Mehmet Topal

Mehmet Topal

Topal with Turkey in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Mehmet Topal
Date of birth	(1986-03-03) 3 March 1986 (age 31)
Place of birth	Malatya, Turkey
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team	Fenerbahçe
Number	5
Youth career
1999–2002	Malatyaspor
2002–2004	Dardanelspor
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Dardanelspor	42	(4)
2006–2010	Galatasaray	82	(2)
2010–2012	Valencia	43	(1)
2012–	Fenerbahçe	139	(13)
National team‡
2006–2007	Turkey U21	13	(1)
2008–	Turkey	67	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 March 2017. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2016

Mehmet Topal (born 3 March 1986) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays for Fenerbahçe SK as a defensive midfielder. He was nicknamed Örümcek (Spider), due to his ability to use his long legs to win loose balls or cut passes.

He spent most of his career with Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, winning five major trophies both clubs combined. He also had a two-year spell in La Liga, with Valencia.

A Turkish international since 2008, Topal represented the nation in two European Championships.

Born in Malatya, Topal started his football career at local Malatya B.S. at the age of 13. He made his senior debuts with lowly Dardanel Spor A.Ş. in the third division.

In September 2006, Topal joined Süper Lig powerhouse Galatasaray SK, moving to the club alongside Japanese Junichi Inamoto.

Topal appeared in only 11 games in his first season in Istanbul. However, due to an injury to Swedish international Tobias Linderoth, he was handed his chance in the starting XI, later commenting on his teammate: "He helped me a lot, told me about the areas I should improve and how to do so. Sadly, I got my chance through his injury but I want him to recover in the shortest time possible."