Mehmet Özdilek

Mehmet Özdilek — Biography

"Şifo" Mehmet Özdilek (born 1 April 1966 in Samsun) is a former Turkish international footballer and football manager who played as an attacking midfielder. He earned the nickname "Şifo" for a playing style reminiscent of Belgian star Enzo Scifo.

Özdilek spent most of his career at Beşiktaş, wearing the club's colors for 13 years. Despite playing in midfield, he scored 130 goals in the Süper Lig, a record for a domestic midfielder, and became one of the league's all-time top scorers. He was named Turkey's Footballer of the Year in 1991, was part of the squad that finished the 1992 season unbeaten as champions, and captained Beşiktaş for four years. On 4 August 2001 a testimonial match against Milan was held in his honor at the İnönü Stadium, with proceeds donated to the Education Volunteers Foundation of Turkey; he was never shown a red card in an official match during his career.

After retiring as a player, Özdilek moved into coaching, and he has continued to periodically offer critical public commentary on the performance of his former club, Beşiktaş.