Top 10 Interesting Facts about Nuri Şahin

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Nuri Şahin

Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund) AUTHOR; Jorge Dorta. WIKIMEDIA

Nuri Sahin is a Turkish professional football manager and former player who played as a central midfielder and also a former coach who is the current manager of Turkish football club Antalyaspor. 

He played for some of the best teams in the world including Liverpool, Borrusia Dortmund and Real Madrid before he hang up his boots. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting facts about him;

1. He was born to Turkish parents and began his football career at 6

NURI SAHIN. PHOTO SOURCED FROM WIKIMEDIA

Sahin was born to Turkish parents in Lüdenscheid, Germany and grew up in nearby Meinerzhagen. Sahin began his football career at the local club in his home town RSV Meinerzhagen at the age of six. 

After spending seven seasons at the club, he moved abroad and was signed by professional club Borussia Dortmund, who saw his talents and signed him in 2001. He was one of the best talents during a scout by the Dortmund scouting team. 

2. Sahin played for some of the best clubs in the world of football 

Nuri Sahin (Feyenoord). AUTHOR; Knurftendan. WIKIMEDIA

Sahin played for some of the best teams in the world beginning his senior career with Borussia Dortmund, spending six years there and winning the Bundesliga in 2011 – including a year-long loan at Feyenoord – before signing for Real Madrid in 2011 for €10 million.

In August 2012, Şahin agreed to a one-year loan deal with Liverpool, which was terminated in January 2013 to allow him to return to Dortmund on an 18-month loan. This was then made permanent, and he stayed at Dortmund until his transfer to Werder Bremen in August 2018.

3. He represented Turkey at the international level and earned 52 caps before retirement 

Nuri Sahin representing Turkey. Photo Sourced from WIKIMEDIA

Sahin represented Turkey at the international level and did so with all the youth levels and senior levels from the under-16 level. He made his senior international debut in 2005 and earned 52 caps before retiring in 2017.

Sahin won the bronze ball prize at the 2005 Under-17 World Cup in Peru after a successful tournament with Turkey, finishing in fourth place. He is the youngest player to have played and scored for Turkey.

He scored on his international debut which was a match against Germany, the country of his birth. 

4. He has won several awards and honours

Sahin has several awards and honours in his career that spanned over 17 years including the KNVB Cup in 2007–08 season with Feyenoord, Bundesliga in 2010-2011 season, the DFB-Pokal in 2016–17 season, DFL-Supercup in 2013, UEFA Champions League runner-up in 2012–2013 season, Laliga with Real Madrid in 2011-2012.

He has also won individual honours in his career including; The UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2005 with Turkey, The UEFA European Under-17 Championship Golden Player in 2005, FIFA U-17 World Cup Bronze Ball in 2005, FIFA U-17 World Cup Silver Shoe in 2005,

He also won the VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season in the 2010–2011 season, kicker Bundesliga Player of the Season in the 2010–2011 season, kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2010–2011 season, ESM Team of the Year: 2010–2011 season. 

5. Sahin is a graduate of Harvard Business school in sports management

Sahin was admitted to the American university Harvard. He graduated from Harvard Business School for sports management in 2018, while playing for Dortmund. He combined football and education. 

Taking to Twitter he wrote “I’m pleased to inform you that I’ve been admitted to Harvard Business! Super excited about the programme and delighted to meet legendary Anita Elberse #LifeAtHBS.”

Famed professor Elberse is an “expert on the business of entertainment, media and sports” at Harvard.

6. Sahib was signed as a player-coach for Antalyaspor and replaced Ersun Yanal as manager 

Nuri Şahin at Antalyaspor vs Amed SK. AUTHOR; Antalyaspor A.Ş. WIKIMEDIA

Sahin was given a five-year contract to replace Ersun Yanal but was able to choose himself if he also wanted to continue playing. He was named as manager on 5th October 2021 and has since been in charge of 36 games and has won 23, while also drawing 5 and losing 8.

Antalyaspor also hired Dutch manager Alfons Groenendijk as the A Team’s technical executive, Brazilian expert Marcelo Lins Martins as performance trainer as part of Şahin’s coaching team, in addition to previous signings of Dutch manager Michael Lindeman as assistant manager and Turkish trainer Murat Öztürk as goalkeeper trainer. 

7. His net worth is around $15 million

Sahin’s net worth is $15 million have gotten most of his wealth primarily from his career as a professional soccer player and as a manager. 

He is one of the richest people in Turkey and is aged 34 years. He made his wealth from playing with some of the biggest European football clubs where he earned some of the biggest salaries. Commercials are also one of the ways he earned his cash. 

8. He is the youngest player to score in the Bundesliga aged just 16

He began his career with Borussia Dortmund, starting in their youth system and working his way up to the senior team. He set a record by becoming the youngest player to play in the Bundesliga at 16 years and 344 days though his record was later surpassed by Youssoufa Moukoko on 21 November 2020 at the age of 16 years and 1 day

He also set a record by becoming the youngest player to score a goal in the Bundesliga at 17 years and 114 days, a record which was later surpassed by Florian Wirtz on 6 June 2020 at the age of 17 years and 34 days. 

9. His move to Real Madrid did not work out as planned

He moved to Real Madrid after he won the Bundesliga for the first time in 2011 with Borrusia Dortmund. He soon returned to his boyhood club Dortmund. 

His switch to Madrid did not work out as planned and, on his return in January 2013 following a spell at Liverpool, Sahin was not sure how his beloved Yellow Wall would react. When the free-kick maestro was warming up for his first game back. 

10. Sahin is married to his cousin Tugba Sahin and they have a son together

He has been married to his cousin Tugba Sahin (nee Emeni) since November 2007. In September 2011, she gave birth to a son, Omer, in Madrid.

Sahin having travelled and played for several European clubs in different countries, is fluent in five languages including Turkish, German, English, Dutch and Spanish. His career can be termed as a success though he failed to hit his potential.