Furkan Özçal

Furkan Özçal — Biography

Furkan Özçal is a German-Turkish former attacking midfielder who grew up in Munich and chose to play for Turkey. He broke into the Süper Lig at Kayserispor, won the 2012-13 league title with Galatasaray and later played for Bursaspor. He no longer plays actively.

He was invited into 1860 Munich's academy at six after showing his ball skills at a regional tournament and moved up to the club's under-19 side at 16. He also received an offer from Bayern Munich, but chose not to wait and in the summer of 2008 signed for Kayserispor, coached by Tolunay Kafkas, whom he knew from the national youth teams. In 2009 he announced his choice of national team with the words "I ended my German career for Turkey" and played for Turkey at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level. At Kayserispor he made his Süper Lig debut away at Hacettepe, scored his first goals against Denizlispor and netted against Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş in 2010-11. In May 2011 he broke his shinbone and missed the rest of the season; in 2011-12 he had 2 goals and 2 assists in 20 games and reached the Turkish Cup semi-final with the club.

Released by Kayserispor, he joined Galatasaray in September 2012 but made only one official appearance there; in 2013-14 he was loaned to Kardemir Karabükspor, coached by Tolunay Kafkas. In August 2015 he returned to Kayserispor on loan from Galatasaray, and on 1 July 2016 he agreed terms with Bursaspor.