Aras Özbiliz facts for kids
Özbiliz with Armenia in 2013
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 March 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Bakırköy, Turkey | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1998 | Hollandia | ||
| 1998–2010 | Ajax | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2012 | Ajax | 26 | (2) |
| 2012–2013 | Kuban Krasnodar | 24 | (11) |
| 2013–2016 | Spartak Moscow | 35 | (3) |
| 2016–2019 | Beşiktaş | 6 | (0) |
| 2016 | → Rayo Vallecano (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Sheriff Tiraspol (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Willem II (loan) | 14 | (1) |
| 2019–2022 | Pyunik | 26 | (6) |
| 2023 | Urartu | 18 | (5) |
| International career | |||
| 2012–2023 | Armenia | 41 | (6) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Aras Özbiliz (born March 9, 1990) is a former professional footballer. He played as a winger, which means he played on the sides of the field. Aras was born in Turkey but chose to represent the Armenia national team.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Aras Özbiliz was born on March 9, 1990, in Bakırköy, a district in Istanbul, Turkey. His parents were Armenian. He was named after the Aras River, which is a river in Armenia. His family's last name, "Özbiliz," means "one who keeps their identity."
In the early 1990s, his family moved from Turkey to the Netherlands. When Aras was five years old, he started playing football for a youth team called HVV Hollandia. At the age of eight, he joined the famous Ajax youth team. While playing for Ajax's youth teams, Aras had two serious injuries: a knee ligament tear that needed surgery and a shoulder injury.
Club Career Highlights
Aras Özbiliz grew up playing football in the Ajax youth academy. Before joining Ajax, he played for HVV Hollandia in his hometown of Hoorn. He joined Ajax at age 8 and played through all their youth levels. He made his first team debut in 2010.
Playing for Ajax
In July 2007, in a friendly match against an Argentine club called Independiente, Aras scored three goals in just seven minutes! This was a personal record for him.
In February 2009, Özbiliz signed a contract with Ajax for two and a half years. Later that year, he won the Talent van de Toekomst award. This award is given to the most talented young player from Ajax's training ground, De Toekomst. Because of his great performances in the junior team, he was added to the first team for the 2010–11 season.
Aras almost played in big matches in November 2010, like a championship game against PSV Eindhoven and a UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. But he stayed on the bench. His first official league game in the Eredivisie happened on November 28, 2010, against VVV-Venlo. He came in during the second half and helped Ajax win 2–0. His coach, Martin Jol, praised his performance.
In April 2011, Aras scored his first league goal for Ajax in a 3–0 win against Heracles Almelo. He also extended his contract with Ajax until June 2014. A big moment came on February 24, 2012, in a Europa League match against Manchester United. Özbiliz scored a goal, becoming the first Ajax player to score against Manchester United at their home stadium, Old Trafford, in a European cup match.
Moving to FC Kuban
On August 8, 2012, it was officially announced that Aras Özbiliz was moving to Kuban Krasnodar in Russia. The transfer cost €1 million, and he signed a four-year contract.
He played his first game for Kuban on August 20, 2012. On September 2, 2012, he scored his first goal for the club in a game against Dynamo Moscow. He scored two more goals in September, helping Kuban win games. One of his most impressive goals was on March 31, 2013, when he scored a fantastic goal from 35 yards away against Spartak Moscow.
Playing for Spartak Moscow
In July 2013, Aras signed a five-year contract with Spartak Moscow. Kuban Krasnodar received €10 million for the transfer. He scored his first goal for Spartak on August 29.
In May 2014, Aras suffered a serious knee injury (an anterior cruciate ligament injury) that required two surgeries. In April 2015, his coach, Murat Yakin, moved him to the reserve team. Aras felt this was unfair, especially because it happened around the time of a very important historical date for Armenians. He believed he was fully ready to play.
Time with Beşiktaş and Loans
In January 2016, Özbiliz signed a 4.5-year contract with Beşiktaş in Turkey. Soon after, he was loaned out to Rayo Vallecano in Spain.
Loan to Sheriff Tiraspol
On February 7, 2018, Aras was loaned to Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova. He played only four games there before Beşiktaş called him back in June 2018.
Loan to Willem II
Later, he was loaned to Willem II in the Netherlands for the 2018–19 season.
Joining Pyunik
On August 31, 2019, Özbiliz signed with Pyunik, an Armenian club. He extended his contract with them in June 2020. He left Pyunik in December 2022.
Playing for Urartu and Retirement
On January 17, 2023, Aras signed with Urartu, another Armenian club. On November 22, 2023, Aras Özbiliz announced that he was retiring from professional football.
International Career
In May 2010, Aras was invited by the Football Federation of Armenia to join the Armenian youth national team. He had never been to Armenia but hoped to play for them. He arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, and started training.
In early 2011, there were rumors that Aras might choose to play for the Netherlands instead of Armenia. However, in June, he decided to play for Armenia. He said, "Netherlands might be a good choice in sporting terms but my heart beats for Armenia. That's why I made this choice."
On October 4, 2011, the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, granted Aras Armenian citizenship. This made him officially eligible to play for the Armenia national football team.
Aras Özbiliz made his debut for the Armenian national team on February 29, 2012, in a friendly match against Canada. He even scored a goal in that game!
Personal Life
Aras Özbiliz grew up in Hoorn, Netherlands. He holds Armenian citizenship. In April 2021, he lost his Dutch citizenship. He received his Armenian passport in October 2011 because he wanted to play for the Armenian national team.
His favorite football player and sporting idol is Lionel Messi.
Honours
Aras Özbiliz won several titles during his career:
Urartu
- Armenian Premier League: 2022–23
- Armenian Cup: 2022–23
Pyunik
- Armenian Premier League: 2021–22
Ajax
- Eredivisie: 2010–11, 2011–12
- KNVB Cup: 2009–10
Beşiktaş
- Süper Lig: 2016–17
Individual
- AFC Ajax Talent of the Future: 2009
Images for kids
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Özbiliz with FC Kuban in 2012
See also
In Spanish: Aras Özbiliz para niños
