Özgür Çek

Özgür Çek (born 3 January 1991) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a left winger for TFF First League club Gençlerbirliği.

Özgür Çek
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-01-03) 3 January 1991[1]
Place of birth Erbaa, Turkey
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Left back / Winger
Team information
Current team
 Gençlerbirliği
Number 60
Youth career
2002–2004 Maltepespor
2004–2006 Pendikspor
2006–2009 Fenerbahçe
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Ankaraspor 1 (0)
2009–2010 → MKE Ankaragücü (loan) 1 (0)
2010–2012 MKE Ankaragücü 37 (6)
2012–2013 Fenerbahçe 4 (0)
2013–2015 Eskişehirspor 62 (4)
2016 Alanyaspor 13 (0)
2016–2018 Çaykur Rizespor 39 (6)
2018–2020 Kasımpaşa 25 (0)
2020–2021 Denizlispor 21 (0)
2021–2023 Manisa FK 20 (0)
2023– Gençlerbirliği 6 (0)
International career‡
2007 Turkey U16 12 (0)
2007–2008 Turkey U17 14 (3)
2008–2009 Turkey U18 8 (1)
2008–2010 Turkey U19 19 (2)
2009–2012 Turkey U21 15 (2)
2012–2014 Turkey A2 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:12, 18 January 2013 (UTC)

Early years

Özgür Çek began his footballing at a Fenerbahçe school in Istanbul. In 2002, he moved to local club Maltepespor due to its proximity to his residence. He was transferred to Pendikspor in 2004, with club scouts having been impressed with his talent. Özgür Çek was persuaded by the club's training facilities and former players who had gone through the youth system at Pendikspor. His dream was to eventually move to one of Istanbul's "big three" clubs: Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. Özgür Çek later received offers from all three clubs in 2006, choosing Fenerbahçe in the end. In an interview, Özgür Çek remarked that he knew it was very hard for youth players to break through into the first team at Fenerbahçe, but stated that his biggest dream was to play for the club.[2]

Club career

Fenerbahçe signed him to his first professional contract on 1 July 2006. However, he did not make any league appearances for the club, and was later sent to Ankaraspor as part of the deal that brought Özer Hurmacı to Fenerbahçe. His professional debut came against Gaziantepspor on 23 August 2009. Özgür Çek's career with the club didn't last long, as they were expelled from the league because of its relationship with MKE Ankaragücü, ruling that it was contrary to sporting competitiveness" (see 2009–10 in Turkish football).[3][4] As a result, Özgür Çek was loaned out to MKE Ankaragücü for the rest of the season. His deal was made permanent at the end of the year, Ankaraspor having ceased operations, signing a five-year deal with MKE Ankaragücü. Özgür Çek has been a regular fixture in the side for the 2010–11 season, starting the first seven matches while scoring two goals.[1]

Eskişehirspor

Özgür Çek signed a 3.5 year contract with Eskişehirspor on 5 January 2013.[5]

Gençlerbirliği

On 12 January 2023, Çek joined Gençlerbirliği on a one-and-a-half-year-deal.[6]

References
  1. Özgür Çek at the Turkish Football Federation
  2. Mazlum Uluç (1 October 2010). "Sol çizgide açık çek: Özgür Çek" (in Turkish). tff.org. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  3. "Ankaraspor 'etkisiz eleman'" (in Turkish). ntvmsnbc.com. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  4. "Ankaraspor ligden düşürüldü!" (in Turkish). fanatik.net. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  5. "Özgür Çek'i Es-Es kaptı" (in Turkish). ligtv.com.tr. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  6. "Kırmızı-Karalarımız 8 İsmi Daha Kadrosuna Kattı" (Press release) (in Turkish). Gençlerbirliği. 12 January 2023.
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