Biography
Who is Ümit Davala?
Professional club career
Ümit Davala began his professional football path by playing for various clubs including VfR Mannheim, ASV Feudenheim, and Türkspor Mannheim. He later spent time at Afyonkarahisarspor, Diyarbakırspor, and İstanbulspor. In 1997, he joined the Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray. During his tenure there, he secured four Süper Lig titles and three Turkish Cup trophies. He also played a key role in the team's European success, winning the 2000 UEFA Cup and the 2000 UEFA Super Cup. In 2000, he scored twice in the Turkish Cup final against Beşiktaş.
In September 2001, Ümit Davala moved to the Italian club Milan for a transfer fee of five million euros to reunite with his former coach Fatih Terim. However, following the departure of Terim and the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti, he struggled to maintain a spot in the starting lineup. By June 2002, he was sold to Inter Milan, though he was promptly sent back to Galatasaray on a loan arrangement.
International and futsal participation
Ümit Davala was a prominent member of the Turkey national team, earning 41 caps throughout his career. He participated in the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament and was a crucial part of the squad that achieved a third-place finish at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. During that tournament, he became recognizable for his distinctive mohawk hairstyle. He scored a goal against PR China during the group stage and netted the winning goal against Japan in the second round. Also, he provided the assist for İlhan Mansız's golden goal against Senegal in the quarter-finals.
Following his retirement from the professional game, he transitioned to futsal. He was called up to the Turkey national futsal team by head coach Ömer Kaner. The goal was to help the team qualify for the 2010 UEFA Futsal Championship. However, in a 2020 interview, Kaner noted that Ümit found it difficult to adapt to the specific demands of futsal during that period.
Coaching and musical interests
After his playing days, Ümit pursued coaching. He served as the head coach for the Turkey national under-21 team until June 2008. Later that month, he joined Galatasaray as an assistant manager. He was briefly dismissed from this role in October 2008 alongside Edwin Boekamp following a loss to Bursaspor, but he eventually returned to the club as an assistant manager in June 2011. Beyond sports, he also explored a musical career. Shortly after retiring from football, he released several rap-themed songs, including a collaboration with the artist Kayahan.
Birthday and age
Ümit Davala was born on July 30, 1973, which makes Ümit 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Ümit shares the date with 49 other famous people.
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