Okan Buruk

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Personal information
Okan Buruk
Full name	Okan Buruk
Date of birth	October 19, 1973 (1973-10-19) (age 34)
Place of birth	İstanbul, Turkey
Height	1.69m
Playing position	Right midfielder
Club information
Current club	Galatasaray
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1991–2001 2001–2004 2004–2006 2006–present	Galatasaray Internazionale Beşiktaş Galatasaray	189 (32) 25 (2) 40 (4) 15 (2)
National team²
1992-2005	Turkey	54 (8)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 June 2006. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 10 June 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Okan Buruk also known as Okan (born 19 October 1973 Istanbul) is a Turkish football player, currently plays for Galatasaray. Okan is younger brother of Fuat Buruk.

He played for Turkish giants Galatasaray and helped them win a UEFA Cup, Super Cup and many Turkish titles during his 10 year stay (1991-2001). In 1992, his leg was broken in a game against Trabzonspor, and he had a year long hiatus. During his tenure at Galatasaray, he is best known for his incredible pace, highly accurate passing, and long range shots on goal.

This talent was not missed by top European clubs and in 2001, he was signed by Italian Giants Internazionale and stayed on for 3 years. He was then signed by Beşiktaş and returned to Turkey. At the start of the 2006/2007 season Okan signed for Galatasaray, rejoining his old club. Okan has been having trouble to play first-team game since he is back to Turkey from Italy. Okan scored his first goal after returning to Galatasaray against Liverpool in Champions League first round closing match with a spectacular long range shoot. That goal secured Galatasaray's only victory in their Champions League season but, not quite enough to keep them alive in European football for 2007 winter.

Buruk announced that he will retire in 2008, and is planning to have a jubilee match against Besiktas SK.

Okan is a product of the Galatasaray Youth Team

[edit] Honours

Galatasaray
- UEFA Super Cup: 1 (2000)
- UEFA Cup: 1 (2000)
- Turkish League: 7 (1992-93, 1993-94, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2007-08)

Turkey
- UEFA Euro 2000 Quarter-Finalist
- FIFA World Cup 2002: 3rd place

[edit] External links

v • d • e Turkey squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup Third Place

1 Rüştü • 2 Emre Aşık • 3 Bülent • 4 Fatih • 5 Alpay • 6 Arif • 7 Okan • 8 Tugay • 9 Hakan Şükür • 10 Baştürk • 11 Hasan • 12 Ömer • 13 İzzet • 14 Tayfur • 15 Nihat • 16 Ümit Özat • 17 İlhan • 18 Ergün • 19 Abdullah • 20 Hakan Ünsal • 21 Emre Belözoğlu • 22 Ümit Davala • 23 Zafer • Coach: Güneş