Yıldıray Baştürk

Yıldıray Baştürk [ jɯldɯraj baʃtyrk ] ( born December 24, 1978 in Herne ) is a retired German -Turkish football player.

Career

Association

The son of a miner began his football career in the sport friends Tub Eickelmann. As a teenager, played Baştürk for SG Wattenscheid 09, but the breakthrough came through the Bundesliga with VfL Bochum climb, with whom he also played in the UEFA Cup. By switching to Bayer 04 Leverkusen he was able to prevail final. In 2002 he moved with Leverkusen as the first Turkish footballer to the Champions League final, was runner-up in the Bundesliga, moved into the Cup final and was with the Turkish national team third at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

In July 2004 he moved to Hertha BSC. He counted there to the permanent employees and became the Herthaner the 2005/06 season selected. For the season 2007/ 08 he moved to VfB Stuttgart free transfer and signed a three-year contract with an option for extension.

On 27 January 2010 Baştürk moved free transfer to Blackburn Rovers. With his new club, however, he came in the Premier League only to a single application on 24 April 2010 against Wolverhampton Wanderers, before the contract expired at the end of season 2009/10 and was not renewed. The following year, he was without a club and ended in May 2011 his career.

National

Baştürks family had immigrated from Bartın in northwestern Turkey to Germany. He has besides the Turkish citizenship also a German passport and decided to play for the Turkish national team.

In the 2002 World Cup, he was with his team of third parties.

The former coach of the Turkish national team, Fatih Terim, Baştürk not nominated for the European Championship 2008. Baştürk then decided not to play for the Turkish national team, as long as they 'll coached by Terim. Even after Terim's resignation, he was not called to the national team. His last game for the national team, he made early in 2008.

Achievements

• 3rd place at the 2002 World Cup
• 3rd place at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2003
• Runner-up with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga Season 2001/2002
• Champions League finalist with Bayer Leverkusen 2002