Biography
Who is Arda Turan?
Early career and Galatasaray
Arda Turan began his professional path within the Galatasaray youth system. He moved into the first team during the 2004-05 season under the management of Gheorghe Hagi. His official debut occurred on 22 January 2005 in a Turkish Cup match against Bursaspor.
After a loan period at Manisaspor during the 2005-06 season where he scored two goals, he returned to Galatasaray. He eventually became the team captain at age 22 before the 2009-10 season. During his tenure, he wore the number 10 shirt and helped the club reach the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Success in Spain
In August 2011, he transferred to Atlético Madrid for a fee of 12 million euros plus bonuses. This move made him the most expensive Turkish player in history at that time. While playing in La Liga, he achieved significant milestones, including winning the 2012 UEFA Super Cup and scoring a vital goal against Chelsea in the 2013-14 Champions League semi-finals.
His performance in Spain continued when he joined FC Barcelona in July 2015 for 34 million euros. He made his debut for the club in January 2016 during a Copa del Rey match. One of his well-known achievements with the team was scoring a hat-trick against Borussia Mönchengladbach in a Champions League group stage fixture.
National team and retirement
Arda Turan represented the Turkey national team throughout his career, earning 100 senior caps and scoring 17 goals. He first appeared for the national side in August 2006 against Luxembourg after playing for the under-19 and under-21 squads. He is currently ranked as the sixth most capped player for his country.
Following stints with İstanbul Başakşehir and a return to Galatasaray, he officially retired from professional football in September 2022. He later transitioned into coaching and currently serves as the head coach for the Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.
Birthday and age
Arda Turan was born on January 30, 1987, which makes Arda 39 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Arda shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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