Yıldıray Baştürk
| Date of birth | 24 December 1978 |
| Place of birth | Bochum, Germany |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Weight | 65 kg |
| Height | 1.68 m |
| Position | Midfielder |
Born in Germany, he began at Wattenscheid before signing for VfL Bochum in 1997.
He became an idol at the club and broke into the national squad towards the end of the 2000-01 season.
He moved to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2001 for £4 million and became an important member of the side's midfield.
He made himself pivotal to the national team where his lightening pace and great skill gave the team a real attacking threat from midfield.
He played in all seven of Turkey's games in the 2002 World Cup finals.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wattenscheid | 01 Jul 1996 | 01 Jul 1997 | |
| VfL Bochum | 01 Jul 1997 | 01 Jul 2001 | |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 01 Jul 2001 | 01 Jul 2004 | |
| Hertha BSC Berlin | 01 Jul 2004 | 01 Jul 2007 | |
| VfB Stuttgart | 01 Jul 2007 | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 27 Jan 2010 | 31 May 2010 | L |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | VfL Bochum | Bundesliga | 29 | 4 |
6
|
2
|
|
| 2001-02 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 29 | 1 |
3 |
13
|
|
| 2001-02 | Bayer Leverkusen | UEFA Champions League | 15 | 4 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2002-03 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 23 | 3 |
3 |
5
|
1
|
| 2002-03 | Bayer Leverkusen | UEFA Champions League | 11 |
4
|
|||
| 2003-04 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 8 | 9 |
2 |
5
|
|
| 2004-05 | Hertha BSC Berlin | Bundesliga | 24 | 1 |
7 |
2
|
|
| 2005-06 | Hertha BSC Berlin | Bundesliga | 25 | 2 |
6 |
4
|
|
| 2006-07 | Hertha BSC Berlin | Bundesliga | 14 | 3 |
1 |
2
|
|
| 2007-08 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | 18 | 2 |
2 |
2
|
|
| 2009-10 | Blackburn Rovers | Premier League | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 2000 | 1.FC Kaiserslautern v VfL Bochum | W | 0-1 | Bundesliga | 1 |
| 19 Aug 2000 | VfL Bochum v Bayern München | L | 0-3 | Bundesliga | 2 |
| 06 Sep 2000 | Hertha Berlin v VfL Bochum | L | 4-0 | Bundesliga | 3 |
| 09 Sep 2000 | VfL Bochum v Hamburger SV | L | 0-4 | Bundesliga | 4 |
| 16 Sep 2000 | VfL Bochum v VfL Wolfsburg | W | 2-1 | Bundesliga | 5 |
| 23 Sep 2000 | VfB Stuttgart v VfL Bochum | D | 1-1 | Bundesliga | 6 |
| 30 Sep 2000 | VfL Bochum v SpVgg Unterhaching | W | 3-0 | Bundesliga | 7 |
| 14 Oct 2000 | 1.FC Köln v VfL Bochum | L | 2-0 | Bundesliga | 8 |
| 22 Oct 2000 | VfL Bochum v Hansa Rostock | L | 1-2 | Bundesliga | 7 |
| 27 Oct 2000 | Energie Cottbus v VfL Bochum | L | 2-0 | Bundesliga | 10 |
| 04 Nov 2000 | VfL Bochum v TSV 1860 München | D | 1-1 | Bundesliga | 11 |
| 19 Nov 2000 | VfL Bochum v Borussia Dortmund | D | 1-1 | Bundesliga | 13 |
| 24 Nov 2000 | Schalke 04 v VfL Bochum | L | 2-1 | Bundesliga | 14 |
| 02 Dec 2000 | VfL Bochum v Eintracht Frankfurt | W | 2-1 | Bundesliga | 15 |
| 09 Dec 2000 | SC Freiburg v VfL Bochum | L | 5-0 | Bundesliga | 16 |
| 13 Dec 2000 | VfL Bochum v Bayer Leverkusen | W | 3-2 | Bundesliga | 17 |
| 16 Dec 2000 | VfL Bochum v 1.FC Kaiserslautern | L | 0-1 | Bundesliga | 18 |
| 27 Jan 2001 | Bayern München v VfL Bochum | L | 3-2 | Bundesliga | 19 |
| 03 Feb 2001 | VfL Bochum v Hertha Berlin | L | 1-3 | Bundesliga | 20 |
| 17 Feb 2001 | VfL Wolfsburg v VfL Bochum | D | 0-0 | Bundesliga | 22 |
| 25 Feb 2001 | VfL Bochum v VfB Stuttgart | D | 0-0 | Bundesliga | 23 |
| 03 Mar 2001 | SpVgg Unterhaching v VfL Bochum | L | 2-1 | Bundesliga | 24 |
| 17 Mar 2001 | Hansa Rostock v VfL Bochum | L | 2-0 | Bundesliga | 26 |
| 01 Apr 2001 | VfL Bochum v Energie Cottbus | W | 1-0 | Bundesliga | 27 |
| 07 Apr 2001 | TSV 1860 München v VfL Bochum | W | 2-4 | Bundesliga | 28 |
| 14 Apr 2001 | VfL Bochum v Werder Bremen | L | 1-2 | Bundesliga | 29 |
| 20 Apr 2001 | Borussia Dortmund v VfL Bochum | L | 5-0 | Bundesliga | 30 |
| 28 Apr 2001 | VfL Bochum v Schalke 04 | D | 1-1 | Bundesliga | 31 |
| 05 May 2001 | Eintracht Frankfurt v VfL Bochum | L | 3-0 | Bundesliga | 32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | Turkey | UEFA Under-18 | 6 | 2 |
1
|
||
| 1997-98 | Turkey | International Friendly | 1 |
||||
| 1998-99 | Turkey | UEFA Under-21 | 2 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Turkey | UEFA Under-21 | 7 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Turkey | FIFA World Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2000-01 | Turkey | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Turkey | FIFA World Cup | 11 | 1 |
1 |
||
| 2001-02 | Turkey | International Friendly | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2001-02 | Turkey | Reunification Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Turkey | FIFA Confederations Cup | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Turkey | International Friendly | 4 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Turkey | UEFA European Championship | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2003-04 | Turkey | International Friendly | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Turkey | FIFA World Cup | 3 | 1 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2005-06 | Turkey | FIFA World Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2005-06 | Turkey | International Friendly | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2006-07 | Turkey | International Friendly | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2006-07 | Turkey | UEFA European Championship | 1 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2007-08 | Turkey | International Friendly | 2 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Sep 1996 | Turkey v Belgium | W | 5-3 | UEFA U18 | Group 6 |
| 22 Sep 1996 | Germany v Turkey | W | 2-4 | UEFA U18 | Group 6 |
| 17 Oct 1996 | Turkey v Germany | L | 0-2 | UEFA U18 | Group 6 |
| 30 Oct 1996 | Turkey v Portugal | W | 2-1 | UEFA U18 | Group 6 |
| 14 Nov 1996 | Belgium v Turkey | W | 0-1 | UEFA U18 | Group 6 |
| 28 Nov 1996 | Portugal v Turkey | L | 5-0 | UEFA U18 | Group 6 |
| 21 Jan 1998 | Turkey v Albania | L | 1-4 | International Friendly | |
| 26 Mar 1999 | Turkey v Moldova | W | 2-0 | UEFA U21 | Group 3 |
| 04 Jun 1999 | Finland v Turkey | D | 0-0 | UEFA U21 | Group 3 |
| 03 Sep 1999 | Northern Ireland v Turkey | W | 1-2 | UEFA U21 | Group 3 |
| 08 Oct 1999 | Germany v Turkey | D | 1-1 | UEFA U21 | Group 3 |
| 12 Nov 1999 | Poland v Turkey | L | 2-1 | UEFA U21 | Quarter-final |
| 16 Nov 1999 | Turkey v Poland | W | 1-0 | UEFA U21 | Quarter-final |
| 27 May 2000 | Slovakia v Turkey | L | 2-1 | UEFA U21 | Final round group B |
| 29 May 2000 | England v Turkey | L | 6-0 | UEFA Under-21 | Final round group B |
| 01 Jun 2000 | Turkey v Italy | L | 1-3 | UEFA U21 | Final round group B |
| 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 |
| 07 Oct 2001 | Moldova v Turkey | W | 0-3 | 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 |
| 12 Feb 2002 | Turkey v Ecuador | L | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 26 Mar 2002 | Turkey v Korea Republic | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 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 |
| 09 Jun 2002 | Costa Rica v Turkey | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group C |
| 13 Jun 2002 | Turkey v China PR | W | 3-0 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 21 Jun 2003 | Cameroon v Turkey | L | 1-0 | 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 |
| 28 Apr 2004 | Belgium v Turkey | W | 2-3 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Jun 2004 | Korea Republic v Turkey | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Jun 2004 | Korea Republic v Turkey | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Turkey v Ukraine | L | 0-3 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 2 |
| 26 Mar 2005 | Turkey v Albania | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 2 |
| 30 Mar 2005 | Georgia v Turkey | W | 2-5 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 2 |
| 04 Jun 2005 | Turkey v Greece | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 2 |
| 03 Sep 2005 | Turkey v Denmark | D | 2-2 | 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 |
| 16 Nov 2005 | Turkey v Switzerland | W | 4-2 | FIFA World Cup | Play-off 2nd leg |
| 01 Mar 2006 | Turkey v Czech Republic | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 16 Aug 2006 | Luxembourg v Turkey | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Sep 2006 | Turkey v Malta | W | 2-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group C |
| 02 Jun 2007 | Bosnia and Herzegovina v Turkey | L | 3-2 | UEFA European Championship | Group C |
| 05 Jun 2007 | Brazil v Turkey | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Feb 2008 | Turkey v Sweden | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 25 May 2008 | Turkey v Uruguay | L | 2-3 | International Friendly | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.