Semih Aydilek
Encyclopedia
Semih Aydilek is a professional footballer. He currently plays as a left-sided forward or winger for the Turkish Süper Lig club Kayserispor
. Internationally, Aydilek represented Turkey, the country of his parents, at under-17 and under-18
level, but later chose to represent the country of his birth, and has played for Germany at under-19 and under-20
level.
, to Turkish
parents, and spent ten years in the youth system
of home-town club Eintracht Frankfurt
. While playing in a youth tournament in 2006, he was spotted by Terry Westley
, youth academy
manager at English club Birmingham City
, who persuaded the player that a move to England would benefit his career. Aydilek agreed to join Birmingham, then in the Premier League, in October 2007, though the move could not be completed until his German passport came through in December. He played regularly with their reserve team
, with whom he won the 2007–08 Birmingham Senior Cup
. He was given a squad number
prior to being named as a substitute for the League Cup
defeat to Southampton
in August 2008, but took no part in the game.
Aydilek joined Motherwell
of the Scottish Premier League
on loan for the remainder of the 2008–09 season, where he linked up with fellow loanee and Birmingham team-mate Artur Krysiak
. Motherwell manager Mark McGhee
had not seen the player, but signed him on the recommendation of Birmingham's manager, former Scotland national
manager Alex McLeish
, who felt he had potential but needed to play in competitive football to develop his game. He was an unused substitute in the SPL draw with Celtic
in February 2009, but never appeared for the first team.
When his contract expired at the end of the 2008–09 season, Aydilek signed a four-year contract with Turkish club Kayserispor
. An unused substitute in the opening game of the Süper Lig season, he made his debut in the next, on 16 August as a 76th-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to Gaziantepspor
. He made his first start for the club on 29 November as Kayserispor beat Manisaspor 1–0 away from home, and finished the season with 13 Süper Lig appearances, mostly as a substitute, without scoring. During the 2010–11 season, Aydilek made ten appearances for the Süper Lig side, four starts and six as a substitute.
at under-17 and under-18 level while an Eintracht Frankfurt player. However, having received a German passport, he accepted a call-up to the German under-19 team
in January 2008, and made his debut in a friendly
against Poland under-19
, and made a significant contribution to their qualification
for the final stages of the 2008 UEFA under-19 championships
. At the pre-tournament training camp, he suffered a severe tear to his ankle ligaments, so missed the final tournament which Germany went on to win, and was still recovering from the injury while his team-mates were in pre-season training at the start of the 2008–09 season
.
In September 2008 he appeared for the German under-20 team, and, despite feeling pressure to commit to Turkey, he accepted selection for the German team to compete at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
. In their opening game in the tournament, Aydilek was fouled to earn his side a penalty kick
, which he converted himself to open the scoring in a 3–0 defeat of the United States
. He scored the second goal of the final group game, a 3–0 defeat of Cameroon
, but was sent off a few minutes later, which brought a suspension for the round of 16. Germany were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Brazil
2–1 after extra time; Aydilek missed a chance when one-on-one with the goalkeeper and set up the opening goal for Lewis Holtby
, but had been substituted by the time Brazil equalised.
Kayserispor
Kayserispor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Kayseri. Formed in 1966, Kayserispor are nicknamed Anadolu Yıldızı . The club colours are red and yellow, and the club play their home matches at Kadir Has Stadium.The club have won one Türkiye Kupası, in 2008...
. Internationally, Aydilek represented Turkey, the country of his parents, at under-17 and under-18
Turkey national youth football team
- Turkey National Under-19 Squad :The Turkey national under-19 football team is the national youth football team of Turkey.-Current Squad:* Coach: Abdullah Ercan* Assistant Coach: Soner Tolungüç...
level, but later chose to represent the country of his birth, and has played for Germany at under-19 and under-20
Germany national youth football team
This article includes current squads of Germany U20, U19, U18, U17, U16 and U15 national football teams.-Current technical staff:- Germany national under-20 squad :- Germany national under-19 squad :- Germany national under-18 squad :...
level.
Club career
Aydilek was born in Frankfurt am Main, GermanyGermany
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...
, to Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
parents, and spent ten years in the youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
of home-town club Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
. While playing in a youth tournament in 2006, he was spotted by Terry Westley
Terry Westley
Terry Westley is an association football coach and manager. Until 2011 he was the Academy Director at Birmingham City.Westley previously worked at Rushden & Diamonds, Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic, Luton Town and Derby County. At these clubs he was responsible for developing young players, who...
, youth academy
Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy are the reserve team and the youth development system respectively of Birmingham City Football Club. The reserve team, established in 1879, played in the Premier Reserve League South in the 2009–10 season but have not entered a league since...
manager at English club Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, who persuaded the player that a move to England would benefit his career. Aydilek agreed to join Birmingham, then in the Premier League, in October 2007, though the move could not be completed until his German passport came through in December. He played regularly with their reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
, with whom he won the 2007–08 Birmingham Senior Cup
Birmingham Senior Cup
The Birmingham Senior Cup is a football competition for Birmingham County FA club teams, organized by the Birmingham County Football Association...
. He was given a squad number
Squad number
In team sports, the squad number, shirt number, jersey number, sweater number, uniform number or simply a number is the number worn on a player's uniform, to identify and distinguish each player from others wearing the same or similar uniforms...
prior to being named as a substitute for the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
defeat to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in August 2008, but took no part in the game.
Aydilek joined Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
on loan for the remainder of the 2008–09 season, where he linked up with fellow loanee and Birmingham team-mate Artur Krysiak
Artur Krysiak
Artur Łukasz Krysiak is a Polish footballer who plays for the English club Exeter City as a goalkeeper. He previously played in the Scottish Premier League for Gretna and Motherwell and in the Football League for Swansea City and Burton Albion...
. Motherwell manager Mark McGhee
Mark McGhee
Mark Edward McGhee is a former Scottish professional football player. McGhee started his career at Greenock Morton in 1975 and spent spells at clubs including Newcastle United, Aberdeen, Hamburg, Celtic, IK Brage and Reading...
had not seen the player, but signed him on the recommendation of Birmingham's manager, former Scotland national
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
manager Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish
Alexander "Alex" McLeish , is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager, who is currently managing English Premier League club Aston Villa...
, who felt he had potential but needed to play in competitive football to develop his game. He was an unused substitute in the SPL draw with Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in February 2009, but never appeared for the first team.
When his contract expired at the end of the 2008–09 season, Aydilek signed a four-year contract with Turkish club Kayserispor
Kayserispor
Kayserispor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Kayseri. Formed in 1966, Kayserispor are nicknamed Anadolu Yıldızı . The club colours are red and yellow, and the club play their home matches at Kadir Has Stadium.The club have won one Türkiye Kupası, in 2008...
. An unused substitute in the opening game of the Süper Lig season, he made his debut in the next, on 16 August as a 76th-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to 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....
. He made his first start for the club on 29 November as Kayserispor beat Manisaspor 1–0 away from home, and finished the season with 13 Süper Lig appearances, mostly as a substitute, without scoring. During the 2010–11 season, Aydilek made ten appearances for the Süper Lig side, four starts and six as a substitute.
International career
Aydilek represented TurkeyTurkey national youth football team
- Turkey National Under-19 Squad :The Turkey national under-19 football team is the national youth football team of Turkey.-Current Squad:* Coach: Abdullah Ercan* Assistant Coach: Soner Tolungüç...
at under-17 and under-18 level while an Eintracht Frankfurt player. However, having received a German passport, he accepted a call-up to the German under-19 team
Germany national youth football team
This article includes current squads of Germany U20, U19, U18, U17, U16 and U15 national football teams.-Current technical staff:- Germany national under-20 squad :- Germany national under-19 squad :- Germany national under-18 squad :...
in January 2008, and made his debut in a friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
against Poland under-19
Poland national under-19 football team
The Poland national under-19 football team represents Poland in international football at this age level and is controlled by Polish Football Association....
, and made a significant contribution to their qualification
2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification
UEFA U-19 Championship 2008 is the second round of qualifications for the Final Tournament of UEFA U-19 Championship 2008. The winners of each group join hosts Czech Republic at the Final Tournament.-Group 1:--------------------...
for the final stages of the 2008 UEFA under-19 championships
2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The final tournament of the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship was the 24th UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, UEFA's premier competition for players under the age of 19. The tournament was held in the Czech Republic with matches played from 14 July to 26 July 2008. Players born...
. At the pre-tournament training camp, he suffered a severe tear to his ankle ligaments, so missed the final tournament which Germany went on to win, and was still recovering from the injury while his team-mates were in pre-season training at the start of the 2008–09 season
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
.
In September 2008 he appeared for the German under-20 team, and, despite feeling pressure to commit to Turkey, he accepted selection for the German team to compete at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, was the 17th U-20 tournament, which was hosted by Egypt from 24 September to 16 October, in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez and Ismaïlia...
. In their opening game in the tournament, Aydilek was fouled to earn his side a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
, which he converted himself to open the scoring in a 3–0 defeat of the United States
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
. He scored the second goal of the final group game, a 3–0 defeat of Cameroon
Cameroon national under-20 football team
-Appearances:-Honors:*African Youth Championship** Winners : 1995** Runners-up : 1981, 1993, 2009, 2011** Third Place : 1999*Jeux de la Francophonie** Third Place: 1997** Fourth Place: 2001, 2005-Squad:...
, but was sent off a few minutes later, which brought a suspension for the round of 16. Germany were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Brazil
Brazil national under-20 football team
Brazil national under-20 football team, also known as Brazil Sub-20 or Seleção, is considered to be the feeder team for the Brazil national football team.-Competitive record:...
2–1 after extra time; Aydilek missed a chance when one-on-one with the goalkeeper and set up the opening goal for Lewis Holtby
Lewis Holtby
Lewis Holtby is a German footballer who plays for FC Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.-Early career:Holtby began his career at age four with Sparta Gerderath. When he was eleven years old he moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach...
, but had been substituted by the time Brazil equalised.
External links
- Player profile at Birmingham City F.C. website
- Player profile at Turkish Football Federation website