Zeki Önatlı

Zeki Önatlı — Biography

Zeki Önatlı is a former Turkish international footballer and coach, born 30 October 1968 in Manisa, who played as a central midfielder. He started out in Bursaspor's youth ranks, spent two seasons at the İzmir club Bergamaspor, and moved to Beşiktaş in 1987, where he spent six seasons known for his physical presence and powerful shooting.

He was part of the Beşiktaş side that won three consecutive league titles in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92, scored the club's 1,500th Süper Lig goal, and also featured in European competition; after being left out of the side in his final two seasons there, he moved to Kocaelispor together with former teammate Turan Uzun in 1993 and won the Turkish Cup with the club in 1997. Following the 1999 earthquake he joined İstanbulspor, rose to become team captain, and retired at the end of the 2002-03 season. He earned 26 caps for Turkey across the under-18, youth and senior national teams combined, scoring twice.

After retiring he began his coaching career as an assistant to former teammate Rıza Çalımbay at Çaykur Rizespor in 2004; the pair moved to Beşiktaş together with Gökhan Keskin in 2005, and he continued working there under Jean Tigana following Çalımbay's resignation, staying until 2007. He went on to work as a head coach in later years.