Kennedy Bakircioglü
Encyclopedia
Kennedy Bakircioglü is a Swedish
footballer who plays for Racing de Santander
in Spain
, as a right midfielder
.
, followers of the Syriac Orthodox Church
. The family arrived in Sweden
in 1972 from Midyat
, Turkey
.
Bakircioglü was named after United States
president John F. Kennedy
. His father, Benjamin, was one of the first to play for newly-founded Assyriska Föreningen
, a club established by the Assyrian diaspora.
, but did not do enough to secure a contract with the English
club.
In the summer of 1999, Bakircioglü joined Hammarby IF
, and remained there for the next five years. In 2001, he scored eight goals in 26 games to lead the team to its first Allsvenskan
championship and, four years later, was voted the club's fourth greatest player of all time in an online poll held on the club's website.
In January 2004, Bakircioglü moved abroad to play in Greece
for Iraklis Thessaloniki FC, being sparingly used in his only full campaign in the Super League.
team FC Twente
, and impressing manager Fred Rutten straight away to become a first-team regular. In 2006–07, he scored a career-best 15 goals in the Eredivisie
as the Enschede
outfit finished fourth and qualified to the UEFA Cup. His efforts did not go unnoticed and on 5 May 2007, newspaper De Telegraaf
announced that the player had reached an agreement with fellow league side AFC Ajax. He was officially signed ten days later, and scored on his official debut, a 8–1 away routing of De Graafschap
.
In August 2008, new Ajax manager Marco van Basten deemed Bakircioglü surplus to requirements, but the player decided to stay, being restricted to only 17 league games in two seasons combined. He did score, however, a crucial club for the Amsterdam
team, in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, in a 1–0 away win against ACF Fiorentina
in the round of 32 (2–1 aggregate success).
's Racing de Santander
early in the following month. He started in all but two games he appeared in in his first season
, as the Cantabria
ns retained their La Liga
status; three of his league goals came in the last month of competition, against RCD Mallorca
(2–0 home win), Atlético Madrid (2–1, home) and Athletic Bilbao
(1–2 home loss).
for Sweden
, after appearing in as many games for the under-21s
.
His debut came in 2001 whilst at Hammarby, but he never appeared in any major international tournament.
Ajax
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
footballer who plays for Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
in Spain
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...
, as a right midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Early life
Bakircioglü's family is ethnic Assyrian/SyriacAssyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
, followers of the Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
. The family arrived in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1972 from Midyat
Midyat
Midyat is an originally Assyrian/Syriac town in Mardin Province of Turkey. The ancient city is the epicenter of a centuries-old Assyrian/Syriac enclave in Southeast-Turkey, widely familiar under its Syriac name Tur Abdin. A cognate of the name Midyat is first encountered in an inscription of the...
, 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...
.
Bakircioglü was named after United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
president John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. His father, Benjamin, was one of the first to play for newly-founded Assyriska Föreningen
Assyriska Föreningen
Assyriska Föreningen is a Swedish football club based in Södertälje. The club, formed in 1974 by Assyrian immigrants, has advanced through the league system and is currently playing in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan. They played in the highest Swedish football league Allsvenskan in...
, a club established by the Assyrian diaspora.
Sweden / Greece
Bakircioglü started off his professional career with Assyriska in 1996, playing three seasons with the team. During this spell, he had a trial with Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, but did not do enough to secure a contract with the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club.
In the summer of 1999, Bakircioglü joined Hammarby IF
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
, and remained there for the next five years. In 2001, he scored eight goals in 26 games to lead the team to its first Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
championship and, four years later, was voted the club's fourth greatest player of all time in an online poll held on the club's website.
In January 2004, Bakircioglü moved abroad to play in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for Iraklis Thessaloniki FC, being sparingly used in his only full campaign in the Super League.
Netherlands
Bakircioglü moved teams and countries again in the 2005 off-season, signing with DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
team FC Twente
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
, and impressing manager Fred Rutten straight away to become a first-team regular. In 2006–07, he scored a career-best 15 goals in the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
as the Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
outfit finished fourth and qualified to the UEFA Cup. His efforts did not go unnoticed and on 5 May 2007, newspaper De Telegraaf
De Telegraaf
De Telegraaf is the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper, with a daily circulation of approximately . De Telegraaf is based in Amsterdam...
announced that the player had reached an agreement with fellow league side AFC Ajax. He was officially signed ten days later, and scored on his official debut, a 8–1 away routing of De Graafschap
De Graafschap
De Graafschap is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the "De Vijverberg" stadium. Their current home ground stands on where the old pitch used to be located and was opened on 12 August 2000...
.
In August 2008, new Ajax manager Marco van Basten deemed Bakircioglü surplus to requirements, but the player decided to stay, being restricted to only 17 league games in two seasons combined. He did score, however, a crucial club for the Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
team, in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, in a 1–0 away win against ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
in the round of 32 (2–1 aggregate success).
Spain
Bakircioglü left Ajax in June 2010, signing for SpainSpain
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...
's Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
early in the following month. He started in all but two games he appeared in in his first season
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, as the Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
ns retained their La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
status; three of his league goals came in the last month of competition, against 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....
(2–0 home win), Atlético Madrid (2–1, home) and Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
(1–2 home loss).
International career
Bakircioglü gained 14 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
, after appearing in as many games for the under-21s
Sweden national under-21 football team
The Swedish U-21 national football team is the football team representing Sweden in competitions for under-21 year old players. Sweden U21's current captain is Jiloan Hamad with Jakob Johansson as vice captain.-UEFA European U-21 Championship Record:...
.
His debut came in 2001 whilst at Hammarby, but he never appeared in any major international tournament.
Club statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Assyriska Assyriska Föreningen Assyriska Föreningen is a Swedish football club based in Södertälje. The club, formed in 1974 by Assyrian immigrants, has advanced through the league system and is currently playing in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan. They played in the highest Swedish football league Allsvenskan in... |
 Division 2 |
1 | 0 | |
| 1997 | Assyriska Assyriska Föreningen Assyriska Föreningen is a Swedish football club based in Södertälje. The club, formed in 1974 by Assyrian immigrants, has advanced through the league system and is currently playing in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan. They played in the highest Swedish football league Allsvenskan in... |
Division 2 |
8 | 1 | |
| 1998 | Assyriska Assyriska Föreningen Assyriska Föreningen is a Swedish football club based in Södertälje. The club, formed in 1974 by Assyrian immigrants, has advanced through the league system and is currently playing in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan. They played in the highest Swedish football league Allsvenskan in... |
Division 1 Norra Division 1 Norra Division 1 Norra is one of two leagues of the third level, Division 1, in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 14 Swedish football teams... |
25 | 9 | |
| 1999 | Hammarby Hammarby IF Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre... |
Allsvenskan Allsvenskan Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan... |
25 | 2 | |
| 2000 | Hammarby Hammarby IF Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre... |
Allsvenskan Allsvenskan Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan... |
26 | 5 | |
| 2001 | Hammarby Hammarby IF Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre... |
Allsvenskan Allsvenskan Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan... |
26 | 8 | |
| 2002 | Hammarby Hammarby IF Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre... |
Allsvenskan Allsvenskan Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan... |
25 | 11 | |
| 2003 | Hammarby Hammarby IF Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre... |
Allsvenskan Allsvenskan Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan... |
25 | 12 | |
| 2003–04 | Iraklis |  Superleague Greece |
7 | 2 | |
| 2004–05 | Iraklis | Superleague Greece |
17 | 2 | |
| 2005–06 | Twente FC Twente FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys... |
 EredivisieEredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
32 | 8 | |
| 2006–07 | Twente FC Twente FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
34 | 15 | |
| 2007–08 | Ajax | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
18 | 3 | |
| 2008–09 | Ajax | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
8 | 1 | |
| 2009–10 | Ajax | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
9 | 2 | |
| 2010–11 | Racing Santander Racing de Santander Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators.... |
 La LigaLa Liga The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system... |
32 | 6 | |
| | Totals | 289 | 82 | |||
Honours
Hammarby- AllsvenskanAllsvenskanAllsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
: 2001
Ajax
- Johan Cruijff Shield: 2007Johan Cruijff-schaal XIIThe match for the Johan Cruijff-schaal XII was held on 11 August 2007 between Eredivisie 2006-07 champions PSV and KNVB Cup 2006-07 winners AFC Ajax. Ajax won the match 1–0.-Match details:...
- KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
: 2009–102009–10 KNVB CupThe 2009–10 KNVB Cup was the 92nd season of the Dutch national football knockout tournament. The competition began on 29 August 2009 with the matches of Round 1 and culminated with a double-leg Final on 25 April and 6 May 2010 respectively...