Necati Özçağlayan

Necati Özçağlayan — Biography

Necati Özçağlayan is a former Turkey international who defended for the side that made Trabzonspor the first Anatolian club to win the championship, and he was in the squad for all six of the club's Süper Lig titles. From 1972 to 1986 he wore no other club's shirt. Together with Şenol Güneş and Turgay Semercioğlu he is one of three players who took part in all of those titles. Supporters and the club's circle count him among the best liberos in Turkish football.

He started at Trabzonspor and moved up to the first team when he was old enough. In 1973-74 the team won the First League and was promoted to the Süper Lig; he then played in the 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81 and 1983-84 championships. Those were joined by three Turkish Cups, five President's Cups and the 1974-75 Cyprus Peace Cup. He retired at the end of 1985-86. He won 4 under-21 caps and 22 senior caps, his senior debut being a 2-2 friendly with Romania on 12 October 1975.

His reserved personality is said to have kept him from the recognition he deserved. After playing he moved into coaching: at club level he managed only Adana Demirspor, in 1998-99, and he also worked with several of Turkey's youth national teams. He later became coordinator of Trabzonspor's football schools. In a 2022 interview he said that Fenerbahçe had always been the rival in his playing days.