Emre Aşık (born 13 December 1973) is a Turkish former international

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

. He played

centre-back In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Defenders fall into four main categories: centre-backs, full-backs, sweepers ...

for several clubs in the Turkish

Süper Lig The Süper Lig (, ''Super League''), also known as Trendyol Süper Lig for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Turkey and the highest level of the Turkish football league system. In the 2023–2024 season, twen ...

, most notably, Galatasaray. Aşık began his career with Sönmez Filamentspor in the

TFF Third League The TFF 3. Lig (), currently referred to as Nesine 3. Lig for sponsorship reasons, is the fourth level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in the 2001–02 season as a continuation of then third level division Turkish Third Foot ...

, and also played for Balıkesirspor, Fenerbahçe,

İstanbulspor İstanbulspor Kulübü is a Turkish association football, football and sports club founded by Istanbul High School students in 1926. In 2004–05, they were relegated from the Turkish Süper Lig (Super League) to the TFF First League. For many d ...

and Beşiktaş; he is one of thirteen footballers who has played for both Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. Throughout his career, Aşık was known as a tough and controversial defender who received many cautions and expulsions, totaling 108 yellow cards and 13 red cards in league play. On international level, Aşık was a member of the Turkey national team that finished third at the

2002 FIFA World Cup The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea/Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...

and semi-finalists at

UEFA Euro 2008 The 2008 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2008 or simply Euro 2008, was the 13th UEFA European Championship, a quadrennial association football, football tournament contested by the member nations of UEFA ( ...

Club career

Early years (1990–1993)

Aşık made his league debut with Sönmez Filamentspor on 27 May 1990 against Edremit Belediyespor. He started the match and was substituted out in the 86th minute. He did not make any more appearances that season, but became a fixture in the side the following season, making 27 appearances in the

. Balıkesirspor transferred Aşık at the start of the 1992–93 season. He made his debut for the club on 30 August 1992 against Bucaspor, and scored his first professional goal ten days later against Muğlaspor. He went on to make 27 appearances in the

TFF Second League The TFF 2. Lig (), currently referred to as Nesine 2. Lig for sponsorship reasons, is the third level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in the 2001–02 season with the name of ''Turkish Second League Category B'' as a continu ...

Fenerbahçe (1993–1996)

At the start of the 1993–94 season, Aşık was transferred to the first of the

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

''Big Three'' clubs he played for, Fenerbahçe. He made an instant impact with his new club, scoring the winning goal in the 109th minute of the Chancellor Cup final against Trabzonspor on 11 August 1993. He went on to make 23 league appearances for the club as they finished one point behind champions Galatasaray. The following season, Aşık saw less playing time, making 16 league appearances. He also played in the Chancellor Cup final, losing 4–3 to Galatasaray. Aşık found himself on the pitch four times during Fenerbahçe's league championship 1995–96 season, with all appearances coming in the first half.

İstanbulspor (1996–2000)

signed the international defender at the start of the 1996–97 season, with Aşık making twelve appearances. Aşık became a fixture in the side, making 23 appearances the following season. He made 25 appearances in 1998–99 and 26 in 1999–2000, bringing his total to 86 appearances. Aşık also scored six goals for the club, with all six coming in his last season, 1999–2000.

Galatasaray (2000–2003)

Following their

UEFA Cup The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , , "little star", is a Typography, typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star (heraldry), heraldic star. Computer scientists and Mathematici ...

win in 1999–2000, Galatasaray signed Aşık to a three-year contract. The Turkish international featured 17 times for the Lions in his first season, helping the club to a second-place finish. Aşık was also recalled to the Turkey national team, earning his first cap since 1995. His second season with the club proved to be more successful, making 27 appearances en route to the club's 15 league title. At the end of the season, Aşık was selected to participate in the

. He made seventeen appearances for the club the following season.

Beşiktaş (2003–2006)

After winning a Süper Lig title and an

UEFA Super Cup The UEFA Super Cup is an annual super cup Association football, football match organised by UEFA and contested by the winners of the two main European club competitions: the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. The competition's offic ...

with Galatasaray, Aşık signed a three-year contract with rivals Beşiktaş. In his first season with the club, Aşık earned the nickname "the hero of Stamford Bridge" after putting in a performance to help Beşiktaş defeat Chelsea two to nil on 1 October 2003. He contributed one goal in 23 league appearances for the Black Eagles as they finished third. Aşık was unable to find the pitch often the following season, making nine appearances before being transferred mid-season.

Return to Galatasaray (2006–2010)

Aşık returned to Galatasaray in February 2006 after making 32 appearances for Beşiktaş in three seasons, signing a one-year contract. He made 12 league appearances in his first season back, and was loaned out to Ankaraspor the following season. In his only season with the

Ankara Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and List of national capitals by area, the largest capital by area in the world. Located in the Central Anatolia Region, central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5,290,822 in its urban center ( ...

-based club, Aşık made 26 appearances and scored one goal. His performances earned him a selection to the

squad by

Fatih Terim Fatih Terim (born 4 September 1953) is a Turkish people, Turkish professional Association football, football Manager (association football), manager and former player. He is the manager of Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab FC (Riyadh), Al-Shabab ...

. Aşık returned to Galatasaray the following season, with the team winning a Turkish Super Cup title. Marred by injuries during his twilight years, Aşık made 24 appearances over his last two seasons before deciding to hang up his boots. He finished with 343 total appearances and 19 goals scored.

International career

Aşık holds the distinction of being a part of the two most successful

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

squads: third place at the

, and a semi-final finish at

. Aşık began his international career with the Turkey U-18 team. He made 17 appearances for the team from 1992 to 1993. He was also part the Turkey U-20 squad for the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship. He played in the three group stage matches, but Turkey did not advance to the knockout stage. Aşık, along with former Galatasaray teammate Okan Buruk, received a farewell match when Turkey faced off against the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

in a friendly on 22 May 2010. Aşık started the match, marking his 36th cap. He was substituted out of the match in the ninth minute with Buruk.

2002 FIFA World Cup

Aşık was picked for the squad after winning the

with Galatasaray. He did not see any action in the opening match against

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

, but started their second match against

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

. Against China PR, Aşık found himself in the starting eleven once more. He picked up his second yellow card in as many matches, suspending him from participation in Turkey's first knockout round match against

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. He did not see any action during the rest of the campaign as Turkey finished third, the highest finish in team history.

UEFA Euro 2008

Having spent a season on loan at Ankaraspor, Aşık was chosen as a reserve defender behind starters Servet Çetin and

Gökhan Zan Gökhan Zan (born 7 September 1981) is a Turkish former professional association football, footballer who played as a centre-back. Club career Zan was born in Antakya. He started his career with Hatayspor and then moved on to Çanakkale Dardane ...

. However, following an injury to Zan, Aşık was slotted into the first eleven for the team's group stage match against

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

. After playing the entirety of the match in a two to one goal victory for Turkey, Aşık was benched in favor of

Emre Güngör Fehmi Emre Güngör (born 1 August 1984) is a Turkish former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He was part of the Turkey squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008. Güngör spent his entire 16-year professional footbal ...

. Güngör also suffered an injury, and Aşık was given the starting job again. Aşık received a yellow card against

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

, his second of the tournament, ruling him out of the semi-final tie against

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. Turkey went on to lose 3–2, but still achieved their most successful campaign in the European Championships; a semi-final finish.

Career statistics

Club

International

:''Scores and results list Turkey's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Aşık goal.''National team appearances of Emre Aşık
- eu-football.info

Honours

Fenerbahçe *

: 1995–96 Galatasaray *

: 2001–02, 2005-06 * Turkish Super Cup: 2008 Turkey *

FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often called the World Cup, is an international association football competition among the senior List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams of the members of the FIFA, Fédération Internatio ...

third place:

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

UEFA European Championship The UEFA European Football Championship, less formally the European Championship and informally the Euro or Euros, is the primary association football tournament organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The competition ...

semi-finals:

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

Order * Turkish State Medal of Distinguished Service

References

External links

*
TFF.org profile
* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Asik, Emre 1973 births Living people Footballers from Bursa Turkish men's footballers Turkey men's international footballers Olympic footballers for Turkey Turkey men's youth international footballers Turkey men's under-21 international footballers 2002 FIFA World Cup players UEFA Euro 2008 players Süper Lig players Balıkesirspor footballers Fenerbahçe S.K. footballers İstanbulspor footballers Galatasaray S.K. footballers Beşiktaş J.K. footballers Ankaraspor footballers Men's association football central defenders Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Turkey Mediterranean Games medalists in football Competitors at the 1993 Mediterranean Games