Yasin Özdenak

Yasin Özdenak — Biography

Yasin Özdenak, born on 11 October 1948 in İskenderun, is a former Turkish international goalkeeper and coach. After playing for Galatasaray, he was sold in 1977 by the Ertegun brothers to the New York Cosmos, where — known in the United States as Erol Yasin — he played alongside legends such as Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer; he also once faced a young Diego Maradona in a friendly match.

After his playing career, Özdenak moved into coaching in Australia, leading clubs such as Sydney Crescent Star, which he took to a top-five finish and a Continental Cup title in his first season, and Hume City FC. His family returned to the spotlight in Turkish sports media in December 2025 following the death of his brother, Galatasaray legend Gökmen Özdenak.