Top 10 Fun Facts about Arda Turan

Arda Turan Appearing for Turkish National Team(2016). Photo By Steindy .Wikicommons

Top 10 Fun Facts about Arda Turan

Adnan Turan is a Turkish professional footballer who plays attacking midfielder, an outfield position in association football.

Turan is mostly known for his ball control, dribbling skills, and vision.

He is among the top 100 Best Young Footballers and the only player on the list born in Turkey.

Turan holds 100 senior national caps and 17 goals for the Turkey national team.

A working-class Istanbul suburb was named after Arda Turan in honor of his achievement.

Below are some of the fun facts about Arda Turan

1 Born and raised in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey

He was born on 30^th January 1985 in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey, to his parents Yuksel Turan and Adnan Turan.

Turan dated Turkish actress Sinem Kobal from August 2009 but separated in late 2013.

In 2018, he married Aslıhan Dogan, and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the wedding where he acted as a witness to their marriage.

They have two children, Hamza Arda and Asil Aslan.

2 He was Promoted to Galatasaray’s First Team at the Age of 17

Arda Turan is a product of Galatasaray, a football club based in Istanbul. 

At the age of 17, he was promoted to Galatasaray’s first team and was handed his professional debut by Gheorghe Hagi, Barcelona’s ex-player.

He then had a spell on loan to fellow Super Lig side Manisaspor in the second half of the 2005–06 season and scored two goals for the team based in Manisa.

Turan was recalled to Galatasaray for the start of the 2006–07 season and quickly broke into the first team.

During this time, he received his first senior international call-up.

 He helped Galatasaray qualify for the following season’s UEFA Champions League group stage and he continued his development in the 2007–08 season, scoring seven goals in the second half of the season.

At the start of the 2009–10 season, Turan was handed the captaincy of Galatasaray and given squad number 10, a role previously held by Metin Oktay and Hagi; Turan previously wore number 66.

As captain at the start of the season, Turan guided his team to six consecutive league wins games which put Galatasaray comfortably at the top of the table.

On 5th August 2020, Galatasaray announced the signing of Turan on a two-year deal.

Due to a long-term injury to goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, he was made the club’s captain.

3 He is the Most Expensive Turk in Football’s History 

Arda was paid €12 million to move from Galatasaray to Atletico Madrid in 2011.

Arda Turan became the most expensive Turkish player ever bought when he signed a 41-million-euro, $46 million deal with La Liga and European champions Barcelona.

The contract was to run for five seasons, but Turan was able to debut for Catalans in January 2016.

4 He is the First Turk to Win La Liga

Turan ,in sunglasses, on Atlético’s victory parade after winning La Liga in 2014.Photo by Barcex. Wikicommons.

In Turk history, he won the first La Liga title in the 2013/2014 season with Atletico Madrid.

The 2013–14 season was Atlético Madrid’s 83rd season in the club’s history and the club’s 77th season in La Liga, the top league of Spanish football. Los Colchoneros were crowned champions for the 10th time, by drawing against Barcelona in the last league game.

5 He is a Big Fan of Lionel Messi

 He is a big fan of Lionel Messi and praised the Barca talisman openly in 2012 after Atletico’s 0-0 draw against Barca. Lionel Messi is out of this world, he’s an alien. For me, he is the best player in the history of football. he said.

6 He is the Second Player from Turkey to Play for Barça

On 6 July 2015, Barcelona signed Turan from Atletico for €34 million, plus €7 million in variables, the contract would run for five seasons.

 Turan is the 2nd player from Turkey to play for Barça, after the goalkeeper Rustu who played for Barca in 2003/2004, and the move was hailed by Turkey’s national press.

Turan made his debut for Barça on 6 January 2016 against Espanyol in what is known as Derbi barceloní, during the first leg of the round of 16. of the Copa del Rey, which ended 4–1 in favour of Barcelona.

7 He is the 8^th Player to Join Barcelona from Atletico Madrid

 Arda Turan is only the 8th player to join Barcelona from Atletico Madrid. The first since Juan Carlos in 1991.

The announcement came after Turan’s agent, Ahmet Bulut, confirmed the player’s departure, saying that he would depart Los Colchoneros for a new club this summer.

Turan featured 42 times in La Liga and the Champions League , but only notched three goals and six assists.

He has the ability to play on either side of midfield or as a No. 10.

8 He Once Collapsed During a Game Against Istanbul BB  

On 16 November 2008, Arda Turan collapsed during a game against İstanbul BB. After being rushed to hospital, he was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, a disease of the heart irregular heartbeat.

The day after the incident, doctors declared that Turan was in good health and that extreme exhaustion caused the arrhythmia.

In 2010–11 season, he was also troubled with injuries and played a limited number of games.

By the end of the season, he had played in only 12 league matches, scoring two goals; and in three Turkish Cup matches, where he scored one.

9 He is Among Top 100 Best Young Football Players in the World

Following a successful UEFA Euro 2008 campaign with Turkey, Turan was ranked 8th in a list of the 100 Best Young Football Players in the World piece published by Spanish magazine Don Balón in July 2008. Turan was ranked 38th in the 100 best footballers in the world by The Guardian in 2014, the only player on the list to be born in Turkey.

10 He is a Goodwill Ambassador of Khojaly Massacre

A Memorial Stone of the Khojaly massacre in The Hague, Netherlands. Photo by Mursel. Wikicommons.

On 11^th May 2014, Turan was announced as a goodwill ambassador for the Khojaly Massacre.

The Khojaly massacre was the mass killing of Azerbaijanis by Armenian forces on 26 February 1992.

His ambassadorial activities are aimed to raise awareness about this issue and promoting world peace.

Turan is also known for his humanitarian work, especially in helping of sick children.