Oktay Derelioğlu

Oktay Derelioğlu — Biography

Oktay Derelioğlu is a striker best known for his goal against Belgium: on 30 April 1997 he picked the ball up in midfield and dribbled past a string of defenders, a run likened to Maradona's "Goal of the Century". With 14 goals he is Beşiktaş's top scorer in European competition. After his playing days he moved into coaching.

He started in 1985 at Fatih Karagümrük and reached the first team at 14. After a short spell at Trabzonspor he joined Beşiktaş in 1993, winning his first trophy there, the Turkish Cup, in 1994 and a first league title in 1995. His most productive season was 1996-97, with 22 league goals and 4 in the UEFA Cup. In 1997-98 he scored twice against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. After leaving Beşiktaş in 1999 he had a journeyman period that took in Siirt, Gaziantepspor, Las Palmas, Trabzonspor, Fenerbahçe, Samsunspor, Nürnberg, Akçaabat Sebatspor and Khazar Lankaran; at Gaziantepspor he scored 16 goals in 20 matches, including four in a single game against Fenerbahçe. He finished his career at his first club, Karagümrük.

For Turkey he won 18 caps between 1995 and 2001, scoring 9 goals, and was in the squad for Euro 2000.