Semih Şentürk

Semih Şentürk
Personal information
Full nameSemih Şentürk
Date of birth29 April 1983
Place of birthİzmir, Turkey
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
İstanbul Başakşehir
Number23
Youth career
1993–1999Özçamdibispor
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1999–2002Fenerbahçe A256(63)
2001–2013Fenerbahçe205(56)
2001–2002→ İzmirspor (loan)22(3)
2014Antalyaspor13(3)
2014–İstanbul Başakşehir19(9)
National team
1999–2004Turkey U2183(42)
2007–2011Turkey28(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 April 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Semih Şentürk (born 29 April 1983) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig side İstanbul Başakşehir as a striker.

Semih has spent most of his club career at Fenerbahçe having risen through the ranks of the Fenerbahçe youth team. He scored 63 goals in 56 games for the youth team and was subsequently called up to the first team.[1] His goalscoring exploits increased hopes among the supporters that Semih could be the future of the Fenerbahçe attacking line. Indeed, he managed to become something of a regular fixture in the team during the 2007–08 campaign, in which he scored 17 goals and finished the season as Süper Lig's top scorer. His more prominent role in the team was rewarded after he was named as the vice-captain of the team in 2007 after the departure of the former captains Ümit Özat and Tuncay Şanlı.

He secured an away victory in the 2nd round of the Champions League qualifiers, guaranteeing a place for his team in the third knockout phase of the Champions League. His four goals against MTK Budapest on 6 August 2008 meant that Semih became only the second Turkish player after Fethi Heper to score four goals in a single European match. Also he is a member of the leader fan group Genç Fenerbahçeliler. In 2008 he signed his first extension contract keeping him at the club until May 2010. In 2011 he signed another contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2014.

Şentürk was called up the Turkey team following his successful performances in the 2007–08 season. He wears the number 9 shirt, which was previously worn by the Turkish football legend Hakan Şükür. Şentürk was selected as part of the squad for the finals of the European Championships in 2008. On 11 June he came on as a substitute in the 46th minute and in the 57th minute of Turkey's second Group A match against Switzerland, he scored the equaliser with a powerful header outjumping the Swiss defence and beating the goalkeeper, even though he got a hand on it. In the quarter-finals match versus Croatia, Şentürk saved the Turkish squad from a late 1–0 defeat to Croatia, scoring a last-second equalizer in the 120+1-minute, now holding the record for scoring the latest goal in a European Championship tournament.

Club career

Semih at ceremony with Fenerbahçe

Semih has spent his entire club career at Fenerbahçe having risen through the ranks of the Fenerbahçe youth team. He scored 63 goals in 56 games for the youth team and was subsequently called up to the first team.[2] His goalscoring exploits increased hopes among the supporters that Semih could be the future of the Fenerbahçe attacking line. Indeed, he managed to become something of a regular fixture in the team during the 2007–08 campaign, in which he scored 17 goals and finished the season as Süper Lig's top scorer. His more prominent role in the team was rewarded after he was named as the Vice-captain of the team in 2007 after the departure of the former captains Ümit Özat and Tuncay Şanlı. He secured an away victory in the 2nd round of the Champions League qualifiers, guaranteeing a place for his team in the third knockout phase of the Champions League. His four goals against MTK Budapest on 6 August 2008 meant that Semih became only the second Turkish player after Fethi Heper to score four goals in a single European match. Also he is a member of the leader fan group Genç Fenerbahçeliler. On 19 June 2013 Semih leaves the Fenerbahçe. On 26 January 2014, Semih scored his first goal for his new team Antalyaspor.

International career

Semih Şentürk playing for the Turkish National Football Team

Şentürk was called up the Turkey team following his successful performances in the 2007–08 season. He wears the number 9 shirt, which was previously worn by Turkish football legend Hakan Şükür. Şentürk was selected as part of the squad for the finals of the European Championships in 2008. On 11 June he came on as a substitute in the 46th minute and in the 57th minute of Turkey's second Group A match against Switzerland, he scored the equaliser with a powerful header outjumping the Swiss defence and beating the goalkeeper, even though he got a hand on it. In the quarter-finals match versus Croatia, Şentürk saved the Turkish squad from a late 1–0 defeat to Croatia, scoring a last-second equalizer in the 120+1-minute, now holding the record for scoring the latest goal in a European Championship tournament. Just three minutes after Croatia's goal, Turkish goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber cleared an offside free-kick long into Pletikosa's area, giving Şentürk the opportunity to score with a powerful left-foot shot. Turkey went on to win the subsequent penalty shoot-out 3–1 and advance to semi-finals. Semih successfully converted the second spotkick. The semi-finals match against Germany turned out to have a thriller ending in which Şentürk played a key role. In the 86th minute, just 7 minutes after of Klose's goal (which gave Germany a 2 to 1 advantage), Şentürk took a low cross provided by team-mate Sabri Sarıoğlu and steered in the crucial equalizer. However, his side went on to be defeated as Germany's left-back Philipp Lahm managed to score a decisive goal in the 90th minute, which knocked out Turkey from the competition. Upon the end of the competition, Şentürk received many plaudits for his last minute heroics, with the press labeling him as the super-sub of the tournament.[3]

Career statistics

Player

As of 6 April 2015.[4]
Club Season League Cup[nb 1] Europe[nb 2] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fenerbahçe 2002–03 13310—143
2003–04 13111—142
2004–05 3010—40
2005–06 22954102813
2006–07 18177723210
2007–08 271730823819
2008–09 24751663514
2009–10 2162160297
2010–11 251044203114
2011–12 22132—253
2012–13 1718320274
2013–14 00000000
Total 20556402332927789
Antalyaspor 2013–14 13352—185
Total 13352—185
İstanbul Başakşehir 2014–15 19910—209
Total 19910—209
Career totals 237684625329315103

International

Turkey national team
YearAppsGoals
200720
200865
200971
2010102
201130
Total288

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1.
29 May 2008
 MSV-Arena, Duisburg, Germany  Finland 2 – 0 2–0 Friendly
2.
11 June 2008
 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland   Switzerland 1 – 1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2008
3.
20 June 2008
 Ernst Happel Stadion, Wien, Austria  Croatia 1 – 1 1–1 UEFA Euro 2008
4.
25 June 2008
 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland  Germany 2 – 2 2–3 UEFA Euro 2008
5.
6 September 2008
 Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia  Armenia 0 – 2 0–2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.
1 April 2009
 Ali Sami Yen Stadium, İstanbul, Turkey  Spain 1 – 0 1–2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.
26 May 2010
 Veterans Stadium, New Britain, Connecticut  Northern Ireland 2 – 0 2–0 Friendly
8.
7 September 2010
 Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, İstanbul, Turkey  Belgium 2 – 1 3–2 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

Honours

Fenerbahçe

Turkey

Individual

Trivia

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes Türkiye Kupası, Süper Kupa
  2. ↑ Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League

References

External links