Emre Belözoğlu

Emre Belözoğlu, born on September 7, 1980, is a distinguished Turkish football manager and former professional player, currently leading Kasımpaşa. Known for his exceptional skills as a left-footed midfielder, Emre began his career at the Galatasaray academy, making his first-team debut at the tender age of sixteen. During his time with Galatasaray, he celebrated four consecutive Süper Lig titles, two Turkish Cups, and notable victories in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

In 2001, Emre made a significant move to Inter Milan for five million pounds, where he quickly established himself as a key player, earning the club’s Pirata d'Oro award in the 2002–03 season and reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. His career also included stints at Newcastle United and three separate spells with Fenerbahçe, where he won multiple league titles and cups. He briefly joined Atlético Madrid in 2012 and later captained İstanbul Başakşehir from 2015 to 2019 before returning to Fenerbahçe for his final playing season, retiring in 2020.

On the international stage, Emre represented Turkey from 2000 to 2019, earning one hundred and one caps and scoring nine goals. He was part of the Turkish squad that achieved a remarkable third-place finish at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2008. Emre is also recognized as a member of the FIFA 100, a prestigious list of the greatest living footballers curated by Pelé.

Following his retirement, Emre transitioned into management, taking on the role of director of football at Fenerbahçe in October 2020. He served as the club’s interim head coach during the final ten league matches of the 2020–21 season. His managerial career has included successful tenures at İstanbul Başakşehir, where he secured European qualification and reached the Turkish Cup final, and Ankaragücü, which faced relegation on the last day of the 2023–24 season. Most recently, he managed Antalyaspor, where he briefly resigned in June 2025, only to have the decision reversed, allowing him to continue into the 2025–26 season.