Okan Buruk facts for kids
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Buruk in 2012
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 19 October 1973 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Istanbul, Turkey | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.69 m | |||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Galatasaray (manager) | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1991 | Galatasaray | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||
| 1991–2001 | Galatasaray | 189 | (33) | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | Inter Milan | 24 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Beşiktaş | 43 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Galatasaray | 19 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | İstanbul Başakşehir | 28 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 304 | (38) | ||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1990 | Turkey U16 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 1990–1992 | Turkey U18 | 28 | (4) | |||||||||||||
| 1992–1995 | Turkey U21 | 13 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 1992–2010 | Turkey | 56 | (8) | |||||||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Elazığspor | |||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Gaziantepspor | |||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Sivasspor | |||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Göztepe | |||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Akhisarspor | |||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Çaykur Rizespor | |||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | İstanbul Başakşehir | |||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Galatasaray | |||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Okan Buruk, born on October 19, 1973, is a famous Turkish football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the Süper Lig club Galatasaray. Okan Buruk is known for his big impact on Turkish football, both as a player and as a coach.
As a player, Okan Buruk was a midfielder. He played for almost 20 years. He played for big clubs like Galatasaray, Inter Milan, and Beşiktaş. At Galatasaray, he won six Süper Lig titles and four Turkish Cups. He was also a key player when Galatasaray won the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup. This made Galatasaray the first Turkish team to win a major European trophy. He was even named the best player in the 2000 UEFA Super Cup final, where Galatasaray beat Real Madrid 2–1.
Okan Buruk also played for the Turkish national team 56 times. He played in UEFA Euro 2000 and helped Turkey win the bronze medal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. This was Turkey's best result ever in the World Cup.
As a manager, Okan Buruk has also been very successful. He led Istanbul Başakşehir to their first-ever Süper Lig title in the 2019–20 Süper Lig season. This was a huge win because it broke the usual dominance of other big teams. He continued his success with Galatasaray. He led them to win the Süper Lig title two years in a row in 2022–23 and 2023–24. People know Okan Buruk for his smart tactics, strong leadership, and his ability to make teams strong and competitive.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Early Years at Galatasaray
Okan Buruk started his professional football journey with Galatasaray on July 1, 1992. He played there for nine years, until June 30, 2001. During this time, he helped Galatasaray win six Süper Lig titles. He was also a very important part of Galatasaray's success in Europe.
He was part of the team that won the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup. This was a historic moment because Galatasaray became the first Turkish club to win such a big European trophy. On August 25, 2000, Okan was named the best player in the 2000 UEFA Super Cup. Galatasaray beat Real Madrid 2–1 in that match.
Time with Inter Milan
In 2001, Okan Buruk moved to Inter Milan in Italy, along with his teammate Emre Belözoğlu. He played his first game in Italy on August 26, 2001, against Perugia. He came on as a substitute for another player.
On October 21, 2001, he made an assist in the famous Milan Derby against AC Milan. Even though Inter lost that game, it was a memorable moment. Okan scored his first goal for Inter on November 16, 2002. It was a late goal in the 89th minute that helped his team get a 2–2 draw against Roma. Okan played for Inter until June 30, 2004. He was known for his endless energy and being able to play in different midfield roles.
Return to Turkey and Retirement
On July 1, 2004, Okan joined Beşiktaş. He played there for two seasons and won the Turkish Cup on May 3, 2006. This was another important trophy for him.
Then, on July 1, 2006, Okan went back to Galatasaray for two more years. He helped the team win the 2007–08 Süper Lig title on May 11, 2008. After his contract ended, he left Galatasaray. On July 1, 2008, Okan signed a two-year deal with İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. He played there until he decided to retire.
Okan Buruk officially stopped playing professional football on May 22, 2010. His last game was a friendly match against the Czech Republic.
International Career
Okan Buruk played 56 games for the Turkish national team. He played for his country in UEFA Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He scored Turkey's first-ever goal in a Euro tournament. This goal was the equalizer in a 2–1 loss to Italy at Euro 2000.
He was also part of the team that went to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Due to an injury, he only played one game in the tournament. He came on as a substitute in the match against host nation South Korea. Turkey won that game 3–2 and secured the third-place bronze medal.
Managerial Career
Starting as a Coach
Okan Buruk started his coaching career after being an administrative coordinator for the Turkish national team. In November 2011, he became an assistant coach. In August 2013, he left that role.
On October 30, 2013, he signed a contract with Elazığspor. This was his first time being a head coach. However, the team was relegated, and he left in June 2014. In the 2014–15 season, Buruk signed with Gaziantepspor. He finished the season in the middle of the league table. He then left due to disagreements about the next season.
On October 26, 2015, Buruk joined Sivasspor. He coached for 11 matches, winning 2, losing 7, and drawing 2. He then resigned. On June 1, 2016, he signed with Göztepe. After some poor results, he resigned on March 20, 2017.
Winning the Turkish Cup
On March 28, 2017, Okan Buruk became the manager of Akhisarspor. On May 11, 2018, under his leadership, Akhisarspor made history. They won their first-ever Turkish Cup! In the final, they beat Fenerbahçe 3–2. This big win also meant Akhisarspor would play in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League for the first time.
Even with this success, Buruk left Akhisarspor because they couldn't agree on a new contract. He was the lowest-paid manager in the league and wanted a pay raise for his achievements.
On September 19, 2018, Buruk became the head coach of Çaykur Rizespor. He helped the team avoid being relegated in the 2018–19 Süper Lig season. He left Çaykur Rizespor on May 28, 2019, for personal reasons.
Success with İstanbul Başakşehir
On June 11, 2019, Okan Buruk was named the head coach of Başakşehir. In the 2019–20 season, Başakşehir played in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League. They were in a tough group but managed to finish first. They even beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2–1 away from home.
In the next round, they faced Sporting CP. After losing the first game, Başakşehir made an amazing comeback in the second game, winning 4–1 after extra time. This helped them move forward in the competition. However, they were later knocked out by Copenhagen due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing delays.
On July 19, 2020, Başakşehir became champions of the Süper Lig for the very first time in their history under Buruk's management. They were only the sixth club ever to win the league title.
After winning the league, Başakşehir played in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League. They were in a group with very strong teams like Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, and Manchester United. They finished last in their group, but they had a historic 2–1 home victory against Manchester United. This was a huge moment for the club. Buruk left Başakşehir on January 29, 2021.
Leading Galatasaray to Glory
2022–23 Season
On June 22, 2022, Okan Buruk returned to Galatasaray, this time as their head coach. He signed a two-year contract.
In his first season, Buruk led Galatasaray to a record-breaking 14 wins in a row in the league. This was the longest winning streak in the club's history! Under his coaching, the team played very strongly all season. They won the 2022–23 Süper Lig title two weeks before the season ended. This was Buruk's second league championship as a manager and Galatasaray's 23rd overall. The team also had the best attack and defense in the league, scoring 83 goals and only letting in 27 goals.
2023–24 Season
In the 2023–24 season, Galatasaray qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in 15 years. They played against strong teams like Bayern Munich and Manchester United. They had an exciting 3–2 win over Manchester United at their home stadium, Old Trafford. They finished third in their group, which meant they moved to the UEFA Europa League.
In the Europa League, Galatasaray lost to Sparta Prague and were eliminated. On April 12, 2024, Galatasaray played their rivals Fenerbahçe in the 2023 Turkish Super Cup final. Galatasaray scored a goal in the first minute. However, Fenerbahçe's players left the field, and Galatasaray was awarded a 3–0 win by default. Buruk won his first Turkish Super Cup.
Later, Galatasaray faced Fenerbahçe again in a crucial league match. They lost 1–0 at home, which delayed their league title celebration. But in the final week of the season, Galatasaray bounced back with a strong 3–1 win against Konyaspor. With this victory, they won the 2023–24 Süper Lig title, their second in a row under Buruk. This was Galatasaray's record 24th Süper Lig title.
2024–25 Season
On August 3, 2024, Galatasaray played against their rivals Beşiktaş in the 2024 Turkish Super Cup final. Galatasaray lost the match 5–0. This was a very big loss for the club in a final. Galatasaray also tried to qualify for the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League but lost to Young Boys and were eliminated.
Despite these early setbacks, Galatasaray stayed focused on their league games. On September 21, 2024, Galatasaray played their rivals Fenerbahçe in the first derby of the 2024–25 season. Galatasaray played very well and beat Fenerbahçe 3–1. Galatasaray also had strong performances in the Europa League, staying unbeaten and winning key games, including a 3–2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Personal Life
Okan Buruk is originally from Akçaabat, a town in Trabzon, Turkey. He married Nihan Akkuş, a model and former Miss Turkey, on July 3, 2007. His brother, Fuat, was also a professional footballer and is now a coach.
Career statistics
Club
Source:
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Galatasaray | 1991–92 | 1. Lig | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1992–93 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 1993–94 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | |||
| 1995–96 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | |||
| 1996–97 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 3 | ||
| 1997–98 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 6 | ||
| 1998–99 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 1 | – | 42 | 12 | |||
| 1999–2000 | 28 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 3 | – | 48 | 12 | |||
| 2000–01 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 2 | ||
| Total | 188 | 32 | 31 | 3 | 52 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 274 | 39 | ||
| Internazionale | 2001–02 | Serie A | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 11 | 0 | |
| 2002–03 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | – | 22 | 2 | |||
| 2003–04 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 9 | 0 | |||
| Total | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | – | 41 | 2 | |||
| Beşiktaş | 2004–05 | Süper Lig | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | – | 26 | 2 | |
| 2005–06 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | 29 | 2 | |||
| Total | 43 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | – | 55 | 4 | |||
| Galatasaray | 2006–07 | Süper Lig | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | 22 | 2 | |
| 2007–08 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 8 | 1 | |||
| Total | 19 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | 30 | 3 | |||
| İstanbul BB | 2008–09 | Süper Lig | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 302 | 37 | 44 | 3 | 80 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 431 | 48 | ||
International
Source:
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2001 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 56 | 8 | |
Managerial
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||||
| Elazığspor |  |
30 October 2013 | 2 June 2014 | 33 | 11 | 6 | 16 | 33.33 | |||
| Gaziantepspor | |
1 August 2014 | 10 June 2015 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 35.71 | |||
| Sivasspor | |
27 October 2015 | 8 February 2016 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 18.18 | |||
| Göztepe | |
1 August 2016 | 22 March 2017 | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 43.75 | |||
| Akhisarspor | |
28 March 2017 | 30 June 2018 | 54 | 24 | 11 | 19 | 44.44 | |||
| Çaykur Rizespor | |
24 September 2018 | 29 May 2019 | 32 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 34.38 | |||
| İstanbul Başakşehir | |
11 June 2019 | 29 January 2021 | 79 | 36 | 18 | 25 | 45.57 | |||
| Galatasaray | |
23 June 2022 | present | 128 | 94 | 19 | 15 | 73.44 | |||
| Total | 410 | 207 | 83 | 120 | 50.49 | ||||||
Honours
Player
Galatasaray
- UEFA Cup: 1999–2000
- UEFA Super Cup: 2000
- Süper Lig: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2007–08
- Turkish Cup: 1992–93, 1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000
- Turkish Super Cup: 1993, 1996, 1997
Beşiktaş
- Turkish Cup: 2005–06
Turkey
- FIFA World Cup third place: 2002
Individual
- UEFA Super Cup Man of the Match: 2000
Order
- Turkish State Medal of Distinguished Service
Manager
Galatasaray
- Süper Lig: 2022–23, 2023–24
- Turkish Super Cup: 2023
İstanbul Başakşehir
- Süper Lig: 2019–20
Akhisarspor
- Turkish Cup: 2017–18
See also
In Spanish: Okan Buruk para niños
