Who is Hakan Şükür? All the facts and details on the former footballer

Hakan Şükür has left an indelible mark in football history while playing with various football teams worldwide. In the summer of 1990, he joined Bursaspor and scored six goals in his 2nd season, helping the team to 6th place. Shortly thereafter Şükür made his debut in Turkey's national team. 

Hakan Şükür is in the United States of America, living in exile. After retiring from football, he ventured into politics in Turkey. Unfortunately, he fell out with the Turkish president and left Turkey to pursue new opportunities. Here are all the facts about Şükür.

Hakan Şükür's profile and bio summary

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Who is Hakan Şükür?

Hakan Şükür (aged 51 as of 2023) is a retired football player born on September 1, 1971. Şükür became popular after a successful football career with numerous clubs.

What is Hakan Şükür's nationality?

Hakan is a Turkish national born in Sapanca, Türkey. His parents were immigrants from Yugoslavia, and the player has one brother, Gökhan Şükür.

What is Hakan Şükür known for?

The career of Hakan Şükür spanned over decades. The 51-year-old was a prolific player with renowned capabilities on the field. For example, he is Turkey's top scorer of all time and played with several teams in his country and beyond.

Hakan started playing professionally at 17 years old with the local club Sakaryaspor. He quickly rose to the top, becoming the team's best striker, earning them their first-ever Turkish title. Three years later, he transferred to  Bursaspor until 1992, when he joined the Turkish national team.

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In the same year, he signed a contract with Galatasaray SK, where he played for most of his career. During his maiden season, he scored 19 goals and 35 over the second and third seasons. He later moved to Torino but did not adjust to the Serie A expectations, as he scored just one goal in five appearances.

After this experience, he returned to Galatasaray, leading them to victory for three seasons. The footballer also assisted the team to become the first Turkish team to win the UEFA Cup in 1999/2000. Additionally, the national team finished third at the 2002 World Cup.

Hakan Şükür's fastest goal

During the 2002 World Cup, Hakan made history when he scored 10.8 seconds into the final match against South Korea. The record-breaking goal remains unbeaten in the history of the competition.

Hakan Şükür's career stats

Şükür played for 13 seasons, earning a top place in the international football scene. Some of his stats include:

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• In 2003, he was named the most outstanding player of the last 50 years by the Turkish Football Federation.
• Şükür is acknowledged as Galatasaray’s best-ever goal scorer.
• At retirement, Hakan was the 19th top scorer worldwide.
• Şükür scored 383 goals throughout his career
• Şükür played in 112 matches with the national team, scoring 51 goals.
• Hakan Şükür's club matches number 540 with 260 goals.
• 3-time top scorer of the Super League award (Goal King).

What teams did Hakan Şükür play for?

The striker played for different teams throughout his career before retiring in 2008 at 37 years. Here are the teams he played for and the years he was part of them:

• Sakaryaspor: 1987 - 1990
• Bursaspor: 1990 - 1992
• Galatasaray: 1992 - 1995
• Torino - 1995
• Galatasaray: 1995 - 2000
• Inter Milan: 2000 - 2002
• Parma - 2002
• Blackburn Rovers: 2002 - 2003
• Galatasaray: 2003 - 2008

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Political career

In 2011, Şükür was elected to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as a Member of Parliament (MP). He resigned from his position in 2013 to protest against an Islamic system introduced by a cleric but continued serving as an independent MP. Additionally, he worked as a football pundit on radio and TV.

In 2016, the retired player was charged with insulting President Erdogan on Twitter and accused of being a member of an armed terror group. He escaped to the United States in November 2017, where he has been living in exile.

Hakan Şükür's net worth

The Turkish player likely made top dollar as a professional footballer and later as a politician. According to reports, Hakan is worth approximately $5 million.

Marriage

Şükür married his first wife, Esra Elbirlik, in a ceremony aired on live television and initiated by Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. Unfortunately, the union ended in divorce after only four months. Esra passed away in 1999 following the Izmit earthquake. His second wife, Beyda, is the mother to his three children.

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Despite relocating to a foreign land, Hakan Şükür remains a force to reckon with in the football scene in Turkey and beyond. His prowess inspires many, and netizens will undoubtedly be watching to see what unfolds between Şükür and the Turkish president in years to come.

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