Recep Çetin

Recep Çetin — Biography

Recep Çetin (born 1 October 1965 in Sakarya) is a Turkish former footballer and coach who played as a defender from 1979 to 2002. Known for his versatile style and commanding presence, he earned the nickname "Takoz Recep," a name cemented into legend by a goal he scored against Switzerland.

He spent the longest stretch of his club career at Beşiktaş, where he was a regular starter for more than a decade and won four league titles, four national cups and four super cups. He also earned 56 caps for the Turkey national team and was part of the squad at the 1996 European Championship.

After retiring as a player, Çetin moved into coaching, taking charge of Somaspor in late 2025 before parting ways with the club that December. He remains a well-known figure in Turkish football, regularly featured in the media for his views on club management and federation decisions.