Erhan Önal

Erhan Önal — Biography

Erhan Önal was a Turkish footballer, born on 3 September 1957 in İzmir, who played as a centre-back. He began his career in Germany with Bayern Munich's reserve and first team, then moved to Standard Liège in Belgium before returning to Turkey, where he played for Fenerbahçe and Türkgücü München and, most notably, Galatasaray, the club with which he became closely identified and won major honours. He also earned caps for the Turkish national team.

Nicknamed "Papaz Erhan" ("Priest Erhan") for the long beard he wore throughout his playing days, Önal went on to work as a football manager and commentator after retiring from the pitch. He died on 16 March 2021 in his native İzmir, where he was later laid to rest; his death was widely mourned across Turkish football, particularly among Galatasaray supporters. He was the father of the well-known actress Bige Önal.