İlhan Parlak

İlhan Parlak — Biography

İlhan Parlak is a Turkish former forward known for scoring one of the earliest goals in Süper Lig history and for years as the striker of Kardemir Karabükspor. He played 121 Süper Lig matches for Karabükspor and scored 31 goals, which tops the club's all-time list in both categories. A former Kayserispor captain, he returned to the same club in an executive role after retiring.

He turned professional with Yerköyspor in 2004 and rose at Kayserispor; in 2005-06 he scored in the opening seconds against Sivasspor, recording the earliest goal in league history, and won the Intertoto Cup with the team. At the 2006 European U19 Championship he scored five goals in three matches and was the tournament's top scorer, and in 2008 France Football listed him among 20 promising players. In 2007 he moved to Fenerbahçe, where he took part in the 2007 Super Cup and the Champions League quarter-final run, then went to Ankaraspor in the Özer Hurmacı exchange. He played on loan for Ankaragücü and Kardemir Karabükspor, and from his second season at Karabükspor helped the team stay in the league. In 2013-14 he scored 9 goals in 33 league matches.

The following years were spent with Kayseri Erciyesspor (2014) and Gaziantepspor (2016); in September 2020 he left Ankaragücü and returned to Kayserispor. In a 2026 interview he said he had chosen Fenerbahçe over Sevilla during his playing days. In June 2026 he was named general coordinator of Kayserispor and resigned 43 days later, in July 2026.