İrfan Saraloğlu

İrfan Saraloğlu — Biography

İrfan Saraloğlu was born on 16 September 1962 in the Ardeşen district of Rize and played as a libero and full-back during his playing career, starting out in Rizespor's youth system before turning out for Çaykur Rizespor, Sivasspor and several lower-division clubs. He earned his coaching license in 1995. Between 2004 and 2008, and again in 2009-2010, he served as an assistant coach at Fenerbahçe, first under Christoph Daum and then under Zico, and later worked with the club's U21 squad. In 2013 he joined Okan Buruk's staff, holding assistant-coaching roles at clubs including Gaziantepspor, Göztepe, Akhisar Belediyespor and İstanbul Başakşehir, winning the Türkiye Kupası with Akhisar in 2017-18 and the Süper Lig title with Başakşehir in 2019-20.

When Buruk was appointed head coach of Galatasaray on 23 June 2022, Saraloğlu followed him as assistant coach, going on to win three Süper Lig titles, a Türkiye Kupası and a Süper Kupa with the club. His son Utku plays basketball professionally.