Biography
Who is Alpay Özalan?
Early football career
Alpay Özalan began his professional path at Soma Linyitspor in the TFF Third League. His talent quickly drew attention from major clubs within Turkey. In 1993, he signed with Beşiktaş, where he played 148 matches and scored nine goals. During his time at Beşiktaş, he received three red cards in a six-month period.
Following his tenure at Beşiktaş, his contract was purchased by Siirt Jetpaspor. He was subsequently loaned to Fenerbahçe for a single season. While playing for Fenerbahçe, he appeared in 26 matches and scored three goals.
Time in England and Asia
Alpay Özalan moved to the English club Aston Villa following his performances at Euro 2000. He became a popular player during his first season in England. However, an ankle injury sidelined him for part of the season. He returned to play in the 2002 World Cup, where he earned a spot in the tournament's official team.
His career at Aston Villa faced difficulties due to tensions with manager Graham Taylor. In 2003, he was involved in a confrontation with David Beckham during a Euro 2004 qualifier. This led to his contract being terminated on 23 October 2003. Alpay then moved to South Korea to join Incheon United in 2004, where he became a citizen.
European clubs and national team
In 2005, he signed a one-year deal with the German side 1. FC Köln. This move allowed him to return to the Turkish national team. He remained with the Bundesliga club despite interest from several other European teams. His international career included 90 games for Turkey between 1995 and 2005.
During the 2002 World Cup, he helped Turkey reach third place and was named to the tournament's all-star team. He also participated in Euro 1996, Euro 2000, and the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. At Euro 1996, he received a fair-play award after allowing a Croatian player to dribble through the defense during a match.
Political career in Turkey
Alpay Özalan transitioned into politics in 2018. He was elected to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as a representative for İzmir. He runs as a member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
His time in parliament has included several public incidents. In 2021, he was involved in a physical altercation with Özgür Özel of the CHP. In August 2024, he was involved in another brawl in Ankara following a debate regarding Can Atalay.
Birthday and age
Alpay Özalan was born on May 29, 1973, which makes Alpay 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Alpay shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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