any appearances for the club.
Akyel later signed for MKE Ankaragücü on 2 July 2007, but quickly left the club, signing for Kasımpaşa
Kasimpasa S.K.
Kasımpaşa Spor Kulübü is a Turkish football club located in Istanbul, Turkey. They play their home games in the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium. The club was founded in 1921 as Altıntuğ. They played in the Istanbul First League between 1939–1945 and 1946–1959. The club was promoted to the Turkish...
on 3 September 2007. He spent three years with the club, with the last year on loan at Kocaelispor
Kocaelispor
Kocaelispor, is the football team of İzmit, Turkey. They were founded in 1966 and played in the Turkish football league between 1980–1988 and 1992–2003. The best result for them was the 4th position in 1992–93 season...
. On 27 January 2010, Akyel signed with KFC Uerdingen 05
KFC Uerdingen 05
KFC Uerdingen 05 is a German association football club in the Uerdingen district of the city of Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The one time Bundesliga side enjoyed its greatest successes in the 1980s, but most recently has been part of fifth and sixth tier competition.-History:The club was...
. However, two days later he announced via SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
that he would not join the club. Akyel last played for Tepecikspor, making one appearance for the club before he was arrested in March 2010 on allegations of match-fixing in 2007 and 2008.
International career
Akyel began his international career with the U-18 team in 1995, earning nine caps. He was promoted to the Turkey national under-21 football teamTurkey national under-21 football team
Turkey's national Under-21 football team , also known as Turkey Under-21s or Turkey U-21s, is the Under-21 years of age team of the Turkey national football team.-History:...
in 1996, where he won one cap. He participated in the 1997 Mediterranean Games
1997 Mediterranean Games
The 13th edition of the Mediterranean Games were held in Bari, Italy from the 13th to the 25th of June 1997. Twenty one nations competed in 27 different sporting events.- Medal table :- External link and reference :* -See also:***...
, starting all five matches on route to winning a silver medal. In seven years, Akyel won 64 caps for the Turkey national football team
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
. He was a part of the Turkey squad that finished in third place at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. He was also a part of the Turkey squad that qualified for the knockout stages of UEFA Euro 2000, and the squad that finished third at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
The 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup football tournament was the sixth FIFA Confederations Cup, held in France in June 2003. France retained the title they had won in 2001, but the tournament was overshadowed by the death of Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foé, who died of heart failure in his side's...
.
Galatasaray
- Süper Lig: 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000
- Turkish Cup: 1996, 1999, 2000
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
: 1999–2000 - UEFA Super Cup: 20002000 UEFA Super CupThe 2000 UEFA Super Cup was a football match played on 25 August 2000 between Real Madrid of Spain and Galatasaray of Turkey. Real Madrid qualified by beating Valencia in the 2000 UEFA Champions League Final, while Galatasaray had made it to the Super Cup after beating Arsenal in the 2000 UEFA Cup...