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Evergreen Veteran - Tugay Kerimoğlu
Tugay Kerimoğlu is a Turkish International
footballer who has been playing for Blackburn Rovers since 2001.
He started his playing career with Trabzonspor before joining
hometown club Galatasaray in 1987. The dynamo was made captain
in the 1992-93 season, the youngest ever captain for his club.
He won the Turkish Premier Super League six times (1993, 1994,
1997, 1998 and 1999) and the Turkey Cup four times (1991, 1993,
1996 and 1999). The icon has spent 12 seasons at Galatasaray,
making over 200 appearances and scoring 34 goals.
Scottish Glasgow Rangers signed the talented player in 2000. Tugay
won the Scottish Premier League (2000) and the Scottish Cup (2000).
In 2001, newly-promoted Rovers manager Graeme Souness Rovers signed
Tugay for £1.3 millions. Tugay was the captain at Galatasaray
under Souness. Initially, the English Department of Employment
refused his application for a work permit, fortunately Rovers
appealed successfully. |
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The Turkish star is probably the most influential player for Turkey
after Hakan Suker. As a regular international, Tugay has represented
his country over 70 times. Tugay was impressive at the 2002 World
Cup in Korea / Japan, and helped Turkey make it to the semi-finals
before losing to eventual champions Brazil. Tugay retired from
international football in November 2003 after Turkey's failure
to qualify Euro 2004. In his last international appearance, he
wore number 94 to commemorate his 94 caps for his country. Tugay
Kerimoğlu becomes the 4th most capped players for Turkey.
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Tugay had been instrumental for Rovers, and won the English
League Cup (2002). The 37-years old playmaker is creditted
well for his accurate long passes and thunderbolt goals. His evergreen
performances have earned him renewed contracts. Tugay was deservedly
named the club's Player of the Year in the 2003-04 campaign. Tugay
won the clubs "goal of the season" award for his strike against
Reading in October 2007.
On 24 May 2008, Tugay retired from football. Fans had spent the
day honouring Tugay's eight-year stint with the club and hoping
bitter rival Burnley to lose their
Championship play-off final. More than 4000 supporters had joined
a campaign on Facebook to award their cult-hero with a testimonial,
despite not quite reaching the usual 10-year-service requirement.
This author will remember the industrious all-rounder for his
stunning long-range goals, and his contributions for the club.
On 2nd June 2009, Sky Sports reported Tugay's claims of been offered
a coaching role by Mark Hughes
at Manchester City. |
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Tugay,
with daughter thanked the fans after his last appearance for the
club during the Barclays Premier League match between Blackburn
Rovers and West Bromwich Albion at Ewood Park on May 24, 2009. |
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Club Information
