Sakıp Özberk

Mehmet Sakıp Özberk ( born May 1, 1945 in Gaziantep ) is a former Turkish football player and coach. Through his many years as a player and especially as a trainer for Gaziantepspor he is very strongly associated with this clubs. Together with the association president Celal Doğan Özberk is attributed to have led the club from an average club in an institution in Turkish football.

Playing career

Özberk began with the club football in the youth of Gaziantep Mekikspor. Later he played for amateur club Reyhanlıspor. After he had been active for this club in the summer of 1966, he moved to first division and capital club MKE Ankaragucu. Here he came in his first season does not go beyond the role of a supplementary player. In his second season for Ankaragucu he conquered a permanent place in phases. In the summer of 1968 his club missed the league and played in the coming season in the second Türkiye Futbol Ligi. Here Özberk succeeded with his club the direct promotion back to the 1st ligament Özberk completed in this second division season 17 of the possible 34 league games for his team. After climbing Özberk stayed for three more seasons at Ankaragucu, but was still not beyond the role of a supplementary player. In the season 1971/72 Özberks team completely by surprise Turkish Cup winners was. Özberk contributed to this success two goals in four cup games at.

In the summer of 1972 Özberk moved to the second-division club Adana Demirspor. In this club, he established himself at first -team regular. The team finished the season as champions of the 2nd league and reached the promotion to the 1st League. After the climb, he played two more years in the 1st League for Demirspor. In the summer of 1976, he joined the club of his hometown, to the second division Gaziantepspor. For this club, he played an indefinitely long.

Coaching career

The beginnings of Özberks coaching career are not documented in detail. Busy, among other things, that he 1985 for the Turkish Football Federation worked as a screener and development coach and took care of the area south-east Anatolia in this function. He probably worked for the first time as head coach from the summer of 1987 for the second division Siirt Koy Hizmetleri SK. Two years later he trained then the second division Petrol Ofisi SK.

In the summer of 1991, he took over for the first time his former club Gaziantepspor as head coach. This club he coached for one season. After reaching relegation on the last matchday end of the season, he separated from the club. In November 1992, he took over with the second division Adana Demirspor another former club. Even after six weeks, he left this club again. In January of the next year he took over Istanbul's second division Zeytinburnuspor. This club he led to the championship of the second division season 1992/ 93 and thus to the direct promotion to the 1st ligament After this success the club Özberks extended contract for another season. With the club Özberk slipped in spring 1994 in the defense of the region Erstligatabelle. So Özberk left the club in March 1994.

For the summer of 1994 then took over for the second time Özberk Gaziantepspor. This time he coached the club consistently for three seasons. In addition to the best table placements, for 15 years Özberk Gaziantepspors strengthened position within the League 1. During this time he organized together with the Club President Celal Doğan the club, and emphasized several reforms in the junior section and the talent scouting around. In addition, persuaded and he promoted former players Gaziantepspor as Hüseyin Kalpar and Nurullah Sağlam to opt for a coaching career. These players then also worked at Gaziantepspor as co- and later as head coach and also contributed to the development of the association with. Özberk association with the club president Doğan a love-hate relationship. While Doğan was a member of the Turkish '68 movement and avowed social democrat, Özberk was known for his conservative view of life. This led to several controversies between the two friendly personalities and made ​​sure that Özberk left in the summer of 1997. After the departure Özberks the club was a year of Georges Heylens and Milorad Mitrovic trained and played during this season against relegation. Then took Özberks assistant coach Kalpar the team and led the team back to its former strength. Özberk even coached in the meantime, the clubs Altay Izmir and Bursaspor. After Kalpar had to leave in September 1999, it inherited Özberk and thus coached the club for the third time. With his team, he became the Überraschungsmannschft the Erstligasaison 1999/2000. This ended the team in third place, achieved the best finish in club history and qualified as for the UEFA Cup. Despite this success Özberk again experienced several controversies with the club president Doğan. As a result Özberk left in the summer of 2000 the club again and was replaced by Erdoğan Arıca. In the new season then the club started Arıca while Özberk even the upstart Siirt Jet - Pa Spor took over. After Arıca was fired after matchday 15 to Doğan agreed again with Özberk for a fourth term of office in Gaziantepspor. In the 2000 /01 season held Özberks team until the end of the season a little points off the table top and saved for the first time in club history the chance of the championship. In the penultimate match Gaziantepspor met in the home game at Galatasaray. This team was with only two points ahead of the second place in the table. In case of victory Özberks team Galatasaray would replace on the second place in the table and get a great shot at the second Champion League spot. The embattled match Gaziantepspor lost. The season ended, the club finally on the third place in the table and thus repeated the Vereinsbestmarke. After this season Özberk left the club for the last time.

Later he trained in sequence, the first or second division club Denizlispor, Samsunspor, Diyarbakirspor, Konyaspor, MKE Ankaragucu and Çaykur Rizespor. In this association did not reach significant results except for the league. Then Özberk was indeed continues to be associated with several clubs but he took because of health problems no longer coach offers.

Achievements

As a player

• Master of TFF 1 Lig and promotion to the Süper Lig: in 1968/69
• Turkish Cup winner: 1987/88

• Master of TFF 1 Lig and promotion to the Süper Lig: 1972/73

As a coach

• Vice Master of TFF 1 Lig and promotion to the Süper Lig: 1992/93

• 3rd place of the Süper Lig: 1999/2000, 2000/ 01