Alpay Özalan
Alpay during a training session with 1. FC Köln from 2006.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Fehmi Alpay Özalan | ||
| Date of birth | 29 May 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | İzmir, Turkey | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1993 | Altay | 23 | (1) |
| 1993–1999 | Beşiktaş | 148 | (9) |
| 1999–2000 | Fenerbahçe | 29 | (3) |
| 2000–2003 | Aston Villa | 57 | (1) |
| 2003–2004 | Incheon United | 8 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | Urawa Reds | 13 | (0) |
| 2005–2007 | 1. FC Köln | 48 | (1) |
| Total | 326 | (15) | |
| National team | |||
| 1992–1994 | Turkey U21 | 19 | (0) |
| 1993 | Turkey Olympic | 4 | (0) |
| 1995–2005 | Turkey | 90 | (4) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2016– | Eskişehirspor | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Fehmi Alpay Özalan, known as Alpay, (born 29 May 1973) is a former Turkish footballer, who is currently a manager of Eskişehirspor.
He played 87 international games for Turkey between 1995 and 2005, making him Turkey's sixth-most capped player of all time. This included performances at two European Championships and the 2002 World Cup, in which he was selected for the Team of the Tournament.
Alpay began his career at Altay. His performances caught the eyes of the biggest teams in Turkey.
In 1993, Alpay signed for one of the Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Alpay set a record in the Süper Lig, earning three red cards in the space of six months. He played 148 matches for Beşiktaş, netting nine times. After six years at the club, a new deal could not be negotiated. His contact was initially bought by Siirt Jetpaspor, and he was then loaned to Fenerbahçe. In his sole season at Fenerbahçe, he played 26 matches, and found the net three times.
After superlative performances for his country at Euro 2000, Alpay signed for English club Aston Villa. He enjoyed a good first season with Villa and he became a fan favourite. His abilities caught the interest of Arsenal and Newcastle United. With the arrival of Olof Mellberg, the duo became one of the most talented central-defensive partners in Europe. The partnership was cut short as Alpay injured his ankle which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He recovered just in time for the 2002 World Cup, in which he formed the core of an obstinate Turkish defensive unit. They finished third and he was elected into the team of the tournament.
The biggest clubs in Europe took note of his performances in the Far East, including the likes of FC Barcelona and Internazionale. Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor refused to sell him, which was the beginning of Alpay's downfall at Villa Park. Media reports and comments made by Taylor led to Alpay becoming a very unpopular figure at the club, missing much of the 2002–03 season. Their goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, defended Alpay in his article in the English newspaper, The Times.
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