Arda Güler, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Burak Yılmaz: Who are Türkiye's top UEFA Champions League performers?

Friday, December 20, 2024

Which Turkish players have the most appearances and goals in Europe's leading club competition?

Arda Güler, Arda Turan, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Burak Yılmaz Getty Images

Türkiye made a dramatic entrance on the continental stage when Galatasaray beat Arsenal on penalties in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup final, and the big Istanbul clubs (Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray) have all seen plenty of action in the UEFA Champions League. Plenty more Turkish players have thrived abroad, with Real Madrid's Arda Güler the latest big name to show his finest form at the very highest level.

Last updated: 20 December 2024

Most appearances by Turkish players in the UEFA Champions League (group stage/league phase to final)

55: Arif Erdem (Galatasaray)
54: Bülent Korkmaz (Galatasaray)
51: Ergün Penbe (Galatasaray)
49: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Leverkusen, Inter)
47: Hasan Şaş (Galatasaray)
42: Hakan Şükür (Galatasaray)
41: Hamit Altıntop (Schalke, Bayern München, Real Madrid, Galatasaray)
40: Burak Yılmaz (Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Trabzonspor, Galatasaray, Lille)
40: Emre Belozoğlu (Galatasaray, Inter, Fenerbahçe)
39: Ömer Toprak (Leverkusen, Dortmund)
39: Suat Kaya (Galatasaray)

Top-scoring Turkish players in the UEFA Champions League (group stage/league phase to final)

Cenk Tosun celebrating a goal for BeşiktaşAFP/Getty Images

13: Burak Yılmaz (Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Trabzonspor, Galatasaray, Lille)
13: Hakan Şükür (Galatasaray)
9: Arda Turan (Galatasaray, Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona)
9: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Leverkusen, Inter)
6: Arif Erdem (Galatasaray)
6: Ümit Karan (Galatasaray)
6: Oktay Derelioğlu (Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe)
5: Ümit Davala (Galatasaray, Bremen)
5: Cenk Tosun (Beşiktaş)
5: Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Galatasaray, Benfica)
5: Tuncay Şanlı (Fenerbahçe)

Most appearances by Turkish players in UEFA club competition*

Emre Belozoğlu in UEFA Champions League action for InterGetty Images

114: Emre Belozoğlu (Galatasaray, Inter, Newcastle, Fenerbahçe, Atlético de Madrid, Başakşehir)
105: Mehmet Topal (Galatasaray, Valencia, Fenerbahçe, Başakşehir, Beşiktaş)
101: Bülent Korkmaz (Galatasaray)
94: Hakan Şükür (Galatasaray, Inter, Parma)
91: Arda Turan (Galatasaray, Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona, Başakşehir)
88: Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahçe)
87: Arif Erdem (Galatasaray)
83: Hasan Şaş (Galatasaray)
81: Okan Buruk (Galatasaray, Inter, Beşiktaş)
81: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Leverkusen, AC Milan, Inter)

Top-scoring Turkish players in UEFA club competition*

Galatasaray celebrate winning the UEFA Cup in 2000Popperfoto via Getty Images

38: Hakan Şükür (Galatasaray, Inter)
24: Hami Mandıralı (Trabzonspor, MKE Ankaragücü)
20: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Leverkusen, AC Milan, Inter)
19: Arda Turan (Galatasaray, Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona, Başakşehir)
16: Arif Erdem (Galatasaray)
16: Burak Yılmaz (Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Trabzonspor, Galatasaray, Lille)
16: Oktay Derelioğlu (Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe)
15: İrfan Can Kahveci (Başakşehir, Fenerbahçe)
15: Metin Oktay (Galatasaray)
14: Gökdeniz Karadeniz (Trabzonspor, Rubin Kazan)

Notable firsts

First Turkish players to feature in a UEFA final

Can Bartu (Fiorentina 1-1 Atlético, 1962 European Cup Winners' Cup)
Özcan Arkoç (Hamburg 0-2 Milan, 1968 European Cup Winners' Cup)

First Turkish coach to feature in a UEFA final

Arkoç Özcan (Hamburg, 1977 UEFA Super Cup)

First Turkish side/Turkish players/Turkish coach to win a UEFA final

Turkish team: Galatasaray (2000 UEFA Cup, 2000 UEFA Super Cup)
Turkish players: Bülent Korkmaz, Ergün Penbe, Okan Buruk, Ümit Davala, Suat Kaya, Arif Erdem, Hakan Şükür, Hakan Ünsal, Ahmet Yıldırım, Hasan Şaş
Unused Turkish substitutes: Kerem İnan, Fatih Akyel, Mehmet Yozgatlı
Coach: Fatih Terim