Muhammet Demir
Encyclopedia
Muhammet Demir is a Turkish
professional footballer. He currently plays as a striker for Gaziantepspor
in the Süper Lig.
, Trabzon
. His family moved to Karadeniz Ereğli
, Zonguldak
when Demir was five years old. He has four brothers: two older and two younger twins. His younger brothers play for the Bursaspor youth team.
Demir played for his school team before Karadeniz Ereğli Belediyespor signed him to a youth contract in 2002. When asked what his goals were as a footballer, Demir replied "I didn't have any goals when I started playing football. It was just a game for me, but then I was signed to Karadeniz Ereğli Belediyespor. It was then I started thinking of what I wanted to accomplish... I wanted a better life for my family." Demir's favorite footballer is Fatih Tekke
, a fellow striker from Trabzon.
Sedat Özden, a former professional football player who played for Bursaspor, spotted Demir at a youth tournament in Ankara
. He became interested in bringing Demir to Bursa after he helped lead Karadeniz Ereğli Belediyespor to the championship. Bayram Altıntaş, Demir's coach at Karadeniz Ereğli Belediyespor, offered Demir to Bursaspor. The club signed Demir to a youth contract at age 12.
Due to his small stature and differences between his small hometown and the more modern, bustling city of Bursa, Demir quickly became homesick. After spending one month with Bursaspor, he packed his bags and returned home. Although he was highly coveted by the coaches in Bursa, Demir was reluctant to return. It was then that his father told him "go there (Bursa) and finish school. If you don't want to become a footballer, then at least finish school and come home."
Demir described his first season as a bad one. He said his teammates couldn't believe he was given a chance to play due to his bad form. However, his coach Yılmaz Burul believed in Demir's abilities and pushed him forward. Demir was named captain the following season. He has scored 17 goals in 27 A2 matches.
season, coming off the bench in the 86th minute against Gaziantepspor
. Demir regularly trains with the senior squad, but has not been able to play many games due to injuries.
Chelsea
and West Ham
courted Demir and made offers after he scored two goals against Russia in a youth national team match. Bursaspor
turned both offers down, stating that it was too soon for Demir to leave the club. He has stated that he does not want to play for an Istanbul club such as Fenerbahçe or Galatasaray
, but move abroad instead.
After refusing to sign a new deal with his current club Bursaspor
, he was sent to Gaziantepspor in January 2011. In the last day of the transfer period he accepted to sign a contract with Gaziantepspor
for 4.5 years.
in Nigeria
, where the team lost 5–3 on penalties to Colombia
. He scored three goals and notched one assist during his five games at the tournament, good enough for joint third place for top scorer.
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. He currently plays as a striker for Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969, Gaziantepspor are nicknamed the Şahinler . The club colours are black and red, and they play their home matches at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu....
in the Süper Lig.
Early life
Demir was born in AraklıArakli
Araklı is a town and district of Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. The mayor is Recep Çebi .-External links:* * *...
, Trabzon
Trabzon Province
Trabzon Province is a province of Turkey on the Black Sea coast. Located in a strategically important region, Trabzon is one of the oldest trade port cities in Anatolia. Neighbouring provinces are Giresun to the west, Gümüşhane to the southwest, Bayburt to the southeast and Rize to the east. The...
. His family moved to Karadeniz Ereğli
Karadeniz Eregli
Karadeniz Ereğli is a city and district in Zonguldak Province of Turkey, on the Black Sea shore at the mouth of the Kılıçsu River. Population is 98 545 as of 2009. The mayor is Halil Posbıyık .-Facts:...
, Zonguldak
Zonguldak Province
Zonguldak Province is a province along the western Black Sea coast region of Turkey. The province is 3.481 km² in size and has a population of 619,703 Its adjacent provinces are Düzce to the southwest, Bolu to the south, Karabük to the southeast, and Bartın to the east...
when Demir was five years old. He has four brothers: two older and two younger twins. His younger brothers play for the Bursaspor youth team.
Demir played for his school team before Karadeniz Ereğli Belediyespor signed him to a youth contract in 2002. When asked what his goals were as a footballer, Demir replied "I didn't have any goals when I started playing football. It was just a game for me, but then I was signed to Karadeniz Ereğli Belediyespor. It was then I started thinking of what I wanted to accomplish... I wanted a better life for my family." Demir's favorite footballer is Fatih Tekke
Fatih Tekke
Fatih Tekke is a Turkish international footballer who currently plays as a striker for Orduspor in the Süper Lig.-Club career:...
, a fellow striker from Trabzon.
Sedat Özden, a former professional football player who played for Bursaspor, spotted Demir at a youth tournament in Ankara
Ankara
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....
. He became interested in bringing Demir to Bursa after he helped lead Karadeniz Ereğli Belediyespor to the championship. Bayram Altıntaş, Demir's coach at Karadeniz Ereğli Belediyespor, offered Demir to Bursaspor. The club signed Demir to a youth contract at age 12.
Due to his small stature and differences between his small hometown and the more modern, bustling city of Bursa, Demir quickly became homesick. After spending one month with Bursaspor, he packed his bags and returned home. Although he was highly coveted by the coaches in Bursa, Demir was reluctant to return. It was then that his father told him "go there (Bursa) and finish school. If you don't want to become a footballer, then at least finish school and come home."
Demir described his first season as a bad one. He said his teammates couldn't believe he was given a chance to play due to his bad form. However, his coach Yılmaz Burul believed in Demir's abilities and pushed him forward. Demir was named captain the following season. He has scored 17 goals in 27 A2 matches.
Club career
Demir joined Bursaspor in 2005 and signed a professional contract in 2007. He made his first appearance in the Süper Lig in the final game of the 2008–09Süper Lig 2008-09
Süper Lig 2008–09 was the fifty-first season since its establishment. It began on 22 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009. Galatasaray were the defending champions....
season, coming off the bench in the 86th minute against Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969, Gaziantepspor are nicknamed the Şahinler . The club colours are black and red, and they play their home matches at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu....
. Demir regularly trains with the senior squad, but has not been able to play many games due to injuries.
Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
courted Demir and made offers after he scored two goals against Russia in a youth national team match. Bursaspor
Bursaspor
Bursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar...
turned both offers down, stating that it was too soon for Demir to leave the club. He has stated that he does not want to play for an Istanbul club such as Fenerbahçe or 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....
, but move abroad instead.
After refusing to sign a new deal with his current club Bursaspor
Bursaspor
Bursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar...
, he was sent to Gaziantepspor in January 2011. In the last day of the transfer period he accepted to sign a contract with Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969, Gaziantepspor are nicknamed the Şahinler . The club colours are black and red, and they play their home matches at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu....
for 4.5 years.
International career
Demir led the Turkey U-17 squad to the quarter finals of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup was the thirteenth tournament of the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria from October 24 to November 15, 2009.The tournament was won by Switzerland, beating 1-0 the host team, Nigeria...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, where the team lost 5–3 on penalties to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. He scored three goals and notched one assist during his five games at the tournament, good enough for joint third place for top scorer.