Hayrettin Yerlikaya is a Turkish

Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

 professional footballer who currently plays as a left back for Sivasspor

Sivasspor

Sivasspor is a Turkish sports club based in Sivas, Turkey formed in the year 1967. They play in the Turkish Süper Lig. Their manager is currently Riza Calimbay. They finished 15th in the 2010–11 Süper Lig. Their current captain is Hayrettin Yerlikaya....

 in the Süper Lig.

Club career

Yerlikaya has spent his entire professional career with hometown club Sivasspor

Sivasspor

Sivasspor is a Turkish sports club based in Sivas, Turkey formed in the year 1967. They play in the Turkish Süper Lig. Their manager is currently Riza Calimbay. They finished 15th in the 2010–11 Süper Lig. Their current captain is Hayrettin Yerlikaya....

. The club transferred him from amateur club Sivas Çimentospor in 1999. He made his domestic cup debut on 27 October 1999 against Yimpaş Yozgatspor

Yimpas Yozgatspor

Yimpaş Yozgatspor is a sports club located in Yozgat, Turkey. The football club plays in the league B. They played in Turkcell Super League between 2000-2002 and relegated to Third League in 2008-2009 season.-Links:* * * *...

, starting the match and being substituted out in the 52nd minute. It wasn't until the second half of the 2000–01 when Yerlikaya won his first league cap. He started the match against İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor on 25 February 2001, playing the entire ninety minutes. In total, he participated in nine TFF Second League

TFF Second League

TFF Second League or TFF 2. Lig , is the third level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in 2001-02 season with the name of "Turkish Second League Category B" as a continuation of then second level division Turkish Second Football League. In 2005–06 the name of the league was...

 matches that season, en route to gaining promotion to the TFF First League

TFF First League

The TFF First League is the second level of the Turkish football league system. The league was founded in 2000 after it was separated from the Turkish Second League Category B during reorganizing Second League, who was second level of Turkish league between 1963–2001...

. The following season Yerlikaya became the starting left back, making 36 league TFF First League appearances.

Sivasspor won promotion at the end of the 2004–05 season, and Yerlikaya made his top-flight debut on 6 August 2005 against Malatyaspor

Malatyaspor

Malatya SK is a Turkish sports club based in Malatya, mainly concentrated on football. Malatyaspor are currently playing in the TFF Third League. Previously their colors were yellow and black . They played in First League for 11 seasons. They are the first and only team located in Eastern Anatolia...

. By 2005, Yerlikaya established himself as one of the better Turkish left backs, earning a call up to the Turkey A-2 for matches during the 2005 Future Cup. He played the entire match as Turkey drew Germany

Germany national football team

The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....

 1–1. Yerlikaya helped drive the club to a second place finish – the highest in club history – during the 2008–09 season. However, the club did not keep up results, and were almost relegated after finishing in 15th place the following season.

International career

Yerlikaya has been capped three times by the Turkey reserve team. He has also been called up to 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...

in 2007, but was not capped.