Ertaç Özbir

Ertaç Özbir — Biography

Ertaç Özbir is a goalkeeper who rose from the lower leagues to guard the goal for Kasımpaşa, Adana Demirspor and MKE Ankaragücü in the Süper Lig, and who received his first call-up to the Turkey senior national team in 2023. Born in the Seyhan district of Adana, he plays for Ankaragücü.

He began at Sincan Belediyespor, moved to the youth setup of Şekerspor, signed a professional contract in 2007 and made 13 appearances in the Second League in 2009-10. He joined Kasımpaşa ahead of the 2010-11 season and made his Süper Lig debut against Antalyaspor on 3 October 2010. He played nine league games for the club in 2014-15 and drew attention with a penalty save against Karabükspor. When his contract was not renewed he moved to Yeni Malatyaspor; in 2019 he signed a two-year deal with Gençlerbirliği, then returned to Yeni Malatyaspor for two more years in 2020.

He joined Adana Demirspor in the summer of 2022 and debuted against Giresunspor on 8 August 2022. As first-choice goalkeeper in his first season he started 32 league games and kept eight clean sheets. In February 2024 he moved to Ankaragücü. He was first called up to the Turkey under-21 side in 2010, and in October 2023 he was selected for the senior team for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia, saying that Vincenzo Montella's arrival as coach had revived hopes he had given up on. He has two brothers who are also footballers.