Hakan Özoğuz

Hakan Özoğuz — Biography

Hakan Özoğuz, born on 11 October 1976 in Istanbul's Fenerbahçe neighborhood, is a Turkish musician and founding guitarist of the ska-punk band Athena, and the twin brother of the band's frontman Gökhan Özoğuz. He trained in classical guitar at Istanbul University's State Conservatory and later traveled to London with his twin brother for further musical study.

Following "Holigan," which became a chant among football fans, Athena recorded "On İki Dev Adam" ("Twelve Giant Men") for Turkey's national basketball team, which became an anthem among basketball fans as well. Songs from the band's 2000s album Tam Zamanı Şimdi, including "Palavra," "Macera" and "Aşk Meşk Yok," became widely popular. Athena represented Turkey at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with "For Real," finishing fourth with 195 points.

Özoğuz has battled lymphoma for years, with his health occasionally making headlines; reports in 2026 indicated that he had overcome the illness.