Şener Özbayraklı

Şener Özbayraklı — Biography

Şener Özbayraklı is a right back whose path ran from Turkey's lower leagues to two of the Süper Lig's biggest clubs. He made his name at Bursaspor, was picked in the Süper Lig Team of the Season for 2014-15, then played for Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and İstanbul Başakşehir, and was in Turkey's squad for UEFA Euro 2016.

His father, a biology teacher, was posted from town to town, and Özbayraklı started football at 13 with Borçka Gençlerbirliği, then played for Yeni Pelitlispor, Arsinspor and Ankaraspor. In 2009 he joined Keçiörengücü on a free transfer, reached the play-off final with them and lost it on penalties. At Bugsaşspor, from 2010, he reached a play-off semi-final; in 2012 his resistance against Bursaspor in the Turkish Cup caught the eye of coach Ertuğrul Sağlam. He moved to Bursaspor in the winter window for a fee of 750,000 lira and made his Süper Lig debut on 19 January 2013 against Kayserispor. On 15 March 2013 his shot from outside the box against Trabzonspor won the match 3-2. In August 2013 he played his first European match, against Vojvodina. In June 2015 Fenerbahçe signed him on a four-year contract after Bursaspor accepted a 1.7 million euro offer; he moved to Galatasaray in 2019 and to Başakşehir in June 2021, and the two parted by mutual agreement in September 2023.

He first wore the national shirt at under-18 level and has described that match against Russia in Trabzon as one of the most nervous moments of his life. His path reached the senior national team. He married in May 2020.