Hakan Balta

Hakan Kadir Balta (; born 23 March 1983) is a retired Turkish professional footballer who played as a defender for Galatasaray in the Süper Lig. At the start of the 2018/19 season he was released from his contract after over 10 years with the club.

Club career

Galatasaray

He formerly played for Hertha Berlin II and Manisaspor and loaned Aydın Yılmaz, and Anıl Karaer. In the last game of the season he scored the goal that secured the title for Galatasaray and he won 2007–08 Süper Lig with Galatasaray.

2010–11 season

He was criticised for the last minute error he made in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League play-off match against FC Karpaty Lviv in August 2010 where Galatasaray was eliminated.

2011–12 season

2011–12 Süper Lig was a year of recovery for Galatasaray. With a new board led by newly elected president Unal Aysal, the club assigned Fatih Terim as the manager. Hakan Balta improved his performance under Terim's management and alongside his new team members. He was regular starter through the season and the only member of the last season's crew to do so. In a derby against arch-rivals Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray were trailing 2–1 when Balta scored the equaliser with a left foot volley inside the area. The result helped maintain Galatasaray's position at the top of the league along. Galatasaray won the championship.

2012–13 season

After Ayhan Akman leaving the team, Hakan became one of the team captains, and on 12 August during the 2012–13 Süper Lig match, he played as the captain as Galatasaray won the Super Cup against their rivals Fenerbahçe with a 3–2 win.

He scored his first 2012–13 Süper Lig goal of the new season on 19 October 2012, in a match against Gençlerbirliği when they were trailing 3–2 to make the final score 3–3 draw right before the final whistle.

International career

Having made his debut for the national side in the 1–1 friendly draw with Azerbaijan in April 2006, Hakan's services were not required again until a crucial point in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. He was called up to the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Norway and Bosnia-Herzegovia. He played the full 90 minutes of both victories, which secured Fatih Terim's side their place at Austria and Switzerland. He was a constant starter in all games during Turkey's run in Euro 2008. Turkey reached the semi-final stage with a streak of last-gasp wins. He continued to be a member of the first team also under Guus Hiddink management. He scored Turkey's consolation goal against Germany in a 3–1 defeat in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match.

Managerial career

Balta, who has been serving as the Assistant Administrative Director of the Football A Team as of 8 February 2022, has been appointed as the Technical Director of the Galatasaray Under-19 Football Team.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

Honours

;Galatasaray
*Süper Lig (5): 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18
* Türkiye Kupası (3): 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
* Süper Kupa (5): 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016

;Turkey
* UEFA European Championship bronze medalist: 2008

References

External links

Profile
at Galatasaray.org
Statistics
at TFF.org
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Balta, Hakan
1983 births
Living people
Footballers from Berlin
Citizens of Turkey through descent
Turkish footballers
Turkey international footballers
German footballers
German people of Turkish descent
Manisaspor footballers
Galatasaray S.K. footballers
Süper Lig players
UEFA Euro 2008 players
Association football fullbacks
UEFA Euro 2016 players