Tugay Kerimoglu
Encyclopedia
Tugay Kerimoğlu is a Turkish
former footballer who played the majority of his career for Galatasaray
and Blackburn Rovers
. Primarily a deep-lying playmaker in midfield, he was also competent as an attacking midfielder or playing in the holding role.
Continually recognised for his ability he was highly rated in the football industry. In 2000, former Romanian legend Gheorghe Hagi
rated him as one of the finest ball-playing midfielders in Europe, and in 2006, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
had suggested that if he were ten years younger, Tugay's ability would make him an ideal player for the Old Trafford team. When Tugay's manager at the time, Mark Hughes
, was asked if he too wished Tugay was ten years younger, his answer was "No, because if he was, he'd be playing in a Barcelona
shirt."
He was the coordinator of the Galatasaray youth academy, after a short spell working with Mark Hughes
at Manchester City.
from 1987 to 2000, where he won the Turkish League six times and the Turkey Cup four times. The midfielder was made captain at Galatasaray in the 1992–93 season, making him the youngest captain in the history of his club.
club Rangers
in the January 2000 mid season transfer window, and joined Blackburn Rovers
for the 2001–02 season.
brought Tugay to Ewood Park
from Scottish side Rangers F.C.
in the summer of 2001 for a £1.3m fee. His debut for Rovers was as a substitute against Sunderland
. His first goal came on 14 October 2001 in a 7–1 home thrashing against West Ham United
in which he scored with a trademark effort from outside the box, lobbing the keeper. Tugay immediately became a fans favourite at Blackburn, where he has been an integral part of the club's success on the field since his first season. Unfortunately he missed Blackburn's League Cup
final win in 2002 through suspension. Tugay was named Blackburn's Player of the Year in the 2003–04
campaign.
Tugay retired from football on 24 May 2009. His last game was against West Bromwich Albion at home at Ewood Park in a capacity of about 28,389 adoring fans, for both Blackburn and West Brom whilst applauding Tugay during the match once he went off as a substitute in the 85th minute to be replaced by Swedish left back Martin Olsson.
at Euro 1996, Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup
, where Turkey finished in the quarter finals of Euro 2000 and third place in the 2002 World Cup. He retired from international football in 2003 after Turkey failed to qualify for Euro 2004. His last match was on 5 June 2007 in a friendly against Brazil
in Dortmund, Germany. He wore number 94 to commemorate his 94 caps for his country.
behind the scenes at Manchester City F.C in a coaching role. He was linked for various assistant positions for the Turkish national team
after Fatih Terim
's departure, however he became the coordinator for the Galatasaray youth academy in February 2010.
. On March 22, 2011 Hagi was sacked following a string of poor results. Tugay refused to become the head coach until the end of the season, saying it would be wrong to accept the position for the head coach right after the sacking of Hagi.
Galatasaray
Rangers
Blackburn Rovers
Turkey
|-
|1990||3||0
|-
|1991||6||0
|-
|1992||6||0
|-
|1993||5||0
|-
|1994||3||0
|-
|1995||8||0
|-
|1996||10||2
|-
|1997||3||0
|-
|1998||3||0
|-
|1999||5||0
|-
|2000||4||0
|-
|2001||6||0
|-
|2002||16||0
|-
|2003||11||0
|-
|2004||0||0
|-
|2005||0||0
|-
|2006||0||0
|-
|2007||2||0
|-
!Total||91||2
|}
). Tugay is married to Etkin, a former Galatasaray
and Turkish international basketball
player. He has two children, named Berke and Melissa. As a youngster, he was also an extremely promising motor racer, competing as high as a Formula 3
level. His prowess as a cook is also revered, and in 2010 he was victorious in the Turkish version of the television programme Masterchef. Tugay describes himself as a Muslim
, stating that it's "something which is in my heart and I don't need to express that to other people".
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
former footballer who played the majority of his career for 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 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. Primarily a deep-lying playmaker in midfield, he was also competent as an attacking midfielder or playing in the holding role.
Continually recognised for his ability he was highly rated in the football industry. In 2000, former Romanian legend Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi is a former Romanian footballer. He was famous for his passing, close control, long shots and was regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and is considered the greatest Romanian footballer of all time...
rated him as one of the finest ball-playing midfielders in Europe, and in 2006, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
had suggested that if he were ten years younger, Tugay's ability would make him an ideal player for the Old Trafford team. When Tugay's manager at the time, Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
, was asked if he too wished Tugay was ten years younger, his answer was "No, because if he was, he'd be playing in a Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
shirt."
He was the coordinator of the Galatasaray youth academy, after a short spell working with Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
at Manchester City.
Galatasaray
He played for GalatasarayGalatasaray 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....
from 1987 to 2000, where he won the Turkish League six times and the Turkey Cup four times. The midfielder was made captain at Galatasaray in the 1992–93 season, making him the youngest captain in the history of his club.
Rangers
He had signed for ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
club Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in the January 2000 mid season transfer window, and joined Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
for the 2001–02 season.
Blackburn Rovers
Former boss Graeme SounessGraeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
brought Tugay to Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
from Scottish side Rangers F.C.
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in the summer of 2001 for a £1.3m fee. His debut for Rovers was as a substitute against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. His first goal came on 14 October 2001 in a 7–1 home thrashing against West Ham United
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...
in which he scored with a trademark effort from outside the box, lobbing the keeper. Tugay immediately became a fans favourite at Blackburn, where he has been an integral part of the club's success on the field since his first season. Unfortunately he missed Blackburn's 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...
final win in 2002 through suspension. Tugay was named Blackburn's Player of the Year in the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
campaign.
Tugay retired from football on 24 May 2009. His last game was against West Bromwich Albion at home at Ewood Park in a capacity of about 28,389 adoring fans, for both Blackburn and West Brom whilst applauding Tugay during the match once he went off as a substitute in the 85th minute to be replaced by Swedish left back Martin Olsson.
National team
Tugay has represented TurkeyTurkey 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...
at Euro 1996, Euro 2000 and 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...
, where Turkey finished in the quarter finals of Euro 2000 and third place in the 2002 World Cup. He retired from international football in 2003 after Turkey failed to qualify for Euro 2004. His last match was on 5 June 2007 in a friendly against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
in Dortmund, Germany. He wore number 94 to commemorate his 94 caps for his country.
Playing style
Tugay was a competent, industrious all-round midfielder who was solid in defence but equally capable of fulfilling the playmaker role. A range of passing from five yards to 50, Tugay has been called a pass-master. He was capable of threatening goal with a sweetly-hit long-range drive. Tugay was also unafraid of tracking-back and getting stuck in when the game required a more physical approach.Managerial career
On 3 June 2009 Tugay began working with his former manager Mark HughesMark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
behind the scenes at Manchester City F.C in a coaching role. He was linked for various assistant positions for the Turkish national 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...
after Fatih Terim
Fatih Terim
Fatih Terim, Commendatore OSSI, is a Turkish football former player and manager. Terim was born in Adana, Turkey to Nuriye and Talat Terim. His father, Talat, is a Turkish Cypriot who emigrated to Turkey....
's departure, however he became the coordinator for the Galatasaray youth academy in February 2010.
The Return Home
On October 21, 2010, Galatasaray SK has announced that the legendary Tugay Kerimoglu has been assigned for the position of the new assistant coach for Galatasaray, along side of another living legend, Gheorghe HagiGheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi is a former Romanian footballer. He was famous for his passing, close control, long shots and was regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and is considered the greatest Romanian footballer of all time...
. On March 22, 2011 Hagi was sacked following a string of poor results. Tugay refused to become the head coach until the end of the season, saying it would be wrong to accept the position for the head coach right after the sacking of Hagi.
Honours
GalatasarayGalatasaray 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....
- Süper Lig – 1988, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999
- Türkiye Kupası – 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999
- TFF Süper KupaTurkish Super CupThe TFF Süper Kupa, as it is currently known, is the annual super cup football match contested between the previous season's Süper Lig champions and the Turkish Cup winners in Turkey. It was originally known as the Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kupası from 1966 to 1998. No competition was held between 1999 and...
– 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997
RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
- Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
– 2000 - Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
– 2000
Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
– 2002 - Blackburn Player of the Year – 2003/04
TurkeyTurkey 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...
- 1993 Mediterranean Games1993 Mediterranean GamesThe 12th edition of the Mediterranean Games were held in Languedoc-Roussillon, France from the June 16 to June 27, 1993. Nineteen nations competed in 24 different sporting events.- Medal table :- External links and references :* -See also:**...
U-21 Gold Medal - UEFA Euro 2000 Quarter-Finalist
- FIFA World Cup 2002: Third place
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 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.... |
1987–88 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||
| 4 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1988–89 | 16 | 0 | |||||||||
| 16 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 23 | 0 | |||||||||
| 23 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||
| 12 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 26 | 3 | |||||||||
| 26 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 1992–93 | 25 | 6 | |||||||||
| 25 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1993–94 | 25 | 12 | |||||||||
| 25 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 23 | 1 | |||||||||
| 23 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 30 | 3 | |||||||||
| 30 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 1996–97 | 33 | 4 | |||||||||
| 33 | 4 | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 30 | 2 | |||||||||
| 30 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 1998–99 | 22 | 2 | |||||||||
| 22 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 1999–00 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||
| 10 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Total | 279 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 279 | 34 | |
| Rangers Rangers F.C. Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses... |
1999–00 | 16 | 1 | ||||||||
| 16 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2000–01 | 26 | 3 | |||||||||
| 26 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Total | 42 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 4 | |
| Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
2001–02 | 33 | 3 | ||||||||
| 33 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2002–03 | 37 | 1 | |||||||||
| 37 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2003–04 | 36 | 2 | |||||||||
| 36 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2004–05 | 21 | 0 | |||||||||
| 21 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2005–06 | 27 | 1 | |||||||||
| 27 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2006–07 | 30 | 1 | |||||||||
| 30 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2007–08 | 20 | 2 | |||||||||
| 20 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2008–09 | 29 | 1 | |||||||||
| 29 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Total | 233 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 233 | 11 | |
| Career total | 554 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 554 | 49 | |
|-
|1990||3||0
|-
|1991||6||0
|-
|1992||6||0
|-
|1993||5||0
|-
|1994||3||0
|-
|1995||8||0
|-
|1996||10||2
|-
|1997||3||0
|-
|1998||3||0
|-
|1999||5||0
|-
|2000||4||0
|-
|2001||6||0
|-
|2002||16||0
|-
|2003||11||0
|-
|2004||0||0
|-
|2005||0||0
|-
|2006||0||0
|-
|2007||2||0
|-
!Total||91||2
|}
Personal life
Tugay generally keeps himself out of the media spotlight, and even with very good English and an apparent good sense of humour, he rarely gives an interview, even to his previous club's own radio station (Radio RoversRadio Rovers
Radio Rovers is the official radio station of the English Premiership football side Blackburn Rovers FC. It was launched at Ewood park on 30 October 1993 and was the first dedicated football club radio station in the United Kingdom and remains the best, according to a June 2010 F.A survey.The...
). Tugay is married to Etkin, a former Galatasaray
Galatasaray
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü is a Turkish sports club based in Istanbul, most notable for its football section, also known as Galatasaray S.K.. It also fields teams in Athletics, Basketball, Wheelchair basketball, Volleyball, Water polo, Swimming, Rowing, Sailing, Judo, Bridge, Equestrian, Handball,...
and Turkish international basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He has two children, named Berke and Melissa. As a youngster, he was also an extremely promising motor racer, competing as high as a Formula 3
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
level. His prowess as a cook is also revered, and in 2010 he was victorious in the Turkish version of the television programme Masterchef. Tugay describes himself as a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, stating that it's "something which is in my heart and I don't need to express that to other people".