Talat Özkarslı

Talat Özkarslı — Biography

Sefer Talat Özkarslı was a defender known to teammates, fans and the press as "Koçero" or "Koçero Talat". He played for Galatasaray from 1961 to 1971 and, after Metin Oktay's departure, took over the captain's armband and wore it until he left the club. Regarded on Galatasaray fan and club sites as one of the significant figures in the club's history, he is also remembered in his hometown Gaziantep as a player, an official and, briefly, a manager.

Özkarslı started out with the amateur side Şehreküstü in Gaziantep, also excelled in athletics, and after a spell at Göztepe was persuaded by Gündüz Kılıç to join Galatasaray in 1961. In his ten years there he won the league in 1961-62, 1962-63, 1968-69 and 1970-71, along with seven other trophies including the Turkish Cup, the TSYD Cup and the Super Cup. He then spent three years with his hometown club Gaziantepspor and helped it climb from the third division to the top flight. In later years he worked as an official at the same club and for a time managed it.

He made 26 appearances for the Turkey national team, captaining it twice, and was in the squad that won the ECO Cup in 1967. He died on 10 June 2020 in his native Gaziantep at the age of 82. On 5 February 2018 a sports hall named after him, the Talat Özkarslı Kapalı Spor Salonu, opened in Gaziantep, and a major street in the city also bears his name.