Semih Kaya facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 February 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Bergama, Turkey | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2004 | Petkimspor | ||
| 2004 | Helvacı Bld. Gençlik ve Spor | ||
| 2004–2006 | Altay | ||
| 2006–2009 | Galatasaray | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2017 | Galatasaray | 147 | (5) |
| 2010 | → Gaziantepspor (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Kartalspor (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2017–2020 | Sparta Prague | 28 | (2) |
| 2019 | → Galatasaray (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Yeni Malatyaspor | 54 | (1) |
| 2022 | Galatasaray | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 255 | (8) | |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Turkey U15 | 2 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Turkey U16 | 9 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Turkey U17 | 25 | (1) |
| 2007–2009 | Turkey U18 | 10 | (0) |
| 2009 | Turkey U19 | 2 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Turkey U21 | 4 | (0) |
| 2012–2015 | Turkey | 23 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Semih Kaya, born on February 24, 1991, is a former professional football player from Turkey. He was a strong defender, known as a centre back. His last team was Galatasaray. Semih announced he was stopping his football career on August 12, 2022.
Contents
Semih's Football Journey
Starting in Youth Teams
Semih Kaya began his football journey at a young age. He joined the youth academy of Galatasaray when he was 15 years old. Before that, he played for Altay's youth team.
In 2007, while playing in a youth league game, Semih had an accident. He got a kick to his head and needed surgery. This showed how tough he was, even as a young player.
First Steps in Professional Football
Semih made his first appearance in the top Turkish league, the Süper Lig, in February 2009. He played for Galatasaray against İstanbul B.B..
To get more playing time, he went on loan to other clubs. In 2010, he played for Gaziantepspor for a short time. Later that year, he joined Kartalspor on loan. While at Kartalspor, he even scored two goals in a youth league game.
Becoming a Star at Galatasaray
Semih returned to Galatasaray for the 2011–12 season. At first, he wasn't a regular starter. However, due to injuries to other players and strong performances from Semih, the coach, Fatih Terim, gave him a chance.
Semih quickly showed how good he was. He became a key defender for Galatasaray, playing alongside Tomáš Ujfaluši. He scored his first goal for the club in January 2012 against Samsunspor. That season, he played 30 games and helped Galatasaray win the league championship.
He continued to be a top defender for Galatasaray. He played well against big teams like Manchester United in European competitions. His strong and calm playing style made him a reliable player. In 2013, he extended his contract with Galatasaray.
Playing in the Czech Republic
In July 2017, Semih Kaya moved to the Czech Republic. He joined Sparta Prague and signed a three-year contract.
He returned to Galatasaray on loan in January 2019 for part of the season. This was a chance for him to play for his old club again. In July 2020, Sparta Prague announced that Semih was leaving the club. He had faced some injuries during his time there.
Later Career and Retirement
After leaving Sparta Prague, Semih joined Yeni Malatyaspor in September 2020. He played for them until January 2022.
In February 2022, Semih Kaya returned to Galatasaray for a third time. This was his final club. On August 12, 2022, Semih announced that he was retiring from professional football. He had a great career, playing for many years at the highest level.
Playing for His Country
Semih Kaya also played for the Turkish national team at many different levels. He represented Turkey from the under-15 team all the way up to the senior national team.
He made his debut for the senior Turkish team in February 2012. He played the whole game against Slovakia. Semih was also part of the Turkish team that played in the Euro 2016 tournament.
Personal Life
Semih Kaya's family has roots in Macedonia. His grandfather moved from Macedonia to İzmir, a city in Turkey. Semih is the youngest of three brothers.
Career Achievements
Semih Kaya won many important trophies during his career, especially with Galatasaray.
Galatasaray
- Süper Lig (Turkish League Champion): 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2018–19
- Türkiye Kupası (Turkish Cup Winner): 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19
- Süper Kupa (Turkish Super Cup Winner): 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
Sparta Prague
- Czech Cup (Czech Cup Winner): 2019–20
See also
In Spanish: Semih Kaya para niños
