Fehmi Mert Günok (; born 1 March 1989) is a Turkish professional
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 ...
who plays as a
goalkeeper
In many team sports that involve scoring goal (sport), goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie, or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or i ...
for
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 ...
club
BeÅŸiktaÅŸ
Beşiktaş () is a district and municipality of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its area is 18 km2 and its population is 175,190 (2022). It is located on the European shore of the Bosphorus strait. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and ...
and the Turkey national team.
Günok started his youth career with a short spell in
Kocaelispor
Kocaelispor is a Turkish professional football club based in İzmit, Kocaeli. They were founded in 1966 and played in the top level between 1980 and 1988, 1992–2003, and the 2008–09 seasons. Their best finish was in the 1992–93 season, w ...
and then joined Fenerbahçe in 2001, where he was eventually promoted to professional status and played at Süper Lig level, winning two league titles. He left Fenerbahçe in 2015 to join
Bursaspor
Bursaspor Kulübü Derneği, commonly known as Bursaspor, is a Turkey, Turkish professional sports club based in the city of Bursa. Founded in 1963, the club is best known for its football team, which has a rich history in Football in Turkey, Turk ...
, where he played for two seasons. In 2017,he signed for İstanbul Başakşehir, where he attained a third Süper Lig title in the 2019–20 season.
Günok represent Turkey at international competitions to date, starting from under-16 level in 2004, and made his senior international debut in 2012. He was the first-choice goalkeeper of the national team during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying stage, in which they qualified for the
finals
Final, Finals or The Final may refer to:
*Final examination or finals, a test given at the end of a course of study or training
*Final (competition), the last or championship round of a sporting competition, match, game, or other contest which d ...
, and was their starting goalkeeper at
UEFA Euro 2024
The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2024 (stylised as UEFA EURO 2024) or simply Euro 2024, was the 17th UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international Association football, football champ ...
. He made a last-minute save to deny Christoph Baumgartner a goal in Turkey's match against
Austria
Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
.
Club career
Fenerbahçe
Günok started his football career with a short spell at youth level football at
Kocaelispor
Kocaelispor is a Turkish professional football club based in İzmit, Kocaeli. They were founded in 1966 and played in the top level between 1980 and 1988, 1992–2003, and the 2008–09 seasons. Their best finish was in the 1992–93 season, w ...
between 2000 and 2001, which he described as "playing in couple of games while my father was working there", while Mahir, his father was employed as goalkeeping coach. Then, he was discovered by Fenerbahçe officials in 2001, in Istanbul, during a small field game and, joined the team where his first football license was issued. During his youth level career, he scored a goal from a penalty kick against
Manisaspor
Manisaspor is a Turkish professional football club located in the city of Manisa. Originally formed in 1931 as Sakaryaspor, the club changed its name to Manisaspor on 15 June 1965.PAF Ligi game, ended 2–0, on 9 March 2008.
Günok signed his first professional contract before 2009–10 season. He was the third-choice goalkeeper, behind Volkan Demirel and Volkan Babacan of Fenerbahçe at 2010–11 season.
Günok made his Süper Lig debut against
Antalyaspor
Antalyaspor Kulübü is a Turkish professional multi-sport club based in Antalya, southern Turkey. The club's colours are red and white.
The association football, football side play their home matches at the Antalya Stadium. In Turkey, the cl ...
on 15 August 2010, coming on as a substitute after Volkan Demirel got injured at the beginning of the second half, earning a clean sheet. Günok maintained his place in starting line-up in the following two Süper Lig encounters, respectively against
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor Kulübü is a Turkish professional sports club located in the city of Trabzon, located in Black Sea region, northeastern Turkey. Established in 1967 through the merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor is one of the most prominent A ...
and Manisaspor, where he conceded five goals in total. During the home game against Trabzonspor, ended in a 3–2 loss, He saved the penalty shot of Argentine midfielder Gustavo Colman.
Günok was given a chance in starting line-up at mid-season exhibition match against Belgian side
K.R.C. Genk
Koninklijke Racing Club Genk (), commonly known as KRC Genk or Racing Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and have won four championship title ...
, on 9 January 2013. Due to Volkan Demirel's penal absence, Günok was featured in starting line-up of 2013 Turkish Super Cup against Galatasaray S.K. and chosen "man of the match", although Fenerbahçe lost by 0–1 final score after extra time.
In 2014–15 season, Günok played three back-to-back Süper Lig games in September, respectively against Karabükspor, Trabzonspor and
Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor was a Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969 and dissolved in 2020, Gaziantepspor were nicknamed the ''Åžahinler'' (The Falcons). The club colours were black and red, and they played their home matc ...
, and he saved 8 out of 10 attempts made by opponents in these encounters, during Volkan Demirel's penal absence. After 14 years spent at the club, Günok, at the age of 26, was released by Fenerbahçe, on 15 June 2015. During his last season, he played in nine Süper Lig and nine Turkish Cup encounters, conceded 19 goals in total.
Bursaspor
After being released by Fenerbahçe at the end of 2014–15 season, Günok joined
Bursaspor
Bursaspor Kulübü Derneği, commonly known as Bursaspor, is a Turkey, Turkish professional sports club based in the city of Bursa. Founded in 1963, the club is best known for its football team, which has a rich history in Football in Turkey, Turk ...
, on a 3-season-long contract, on 22 June 2015. His contract was of €1.2 million salary per annum. Chosen as first-choice goalkeeper in the first half of the 2015–16 season, Günok was replaced by
Harun Tekin
Sami Harun Tekin (born 28 June 1977) is a Turkish singer, musician, and poet. He is one of the founding members and the vocalist of the Turkish rock band Mor ve Ötesi.
Biography
In 1988, while being a student at German High School in Istan ...
from February on by decision of manager Hamza HamzaoÄŸlu, as he conceded 32 goals in 19 league games. In his second season at Bursaspor, he was deployed only in Turkish Cup encounters. At the end of season, his contract was cancelled in return of his outstanding wages from Bursaspor.
BaÅŸakÅŸehir
On 31 July 2017, Günok joined
Ä°stanbul BaÅŸakÅŸehir F.K.
İstanbul Başakşehir Futbol Kulübü (), commonly referred to as Başakşehir or, due to sponsorship reasons, Rams Başakşehir, is a professional football club based in the Başakşehir district of Istanbul, Turkey. Known for its vibrant ora ...
In his first season at Başakşehir, he was the second goalkeeper behind Volkan Babacan, his former teammate from Fenerbahçe, and deployed only at
Turkish Cup
The Turkish Cup () is a football cup competition in Turkish football, run by the Turkish Football Federation since 1962. During a brief sponsorship period with Fortis, its sponsored name was ''Fortis Türkiye Kupası''. Now Ziraat Bankası is ...
games and
UEFA Europa League
The UEFA Europa League (UEL), usually known simply as the Europa League, is an annual association football, football club competition organised since 1971 by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for eligible European footb ...
.
He made his debut at BaÅŸakÅŸehir on 30 November 2017, against KahramanmaraÅŸspor, at the fifth round game of Turkish Cup. Putting an improved individual display in pre-season trainings, he was given the starting line-up status by team manager
Abdullah Avcı
Abdullah Mucib Avcı (; born 31 July 1963) is a UEFA Pro Licensed Turkish football manager and a former professional footballer. He is the former manager of Trabzonspor. He has also managed the Turkey national team.
Avcı's coaching career beg ...
from 2018–19 season on. His first Süper Lig game with Başakşehir was against Trabzonspor, ended 2–0 for Başakşehir, at Fatih Terim Stadium, on 12 August 2018. Günok saved a penalty against Konyaspor on week 7 encounter of 2020–21 season, eventually ended 2–1 for Başakşehir's favour, on 1 November 2020. He missed 5 league games and was replaced by Volkan Babacan in December at 2020–21 season due to
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
quarantine. Played as starter, he lost the 2020 Turkish Super Cup up against Trabzonspor, played on a postponed schedule due to COVID-19 pandemic, ended in a 2–1 loss, on 27 January 2021. Günok was released by club on 15 August 2021 in return of outstanding receivables of Günok.
BeÅŸiktaÅŸ
Günok joined
BeÅŸiktaÅŸ
Beşiktaş () is a district and municipality of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its area is 18 km2 and its population is 175,190 (2022). It is located on the European shore of the Bosphorus strait. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and ...
on a three-year contract, as the seventh transfer of the club during the transfer window, on 15 August 2021.
On 31 July 2023, Günok signed a new two-year contract with Beşiktaş, keeping him at the club until 2025.
On 17 January 2025, Günok had signed a new 2+1 year contract with Beşiktaş, keeping him at the club until 2027.
International career
Substitited in 62nd minute following the injury of starter Cenk Gönen, Günok earned his first senior cap during a friendly game against
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
on 25 May 2012, ended 3–1 to Turkey, held at Red Bull Arena, Salzburg, Austria.
On 8 June 2019, he kept a clean sheet against defending world champions
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
The UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament was a football competition that was played from March 2019 to November 2020 to determine the 24 UEFA member men's national teams that advanced to the UEFA Euro 2020 final tournament, intended to be playe ...
stage. Conceding 3 goals in 10 games, Günok was the main choice goalkeeper of Turkey, which put their best defensive performance ever at qualifying phases of UEFA European Championship, under management of
Şenol Güneş
Şenol Güneş (, born 1 June 1952) is a Turkish football manager and former player who is currently the director of professional football for Süper Lig club Trabzonspor. His most notable managerial achievements to date include coaching the T ...
. He was called-up for the extended 30-men-squad ahead of
UEFA Euro 2020
The 2020 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2020 or simply Euro 2020, was the 16th UEFA European Championship, the Anniversary#Latin-derived numerical names, quadrennial international men's association footb ...
by Şenol Güneş, announced on 14 May 2021.
On 7 June 2024, he was named in Turkey's 26-man squad for
UEFA Euro 2024
The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2024 (stylised as UEFA EURO 2024) or simply Euro 2024, was the 17th UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international Association football, football champ ...
. In their
round of 16
A single-elimination knockout, or sudden-death tournament is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of a match-up is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Each winner will play another in the next round, until the final match-up, w ...
match against
Austria
Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
on 2 July, he made a crucial save, diving to his right to stop a header by Christoph Baumgartner in stoppage time, securing his country's 2–1 victory and qualification to the quarter-finals.
Personal life
Mert Günok was born in 1989 in
Karabük
Karabük is a city in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It is the seat of Karabük Province and Karabük District.Mahir Günok was playing at Karabükspor. His mother Necmiye died in 2011, following an undisclosed disease.
Günok married Aslı Günok (
: Dalgalıdere) in Bursa, in 2015. The couple welcomed their first child, named Alâ, in 2019. In 2020, he donated 100 pairs of goalkeeper gloves to 100 schools across Turkey.
Career statistics
Club
International
Honours
Fenerbahçe
*
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 ...
:
2010–11
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
Turkish Cup
The Turkish Cup () is a football cup competition in Turkish football, run by the Turkish Football Federation since 1962. During a brief sponsorship period with Fortis, its sponsored name was ''Fortis Türkiye Kupası''. Now Ziraat Bankası is ...
Turkish Super Cup
The Turkish Super Cup, known as Turkcell Super Cup () for sponsorship reasons, is a super cup tournament in Turkish football. Founded in 1966 as a two-team competition, the current version has been contested since 2025 by four teams: the winners ...
:
2009
2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
,
2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
2021
Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...
,
2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...