Artun Akçakın

Artun Akçakın — Biography

Artun Akçakın is a forward who came through Gençlerbirliği's academy, scored 37 goals for Turkey's youth national teams and captained the side that reached the last 16 of the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He spent the later part of his career in the lower divisions and in 2026 is the captain of third-tier side Erciyes 38 FK.

He turned professional at Gençlerbirliği in 2009 and played for the A2 team, then was loaned to Hacettepe for two seasons and led the Third League scoring chart in the second. In 2012-13 he played 16 Süper Lig matches without scoring, but all seven of his goals came in the Turkish Cup, earning him the nickname "Kupa Golcüsü" (the cup scorer). He was then loaned to Fethiyespor, Adana Demirspor, Alanyaspor and Ümraniyespor, and moved to Şanlıurfaspor permanently in 2016. In June 2018 he signed a two-year deal with Manisa, in January 2019 he joined Kastamonuspor and in August 2019 Tarsus İdman Yurdu; he signed for Eyüpspor in July 2020 and, after a successful season there, returned to Tarsus in June 2021. From January 2023 he played for İskenderunspor, and in July 2024 he transferred to Balıkesirspor.

He later played for Erciyes 38 FK, took the captaincy and scored his seventh goal of the season in April 2026. He was called up to the youth national teams 59 times in all and played 53 matches at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-18 level.