Alpay Özalan

Date of birth29 May 1973
Place of birthIzmir
NationalityTurkish
Weight84 kg
Height1.90 m
PositionDefender

An excellent central defender he began his career at Soma Linyitspor and played at Altay Izmir before signing for domestic giants Besiktas in 1993. While at the club he won the Turkish Championship and two Turkish Cups with his performances earning him an international debut in 1995. He has been a virtual regular since, winning a special fair play medal at the 1996 European Championship Finals and getting sent off in the 2000 European Championship Finals against Portugal. At club level he left Besiktas after six seasons to join rivals Fernabache in 1999 but left after the 2000 European Championship finals to sign for Premiership side Aston Villa for £5.6 million. Injury restricted his appearances but towards the end of the 2001-02 season he had become a regular and formed an excellent partnership with Swede Olof Mellberg. A highly effective man marker and stopper who is good in the air with excellent tackling ability he is also a threat in the opposition area scoring a hat trick in qualification.

He was sent-off in Turkey's opening game in the 2002 World Cup finals against Brazil in the incident that led to Rivaldo's winning penalty. Otherwise he enjoyed a superb tournament and was selected for FIFA's All-Star squad.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Altay Izmir
Besiktas
Fenerbahce 28 Jul 2000
Aston Villa 28 Jul 2000 23 Oct 2003
Incheon United 28 Jan 2004

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1998-99 Turkey League XI State 75th Anniversary 1
2000-01 Aston Villa FA Cup 2
2000-01 Aston Villa League Cup 1
2000-01 Aston Villa Premier League 33
11
2001-02 Aston Villa League Cup 2
2001-02 Aston Villa Premier League 14
3
2001-02 Aston Villa UEFA Cup 2
2001-02 Aston Villa UEFA Intertoto Cup 6
1
2002-03 Aston Villa Premier League 5
2
2003-04 Aston Villa Premier League 4
2
1
2005-06 1.FC Koln Bundesliga 21
1
6
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
09 Sep 1998 Turkey League XI v World XI D 4-4 STATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1992-93 Turkey UEFA Under-21 7
1
1993-94 Turkey UEFA Under-21 2
1993-94 Turkey Under-21 1
1994-95 Turkey Canada Cup 2
1
1994-95 Turkey Centenary 1
1994-95 Turkey International Friendly 4
1994-95 Turkey Milli Futbol Takim 1
1994-95 Turkey UEFA European Championship 2
1994-95 Turkey UEFA Under-21 2
1995-96 Turkey International Friendly 7
1
1995-96 Turkey UEFA European Championship 6
1996-97 Turkey FIFA World Cup 4
1996-97 Turkey International Friendly 3
1997-98 Turkey FIFA World Cup 3
1997-98 Turkey International Friendly 2
1998-99 Turkey UEFA European Championship 5
1999-00 Turkey UEFA European Championship 9
1
2000-01 Turkey FIFA World Cup 5
3
2000-01 Turkey International Friendly 2
2001-02 Turkey FIFA World Cup 9
2
1
2001-02 Turkey International Friendly 1
2001-02 Turkey Reunification Cup 1
2002-03 Turkey FIFA Confederations Cup 3
2002-03 Turkey International Friendly 4
2002-03 Turkey UEFA European Championship 6
2003-04 Turkey International Friendly 2
1
2003-04 Turkey UEFA European Championship 2
2005-06 Turkey FIFA World Cup 5
2005-06 Turkey International Friendly 1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
22 Sep 1992 Poland v Turkey L 3-0 UEFA U21 Group 2
17 Nov 1992 England v Turkey W 0-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 2
15 Dec 1992 Turkey v Netherlands D 1-1 UEFA U21 Group 2
23 Feb 1993 Netherlands v Turkey W 0-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 2
09 Mar 1993 San Marino v Turkey W 0-2 UEFA Under-21 Group 2
30 Mar 1993 Turkey v England D 0-0 UEFA Under-21 Group 2
27 Apr 1993 Norway v Turkey L 5-2 UEFA Under-21 Group 2
26 Oct 1993 Turkey v Poland W 1-0 UEFA U21 Group 2
09 Nov 1993 Turkey v Norway W 3-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 2
19 Apr 1994 Turkey v Germany W 1-0 U21
06 Sep 1994 Hungary v Turkey L 2-1 UEFA U21 Group 3
13 Dec 1994 Turkey v Switzerland D 1-1 UEFA Under-21
15 Feb 1995 Turkey v Romania D 1-1 International Friendly
08 Mar 1995 Turkey v Israel W 2-1 International Friendly
29 Mar 1995 Turkey v Sweden W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group 3
26 Apr 1995 Switzerland v Turkey W 1-2 UEFA European Championship Group 3
04 Jun 1995 Canada v Turkey W 1-3 CANADA CUP
08 Jun 1995 Canada v Turkey W 0-3 Canada Cup
12 Jun 1995 Turkey v Honduras W 1-0 International Friendly
18 Jun 1995 Paraguay v Turkey D 0-0 International Friendly
21 Jun 1995 Turkey v New Zealand W 2-1 MILLI FUTBOL TAKIM
23 Jun 1995 Chile v Turkey D 0-0 CENTENARY
30 Aug 1995 Turkey v North Macedonia W 2-1 International Friendly
06 Sep 1995 Turkey v Hungary W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 3
04 Oct 1995 Finland v Turkey D 0-0 International Friendly
11 Oct 1995 Iceland v Turkey D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 3
15 Nov 1995 Sweden v Turkey D 2-2 UEFA European Championship Group 3
14 Feb 1996 Turkey v Belarus W 3-2 International Friendly
26 Mar 1996 Czech Republic v Turkey L 3-0 International Friendly
01 May 1996 Turkey v Ukraine W 3-2 International Friendly
29 May 1996 Estonia v Turkey D 0-0 International Friendly
02 Jun 1996 Finland v Turkey L 2-1 International Friendly
11 Jun 1996 Turkey v Croatia L 0-1 UEFA European Championship Finals Group D
14 Jun 1996 Portugal v Turkey L 1-0 UEFA European Championship Finals Group D
19 Jun 1996 Turkey v Denmark L 0-3 UEFA European Championship Finals Group D
14 Aug 1996 Turkey v Moldova W 2-0 International Friendly
31 Aug 1996 Belgium v Turkey L 2-1 FIFA World Cup Group 7
09 Oct 1996 France v Turkey L 4-0 International Friendly
10 Nov 1996 Turkey v San Marino W 7-0 FIFA World Cup Group 7
14 Dec 1996 Wales v Turkey D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Group 7
12 Feb 1997 Turkey v Finland D 1-1 International Friendly
02 Apr 1997 Turkey v Netherlands W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Group 7
20 Aug 1997 Turkey v Wales W 6-4 FIFA World Cup Group 7
10 Sep 1997 San Marino v Turkey W 0-5 FIFA World Cup Group 7
11 Oct 1997 Netherlands v Turkey D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Group 7
21 Jan 1998 Turkey v Albania L 1-4 International Friendly
18 Feb 1998 Israel v Turkey L 4-0 International Friendly
05 Sep 1998 Turkey v Northern Ireland W 3-0 UEFA European Championship Group 3
10 Oct 1998 Turkey v Germany W 1-0 UEFA European Championship Group 3
14 Oct 1998 Turkey v Finland L 1-3 UEFA European Championship Group 3
27 Mar 1999 Turkey v Moldova W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 3
05 Jun 1999 Finland v Turkey W 2-4 UEFA European Championship Group 3
04 Sep 1999 Northern Ireland v Turkey W 0-3 UEFA European Championship Group 3
08 Sep 1999 Moldova v Turkey D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Group 3
09 Oct 1999 Germany v Turkey D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 3
13 Nov 1999 Republic of Ireland v Turkey D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Play-off 1st leg
17 Nov 1999 Turkey v Republic of Ireland D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Play-off 2nd leg
11 Jun 2000 Turkey v Italy L 1-2 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
15 Jun 2000 Sweden v Turkey D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
19 Jun 2000 Belgium v Turkey W 0-2 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
24 Jun 2000 Portugal v Turkey L 2-0 UEFA European Championship Finals quarter-final
11 Oct 2000 Azerbaijan v Turkey W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
28 Feb 2001 Netherlands v Turkey D 0-0 International Friendly
24 Mar 2001 Turkey v Slovakia D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
28 Mar 2001 North Macedonia v Turkey W 1-2 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
25 Apr 2001 Turkey v Albania L 0-2 International Friendly
02 Jun 2001 Turkey v Azerbaijan W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
06 Jun 2001 Turkey v North Macedonia D 3-3 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
15 Aug 2001 Norway v Turkey D 1-1 International Friendly
01 Sep 2001 Slovakia v Turkey W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
05 Sep 2001 Turkey v Sweden L 1-2 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
10 Nov 2001 Austria v Turkey W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Europe play-off
14 Nov 2001 Turkey v Austria W 5-0 FIFA World Cup Europe play-off
23 May 2002 Turkey v South Africa L 0-2 REUNIFICATION CUP
03 Jun 2002 Brazil v Turkey L 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals Group C
18 Jun 2002 Japan v Turkey W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
22 Jun 2002 Turkey v Senegal W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals quarter-final
26 Jun 2002 Brazil v Turkey L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals semi-final
29 Jun 2002 Korea Republic v Turkey W 2-3 FIFA World Cup Finals 3rd place
21 Aug 2002 Turkey v Georgia W 3-0 International Friendly
07 Sep 2002 Turkey v Slovakia W 3-0 UEFA European Championship Group 7
12 Oct 2002 North Macedonia v Turkey W 1-2 UEFA European Championship Group 7
16 Oct 2002 Turkey v Liechtenstein W 5-0 UEFA European Championship Group 7
20 Nov 2002 Italy v Turkey D 1-1 International Friendly
12 Feb 2003 Turkey v Ukraine D 0-0 International Friendly
02 Apr 2003 England v Turkey L 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 7
30 Apr 2003 Czech Republic v Turkey L 4-0 International Friendly
07 Jun 2003 Slovakia v Turkey W 0-1 UEFA European Championship Group 7
11 Jun 2003 Turkey v North Macedonia W 3-2 UEFA European Championship Group 7
19 Jun 2003 USA v Turkey W 1-2 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B
23 Jun 2003 Brazil v Turkey D 2-2 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B
26 Jun 2003 France v Turkey L 3-2 FIFA Confederations Cup Semi-final
20 Aug 2003 Turkey v Moldova W 2-0 International Friendly
06 Sep 2003 Liechtenstein v Turkey W 0-3 UEFA European Championship Group 7
09 Sep 2003 Republic of Ireland v Turkey D 2-2 International Friendly
11 Oct 2003 Turkey v England D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 7
03 Sep 2005 Turkey v Denmark D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
07 Sep 2005 Ukraine v Turkey W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
08 Oct 2005 Turkey v Germany W 2-1 International Friendly
12 Oct 2005 Albania v Turkey W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
12 Nov 2005 Switzerland v Turkey L 2-0 FIFA World Cup Play-off 1st leg
16 Nov 2005 Turkey v Switzerland W 4-2 FIFA World Cup Play-off 2nd leg


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.