Hüsnü Özkara

Hüsnü Özkara — Biography

Hüsnü Özkara was a defender in the Trabzonspor side that became the first Anatolian club to win the Turkish championship. After his playing days he built a long managerial career, best remembered for taking Konyaspor up to the top flight, and he coached clubs including Konyaspor, Kayserispor, 1461 Trabzon and Fethiyespor.

He spent ten years of his playing career at Trabzonspor and eight at MKE Ankaragücü, and ended it at Kahramanmaraşspor. With Trabzonspor he won five league titles, two Turkish Cups, five President's Cups, two Prime Minister's Cups and the Cyprus Peace Cup. He played for his country ten times in total: twice for Turkey U-21 and eight times for the senior side.

He began coaching at Petkimspor, then worked at Ankara Köy Hizmetleri, Düzcespor, Erzurumspor, Boluspor, Zonguldakspor, Erzincanspor, Trabzonspor and Hatayspor. He took Kayserispor to an extra play-off, then coached Sarıyer and Kayserispor again. With Konyaspor he knocked Fenerbahçe out of the Turkish Cup, and in 2002–03 he led Konyaspor to the Süper Lig as champions. Later he worked at Sakaryaspor (2007–08), Adanaspor (2008–09), Konyaspor a second time (July 2009), Giresunspor, Boluspor, Elazığspor (October 2011), Konyaspor a third time (2012–13) and Aydınspor 1923, and in 2016 he agreed terms with 1461 Trabzon.